Page 75 of Nothing To Lose
"We had a fight. I said something stupid."
She raises an eyebrow. "Color me shocked."
Before I can fire back, Anders emerges from the back room. "Isaac. Got a second?"
"Not right now. I need to find–"
"It’s about the footage. From the alley. You’ll want to see this."
Everything in me stalls. I glance at the door, my heart pulling me in one direction, but Anders’ typically playful, smiling face stops me. It’s serious. Dead serious.
I follow him to the office, where he pulls up an email with three attached clips. My hands curl into fists before the first one even loads.
The first video is from inside, in the hallway just outside the bathrooms. The audio is garbage with all the background noise, but you can still make out Guy’s voice, slurred and angry.
"You were eye-fucking that asshole–"
He jabs a finger toward the main room. Then jabs it at Tyler, right in the chest. Towering over him, I can see the spittle flying from his lips. Tyler tries to sidestep, rubbing the spot on his chest, but Guy grabs at him. His movements are sloppy, swaying as he tries to maneuver Tyler against the wall. He leans in, and I try to read his lips while I strain to hear. He's slurring pretty badly, but I think he says, "If you’re going to be like that."
He lunges for a kiss. Tyler dodges and tries to walk away, but Guy grabs his wrist.
Tyler yanks free and tries to get past Guy, but he blocks his entrance back into the restaurant. He looks behind him, then turns and slams through the back door. Guy follows.
Anders clicks on the second video, which is footage of the alley behindThe Nook. Dim lighting, choppy resolution. Still, it’s clear enough to see Tyler step into the alley. He looks back over his shoulder and keeps walking. Guy follows, stumbling and wild-eyed.
The last clip is from the bookstore’s rear camera. It shows the alley from the opposite end. Tyler is backing away. Guy is yelling, pointing, dragging at his arm. Tyler yanks his arm back and yells, then pushes Guy away from him.
Then, Guy hits him. Hard.
Tyler crumples. Tries to crawl away. Guy punches him again.
The footage cuts off with nothing but Tyler’s legs in frame as he gets to his knees and tries to stand. He pitches sideways, the angle not letting us see why. Then nothing.
My breath shudders. My pulse is deafening.
I don’t say a word. I just walk out.
There's the vague recognition that Anders is trying to pull me back. Then a deep voice, probably Mac, trying to cut through my haze. I don't react to any of it. It barely registers. None of it matters. I’m already gone.
I don’t remember the ride.
Don’t remember arriving in front of a tall, white stone building.
Don’t remember the elevator.
I step out onto the executive floor of Valdin Law, Inc. and stomp towards the desk. The mousy receptionist looks like she might faint. Her eyes are wide and panicked.
"Guy." One word. That's all I've got.
She doesn't answer, looking like she's ready to drop to the floor and raise her hands over her head like this is some kind of robbery.
"Guy," I say again.
Her eyes cut toward the right. I move, stalking down the hallway in the direction she seemed to indicate.
I start throwing open doors. Voices shout, angry faces gesture. Behind me, security approaches, making demands and trying to get me to come with them. I ignore every one of them.
Then I hear it. A scream.
