Page 71 of Please Remember

"Where?"

"The parking lot of the bank. Come. Hurry up!"

I race after her with the heavy thuds of everyone else following behind me. My stomach ties in knots as I worry about what might have happened. Did the person who took Allie see her again? Did he try to take her? Or maybe they tried to kill her this time?

"I can't lose her. Not again," I whisper, pushing through everyone to get to the parking lot. “I can’t. I just can’t.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Laura

Leaning against the wall outside the bar, I watch everyone run out to Allie. Towards the flashing lights. Disdain. That's the only thing I feel for every single one of them. Even Jax's parents. I always thought they liked me, and maybe they did. But theylovedAllie.

Natalie walks up and leans against the wall next to me. I could have used her about fifteen minutes ago when everyone ganged up on me.

"I just got your message. Sorry I'm late. What's going on?" Natalie asks. "You sounded upset."

"The cops searched my house today. After they took my computers and phone. They know I put the camera in Jax's house."

"I told you that was a stupid idea," she says. "What were they looking for in your house?"

I snort and sigh. "A possible weapon. Do you have any idea how many things I own that could be used as a weapon? Especially when there's nothing super specific? I mean, she was hit on the head. Anything I lift over half a pound could be a weapon. I don't even know how they got such a vague warrant signed."

"Gotta love small-town USA," Natalie says and nods towards the flashing lights. "What's going on over there?"

"Something with Allie. It's always something with Allie. That girl gets all the attention."

"Seems that way."

Sighing, I look at my feet. "Maybe she remembered something."

"Yeah, maybe."

I turn and look at my best friend. Something in her tone tells me more than her words do. "Nat?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to."

"Nat, did you have something to do with what happened to Allie?"

She just smiles and stares at the flashing lights. "You're my best friend, Laura. My only friend. I want you to have everything you ever dreamed of."

Chapter Thirty

Allie

Wrapping my arms around me, I rub my exposed biceps. It's not too cold out with everyone swarming around me, but I have a chill that won't go away. My eyes never leave the small crane lifting the section of parking curb onto the back of a flatbed truck. It has a plastic bag over the edge, which seems crazy to me. It's been exposed to the elements for over seven years now, but I suppose it's procedure.

"Allie!" Jax shouts and runs over to me.

The sight of him fills me with relief, and I open up my arms to let him pull me into his. "Jax."

"What happened? Did someone attack you? I knew I should've come with you," he says and cups my face. "Why are they taking a parking curb?"

"Yeah, someone did attack me."

His eyes widen, and he looks around. "Where are they?"

"I don't know. They attacked me seven years ago."

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