A Proper Good Bye [1]

I am so stunned that I can't find the words to speak. Instead, the demon's warning echoes in my mind. It will be hell for you, she said. Turns out, I came back to life only to face the death penalty after all.

"Miss McCourtney told us what happened. If you feel up to it, we'd like you to make a statement as a witness to the kidnapping and attempted murder of Miss McCourtney," the other officer explains, leaving me even more dumbfounded. I turn to Jennifer.

"I told the police about the attempted murder Radwansky committed. From the explosion at my apartment to the kidnapping. You were taken too because you tried to protect me. Then… you had to kill him in self-defense," Jennifer says, but her expression remains blank as she stares at me.

"Oh… yeah, right," I say, snapping out of my daze.

"So, can we take your statement now, sir?" the officer asks.

"Sure."

"Well then… I'll be going," Jennifer suddenly announces, turning and walking out of the room without waiting for a response.

During the entire interview, I am painfully self-conscious, carefully choosing every word, terrified that I might slip up and reveal something I shouldn't. I remain on high alert, searching for any indication that the officers suspect me of anything beyond what Jennifer told them.

But even after they leave, after I sign my statement, there is no sign of an impending arrest.

Once again, I am dumbfounded.

Jennifer didn't tell them anything about who I really am. After the way she reacted when she found out the truth about me… I expected something different.

Another realization hits me as the day changes—Jennifer hasn't returned to see me. Even the nurses find it strange. She had been at my bedside the entire time I was unconscious, yet now, she doesn't even stop by.

I finally ask a nurse to call Andy. I don't have my phone with me, and his is the only number I remember. As expected, Andy is both surprised and concerned to find me hospitalized—not about my health, of course.

I ask him to retrieve my phone since he's one of the only people besides Jennifer who can unlock my apartment. I also instruct him to contact Dr. Lamos—I need to get out of this hospital as soon as possible, and I need him to "bail" me out as my private doctor.

I know my injuries—my broken bones, my wounds—are all healed. But I can't let the doctors here see that. Unless I want to become their next science experiment, which I have absolutely no interest in.

The next day, I finally have my phone back. The first thing I do is call Jennifer.

She doesn't answer.

That worries me.

I decide to text her instead.

[Are you okay?]

[Yes. I'm perfectly fine.]She replies forty-five minutes later, after ignoring three of my calls.

[Good. I was worried.]

[Why?]

[You haven't come back to the hospital.]

[Oh… I was busy cleaning up my apartment. It had been abandoned too long.]

I hesitate. So, she moved back to her apartment. Just like I wanted her to. I smile faintly to myself.

[I…]I pause, fingers hovering over the screen, unsure of what to say.

[Let me give you a proper goodbye. Please…]I finally type and hit send.

[Okay.]

A genuine smile tugs at my lips.

[We'll arrange it after I'm out of the hospital. In the meantime, take care.]

[You too.]

[I love…]

I stop myself.

I can't say that to her. Not when I can't promise her a future.

This. Us… It's not going to happen.

I delete the text, set my phone down on the bedside table, and reach for my work phone, which is still charging. I turn it on.

The moment the screen lights up, I'm bombarded with messages from Thief.

The first one contains Radwansky's phone number, sent just five minutes after I asked her for it.

The second confirms that the plane from which the call to Sebastian's phone was made was—well, was—Radwansky's.

The third, fourth, and fifth messages are all the same: Where are you? Are you okay?

I reply, thanking her and letting her know that I'm fine.

Setting my phone back down, I close my eyes, hoping to finally get some rest.