Page 6 of Love Bleeds Red
With my head lowered, I purposely bump into him, knocking his phone from his grasp. “Watch it,” he growls, bending to pick it up, but I’m faster. I snatch it while keeping my flustered appearance, and catch a glimpse of an open message thread where he shared photos of that young woman.
I steal a glance at him as I head toward the nearest maintenance corridor, opening the settings to disable Face ID. “Hey!” he yells. “Get back here!”
Come on. Take the bait.
With an agitated look at the women’s loo, he huffs and takes off after me.
That’s right, follow me.
In any other situation, I’d have been able to disable security cameras and unlock doors, but they’ve increased security measures ten-fold since I started learning the tricks of my trade.
This leaves me with few choices.
I spot a security officer ahead, and make my way toward him, my breath coming in quick pants. I slip the phone into my pocket so I can analyze it better later. Could be a lead… imagine the coincidence.
“Sir,” I manage, before the guy catches up, forcing fear into my tone. “That man right there.” I gesture toward him. “He left a bag near the restroom. I thought I heard it buzzing, and he seems off. He was dragging a young woman around. I think she might be in trouble.”
The officer’s eyes widen, and he calls for backup, barely giving me a nod before he takes off after him. Within seconds, two more officers appear from different directions.
I duck into a crowded souvenir shop, and watch the man’s takedown unfold from a distance. Three officers surround him, one with his hand on his holster. The man glowers as they escort him away from the public area, most likely to an interrogation room.
My plan may not pan out, but hopefully it gives the woman enough time to get help. And I’ve got his phone. Who knows what kind of nuggets I’ll find in it.
For now, I blend into the crowd as I head to baggage claim. Just another traveler in a sea of people. The heaviness in my chest feels slightly lighter as I picture that man’s face the moment he knew he was caught. And if I’m wrong about him, so be it. But I have a strong feeling my instinct is spot on.
Once I pickup my luggage, I find a spot outside and lean against the wall, waiting for my rideshare to arrive. I’d love to start digging into that guy’s phone, but there’s not much I can do right now without my equipment set up. It’ll have to wait.
Instead, I finally switch my phone off airplane mode and smile as I’m greeted by a long line of messages in the group chat.
Jasper: Miss you buddy. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of your bike.
I shake my head and scroll down.
Damon: Should I hide the keys? Text when you land.
Jasper: I’m hurt… also can’t hide what you can’t find.
Falin: I have the keys and no, I’m not giving them to either of you. Lee, Havoc and Mayhem say hi xoxo
Blake: Be safe… miss you already!
I laugh under my breath. I miss those hellions too. All of them.
Me: I landed safely, am heading to my mum’s now.
Notifications light up my screen but I swipe them away. After the long flight and the time change, not to mention the anxiety of being back, I don’t have it in me to yammer on. Instead, I pull up the thread I’ve looked up everyday for the past year and a half. My insides twist when I read the last message Bailey sent.
If only I’d answered her. Met her there. Donesomething.
Firefly: Grabbing a drink with Layne… wish me luck!
I’ve texted her everyday since. Multiple times on most days. Until the number no longer worked and then I moved the messages into a notes file.
Her last tracked location was a nightclub called Heat. We did everything but strip the place to the studs after she was taken. The police interviewed every possible witness, and of course we followed up with the same people too. Her roommate, her friends, random strangers that mentioned seeing her.
Nothing but dead ends.
Eighteen months of them, day after day, knowing she’s out there somewhere suffering, and I was the last person she contacted.Me.And I couldn’t even tell my best friends. That secret eats me up inside.
