Page 136 of Finish Line

“You’re welcome, and it doesn’t matter.” She shrugs, and I debate giving the blanket back. “I’m sorry that bitch put you down here. I tucked some pain pills into the blanket. You look like you could use them.”

“Thanks, and don’t worry, she’ll get what’s coming to her. Karma is a bitch.”

“A couple of phone calls came in for you,” she adds.

I smile. “It’s probably my guys. What are they telling them?”

“That no one by your name is here before they hang up on them. I’ll try to answer one of the calls and tell them where you are,” she says.

My gaze drops to the ground. “Don’t get yourself in any trouble. I’ve survived worse.”

Realizing what I said, I look back up at Laurie.

“You better go up before they notice you’re missing.” I reach my hand out through the bars and squeeze hers. “Thanks, Laurie, for everything.”

“Hang in there.” She disappears back into the dark.

I unravel the sheets carefully and find the water bottle and pills inside.

I open the bottle and almost drink half before I pop the pills into my mouth and swallow them with another mouthful of water. I put the sheet down, then lie on top, and while it’s cold down here, I put the blanket under my head for now. I drift off to sleep.

“Monkey,” says a voice in the dark.

I bolt upright and search the shadows for Roger.

“How’s your mother, monkey?” he taunts.

“Show yourself, you bastard.” I fight the rising panic. I won’t let him in my head.

A flashlight flicks on, making me jump, and his face is illuminated in the light.

“Boo.” He laughs.

“I’m going to kill you,” I growl.

“Not if I kill you first.” He laughs.

The flashlight turns off, sinking the basement into darkness, hiding him from me again.

“What do you want, Roger?” If he talks more, I can figure out where he is. “You wanted to hurt me? Well, you succeeded. You killed my mom.”

“Her death didn’t hurt you. Why are you lying to me? You’ve known she’d overdose for years. I might have given her the pills, but it was her choice to take them. Not that she was in her right mind when she did,” he taunts.

I grip the bars, trying to see him in the dark. “What are you talking about?”

“I did you a favor helping get rid of that liar. Did you know she had cancer?”

“You’re lying.” I follow his voice.

The light flicks on, and he stands right in front of me, causing me to jerk back from him. “Why would I lie? She found out she had cancer while you were in Hawaii. Stage four. She didn’t have long to live, and she hid it from you, because you’re such a failure of a daughter.”

Surging forward, I reach through the bars, trying to punch him, and he backs up, turning off the light. “She would have told me if she was dying.”

“Maybe she tried, but you weren’t very nice to her when she brought you into the Tate’s home, were you?” He tries to guilt me. “You shouldn’t have pissed me off by disappearing for months.”

“I’m glad you’re pissed, Roger, ’cause you pissed me off by killing my mother!” I yell into the dark.

A hand grabs my throat and slams my face into the bars. “It’s not healthy to piss me off.”

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