Page 15 of Property of Chaos

Marianna waves the number while she thinks, phone poised in her other hand. “From what you’ve told me about the place, if she has been sucked in, then she probably wouldn’t have been allowed to keep her phone, right?”

“I guess.”

“What’s her full name?” She swipes her thumb across her phone, unlocking the device and navigating the apps.

“Evelyn Faith.”

Marianna pauses, lifting an eyebrow as she looks at me. “Seriously?”

“Their parents had their names legally changed.”

“The fuck.” Her eyes widen as she returns to scrolling through her phone. “And she didn’t think to change it back when she was legally an adult?”

I shrug. “Guess it was too indoctrinated into her life by then.”

“Evelyn Faith,” Marianna mutters, thumb tapping at her phone. “Where did she live when you knew her last?”

“Oklahoma.” I glance at the paperwork again.

“Does she look like you at all?”

“We’re not blood relations, babe.”

“Of course.” Her tone softens with understanding. “She looks like him.”

“Yeah.” I barely croak the word out as I set aside the food. Any appetite I’d managed to scrounge up has left for the night.

“Can I show you a picture, then? I don’t want to have you check this is her if it’ll trigger you.” She makes the statement with the utmost care, gaze soft as she holds the phone at an angle. “Is there another way I can be sure?”

“She was a nurse back then.”

Marianna checks her phone. “Her profile is locked down, so I can’t tell.”

I rub my chest with the heel of my hand and sigh. “Show me.”

She crosses the room and gently lowers the device so I can see it.

My throat closes, and a wash of adrenalin makes my head swim.So much like him.“Yeah,” I croak out. “That’s her.”

“You’re sure?” Marianna straightens.

“Positive.”

She thumbs at her screen for what feels like an age before ditching the phone on the side table. “Done.”

“Done what?” My heart rate kicks into overdrive. “What did you do?”

“Sent her a friend request.”

“Why?” Heat envelops my face and neck. “If she’s on the inside, they can trace me through you.”

“They already know your address, babe.” Marianna’s voice softens as she points out the obvious.

Shit.“Yeah. You’re right.”

“It’ll be okay.” She nods toward my dinner. “Eat your food, babe.”

SIX

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