Page 58 of The Kidnapped

“Did you ask her about Ada’s brother?”

Hollis nodded and said, “She doesn’t want to see him.”

“Oh, Hollis… I’m sorry.”

“Me too. She explained why, though, and I think I’m starting to understand. It’s not about me, you know? It’s about her. She’s the one in pain.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“What can I get for you? Happy hour is on for another five minutes,” the bartender said when he approached.

“Are you hungry?” Raleigh asked. “They have good apps here.”

“Half off for the next four minutes,” the bartender added.

“I thought it was five,” Hollis noted.

The guy pointed to the clock on the wall, and, indeed, it was now four minutes till seven.

“Right,” Hollis said. “Sure. I can eat.”

“Nachos? Potato skins?” the bartender asked.

“Whatever you want,” Hollis replied with a sideways smile Raleigh hadn’t seen on her before.

“Both,” Raleigh said. “And I’ll have a lite beer. Whatever you have on tap is fine.”

“Just water for me,” Hollis added.

“Two light beers,” Raleigh told the bartender instead. “What?” she asked when Hollis turned to look at her. “If I order them both now, they’re half off.”

“I’ll be right back,” he replied.

“Are you okay? Two beers?”

“You asked me to have a drink with you, Hollis, and you’re drinking water.”

“I’m not much of a drinker.”

“I thought if we were at a bar, though, you might have an actual drink.”

“I just thought coffee was getting old,” Hollis replied.

“You’re bored having coffee with me already?” Raleigh teased.

“No,” Hollis said seriously. “Just thought a change of scenery might be nice.”

Raleigh leaned over the heavily lacquered table and asked, “Hey, what’s going on? You don’t seem like yourself.”

“Everything,” Hollis said, leaning back. “I’ve got a prosecutor calling me, telling me there’s going to be a trial because my dad won’t take a great deal to stop this circus for the rest of us. My mom won’t get treatment for her cancer, and it’s getting worse. I feel guilty going to work every day and not spending every second of that time with her, but I have bills to pay. Then, the library called me today and said they couldn’t extend my leave any longer. They were looking to make cutbacks anyway, and since I’m down here for who knows how long, they just started with me. I found that out right before I texted you. They told me they were sending a box with my stuff in it to my apartment in Vancouver. I don’t even know what stuff they’re talking about, Raleigh. I didn’t have anything on my desk. Maybe a stapler or something. I don’t know.” Hollis sighed. “The defense attorney also called again today. He’s still asking me to help my dad. I’ve got both sides now trying to get me to either help them put my father away for twenty-five-to-life or get him off for kidnapping me.”

When the bartender dropped off the two beers Raleigh had ordered, along with the glass of water Hollis had asked for, Raleigh pushed one of the beers toward Hollis.

“I think you need this more than I do.”

“I just want it all to be over already,” Hollis said.

“I know. I’m sorry you have to go through this. None of this is your fault.”

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