Page 102 of Keep This Promise
Holden and I sit on the sofa, a blanket draped around us as we stare at our phones and watch her blood sugar levels. She’s needed insulin twice, and each time the machine dispenses, I feel sick. Still, so long as the pump is still updating, so long as she still needs it to regulate her blood sugar? There is a fraction of solace in that, even if it also means there’s less medication available to her.
Jackson sits on the table in front of us. “We have people everywhere looking, my team in San Diego is checking any traffic cameras, and the police are doing their part from here. Charlie is working with some of her contacts to do things we can’t as well. The US Marshals just deputized my team so we can be involved in the investigation.”
Holden looks up at him. “If you knew Sophie was in danger, why didn’t you have more men here?”
Jackson doesn’t flinch. “I had what we thought was necessary. There were two men here and, after what happened two nights ago, a third was on his way at my company’s expense. I assure you, no one thought this was going to happen.”
“Why didn’t they take Eden the night they were here?” I ask. “Why wait?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know. If we consider that there could be someone trying to find out what Holden knows ahead of his testimony, as well as someone connected to Theo who might be looking for you, we could be looking at two separate perpetrators. Eden was taken when Holden was with Cora, which leads me to think her abduction is connected to the Wilkinson case.”
Blakely walks over and hands me a cup of tea. “I thought the same. Have we considered that the people looking for Sophie and Eden could be the same people trying to prevent people from testifying in the case?”
Jackson replies, “I have. My team is looking for any connection to Wilkinson or Bill Waugh. I asked Theo point blank what exactly he uncovered, but he wouldn’t tell me. He said if the information was ever needed, it would present itself.”
Holden gets to his feet. “Well, we need it now!”
Blake rests her hand on his shoulder. “If the people who took Eden are the people Theo wanted you to hide from, then yes, we need it. If it’s about the trial, then it won’t help us. Listen, if the goal is to keep you from testifying, then this was the way to do it. If it’s about Sophie, then I don’t see what they gain by taking Eden. Has there been any ransom demand?”
“Not yet,” Jackson says.
“Okay. And what about the file, Spencer?”
He glances up and shakes his head. “I’ve been searching for more references to Holden’s license number or why it’s on there. So far, nothing really makes sense, but I sent scans of the file to Cole’s analysts, so they’re working on it too.”
All of this happens around me, but I can’t really process it. Two competing horrible people after us? I just can’t handle it.
So, I look down at my tea and continue to monitor the only link we have to Eden.
They continue to talk and then leave the room as someone calls them out. I am lost, watching the numbers move up and down, but so far, she isn’t dropping too low. I pray whoever took her at least sees she’s sick.
Holden wraps his arm around my shoulder. “You have to eat.”
“I can’t. What if she’s hungry? What if she is thirsty? I can’t if she can’t . . .”
Resting my head on him, I cry again, feeling so lost and angry. All night, we wait for a call, for someone to demand something so we can give it to them, but it hasn’t come. I let the tears come, my eyes feeling heavy and my body not wanting to cooperate with staying awake.
“You’re exhausted, Sophie. Just rest here, you don’t have to sleep, but just rest.”
“I don’t want to rest. I want to go and find her. I want to do something—anything other than sitting here and doing nothing. We can go look for her. We can go to the hospitals, right? I can’t just sit here!”
Holden takes my face in his hands. “We are doing everything we can.”
It doesn’t feel like it. “I should never have come here. After the other night, we should’ve packed our bags and left. I did this.”
This is my fault.
I am going to be the reason we lose her. I knew we were in danger, and I didn’t run. Instead of demanding Jackson get us to a safe location, I trusted everyone around me to protect us. There was a pit in my stomach, telling me to go, and I ignored it.
“None of this is your fault, Sophie! Love, you didn’t do anything wrong. You aren’t involved in any of what’s going on. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine! Again, you did nothing. I’m the one who fucked this up. I’m the one who made you stay because I was so fucking afraid of losing you. I’m the one who failed you both.” Holden rubs his face, his eyes red rimmed and full of pain. “I will never forgive myself for this.”
Neither of us will. There seems to be enough guilt to go around for us both to drown in it.
I reach for him. “We can’t do this. It won’t bring her back, and this isn’t your fault. Hell, if it’s anyone’s, it’s the people Theo was involved with. But you and I? We didn’t do this to her. We didn’t make her sick or ask anyone to take her from us. We love her, and while we may be breaking right now, it’s because we just want her back.”
Holden takes two steps and tenderly cups my face between his palms. “It’s all I want.”
“Me too.”
