Page 51 of Squatch Out!
It doesn’t take long, maybe another half hour to give our statements. Both the unedited one and anofficialversion. After we finish, he snaps his notebook shut and then leans across the table. His voice drops as he levels me and then Olivia with a serious look.
“We’ll go through his phone and make sure to get anything incriminating,” Sanchez assures us. “The elders are taking care of any video from the guys he hired and anyone recording with their phones. I don’t think there will be anything you need to worry about.”
I slouch down in my seat as relief leaches out of every muscle.
Until Sanchez turns to Olivia. “You said you’re from Virginia. Do you plan on staying here with him?”
My breath catches when he just comes right out and asks what I’ve been trying to muster up the courage to.Ha! More like you’ve been too chicken shit to ask.
Olivia’s eyes widen with surprise, and then she glances over at me. “Oh. I—” she looks down at where her fingers are twining together on top of the table, “Actually, I have to fly back tomorrow.”
My chest tightens. Tomorrow. That soon?
“I see.” Sanchez lets out a heavy sigh. “I don’t have to tell you that all of this needs to stay here. Not that anyone would believeyou anyway, but this is an important secret that I’m asking you to keep. Forever.”
Her eyes are wide and glossy when she looks up at him. They flick to me and back to him again as she nods. “Yes, of course. I understand.”
“Good.” Sanchez pushes himself up with a groan, and to me, he says, “I’ll get ahold of you if I need anything more, but this looks pretty cut and dried on our end.”
“What will happen to Darren?” Olivia asks.
I let out a heavy sigh, not surprised that she’s still worried about the asshole who tried to hurt her.
“Since you’re not going to press charges—and you can still change your mind about that—we’ll take him to the hospital and get him checked out by mental health. Someone will probably notify his family, and after that, he’ll be released.”
She nods slowly, biting down nervously on her bottom lip.
“Is there anything else either of you need?” Sanchez glances from me to Olivia. We both shake our heads. “It was nice to meet you, Olivia,” then to me, “I’ll be in touch.” And with that, he turns with a wave and disappears into the sea of dark blue and black uniforms.
We stay seated at the table until everyone has cleared out of the room and the staff are trying to put everything back to rights before the lunch rush starts showing up. I can’t stop thinking about what she said to Sanchez. About her leaving tomorrow. I knew she wasn’t going to stay, but I didn’t realize she was leaving so soon. My stomach churns, knowing this will be our last day together.
“Would you like to come with me to Owen’s for dinner?” I ask her quietly, hoping she’ll say yes but also preparing for her excuse that she needs to pack or get ready to leave. And if that’s her answer, I tell myself I will handle it gracefully.
Except my heart sinks when her brow wrinkles and she keeps her eyes on her twisting fingers. “I want to, but I shouldn’t. I have to leave early tomorrow to catch my plane.”
“What time do you fly out?” So much for simply accepting her answer.
“Um, it’s at two. But it’s a long drive back to Seattle, and I have to get there early so I can get through security?—”
“If I make sure you get there with plenty of time, will you come with me tonight?” I reach across the table and clasp her hands in mine, silently begging her to stay with me. Even if it’s just for tonight.
Finally, she looks up at me, and her lips are curled up in a warm smile. “Then, yes, I’d love to.”
It takes the last of my resolve not to jump to my feet and pump my fist in victory. Instead, I pull her to her feet and out of the restaurant.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
OLIVIA
We check out of my room and load up my little hatchback with all my gear—well, not all of it. I couldn’t fit Sean and the trunk in the car, so we emptied it out and I’ll have to leave it behind. I’m not sure what to do with all the camping gear I won’t be able to take back with me now.
“Consider it ransom, to make sure you come back,” Sean jokes, slamming the hatch shut. Only we both know he’s not really kidding.
That’s a problem for later, I decide, choosing instead to focus on what’s ahead.
Brian and Tony have decided they’ve had enough of this trip, and they are heading back to Seattle tonight.
“I am so sorry for all of this,” I say, giving Tony a hard hug beside the SUV.
