Page 127 of ICED
“Good. She deserves it.” He pauses, then says, “Sophie’s due next week. You reckon you could do one of those lemon loaves? The ones she likes?”
“Done,” I say. “I’ll send a few things with you when you go to the hospital.”
He nods, eyes going softer than usual. “Thanks, Jacko.”
I’m halfway through lacing my boots when my phone buzzes again. I glance down.
MAYA: I think Jamie’s outside. I’m sure it’s him. He’s across the street, just watching the bakery. I don’t know what to do.
My stomach drops. I push off the bench so fast the bottle top flies off my water. “Shit. Shit, shit.”
Ollie’s head snaps up. “What is it?”
“Maya says Jamie’s outside the bakery.”
The dressing room stills instantly. Murphy’s already halfway to his feet. “She sure?”
“Says she is.” I grab my keys. “I’m going.”
“I’m coming with you,” Ollie says without hesitation.
“Me too,” Murphy says.
Dylan pulls on his hoodie. “We’re all going.”
I don’t argue. I don’t have time. We pile into my truck like we’re heading to war.
It takes twelve minutes to get to the bakery. Twelve minutes where my brain claws at itself with every possible worst-case scenario. Jamie with a weapon. Jamie slipping into the kitchen while Maya’s distracted. Jamie doing something to scare her again.
I don’t even remember pulling up. I just know the tyres screech as I park across two spaces and throw the door open.
Maya’s standing just inside the bakery doors, arms crossed, face pale. She’s shaking. There’s no mistaking it. The tremble in her hands, the way her shoulders are hunched like she’s bracing for a blow. I’m through the doors in two strides.
“Maya.”
Her eyes meet mine and widen in relief then immediately flood with fresh panic.
“He was right there,” she whispers, pointing through the front windows. “By the lamppost. Just standing and watching. Then he was gone.”
“Okay. Okay.” I glance at the others, who fan out behind me, Dylan and Murphy scanning the street, Ollie heading round the side to check the alley. I turn back to her. “Did he come inside?”
She shakes her head. “No. He just stood there. But it was him, Owen. I know it was.”
I nod. “I believe you. Stay here.”
The guys check the bakery, the surrounding streets. Every corner, every alley. Nothing. No trace.
When Ollie comes back in, he shakes his head. “No sign of anyone.”
Maya sways. “No… no, that doesn’t make sense. He was there. I saw him. I know what I saw…”
“I believe you,” I say again, stepping forward to catch her before she collapses under the weight of it.
Her voice cracks. “What if he’s gone to the nursery?”
Silence. That kind of silence that screams.
“No,” she says, breath catching. “Owen, what if…what if he went to Lila instead. What if this was just a distraction?”
