Page 91 of Diluted Truths
“I know,” Sarah said calmly as she grabbed my hand. I immediately fell into her arms, hoping she could take away the pain. Tears began falling down my cheeks harder and my body shaked with silent sobs.
The love of my life was missing.
Jackiewas missing.
Fai reentered the room from the kitchen. As he looked at me, I could tell he was shocked to see the emotion so present in me. “Let’s head to the office. If there is evidence here the police could use I don’t want us disturbing it. Someone grab her cat, we need to make sure he is taken care of or she will kill us herself when she comes back.” He choked out a laugh as he looked at Jedi. “Let's head to the office. We can make a plan there.”
We all began gathering our things, as well as Jedi and his supplies, as Fai turned to me and grabbed my shoulder. “We are going to find her. I promise. I can’t lose her either. Ineedto apologize. Ineedto explain. Ineedto make it better.” I nodded, unable to use my voice. “God, Will, you are in no condition to drive.” He slowly broke eye contact with me to look just over my shoulder. “Oliver? You good to drive his car to the office?” Oliver nodded and I threw my keys to him. We all left her apartment silently, hoping she would just show up in her usual chaotic manner.
I turned around one more time and looked at Jackie’s home. I was going to find her, I had to. I made her a promise as we finally drove away towards their office. I would find her or die trying.
Chapter 27Smoke and Trouble by. Society of Villains & Sam Tinnesz
Will
Missing for Two Hours
The idea of death had never scared me. In fact, I had long since accepted that death was simply a part of daily life. I knew it was inevitable to experience the death of loved ones, friends, acquaintances, even enemies. It didn’t scare me.
Past tense. It didn’t scare me until I had to face the idea that she was dead.
Jackie may be dead.
Her presence near me made it easier to take a breath. The idea of facing a hard day was no longer debilitating with her by my side. Loving Jackie was as easy as breathing. Losing Jackie was akin to my own death.
“We’re going to find her.”
I turned to face the old man that Jackie loved so dearly. That was just who she was. She didn’t half ass anything in her life. That included the love she showed to those she cared deeply about.
“We need to find her, Stan,” I choked out. “We have to. I have to.”
The Fibonacci Files office felt empty without her laughter, dull without her smile. It was as though she was the life of the office and withouther, the office was dead. I knew I would do anything to bring that life back.
I had spent my entire life trying to show that I was different from the cruel man my father was. I purposely studied degrees in university that differed from my father’s view of success. I had moved to the other side of the country to escape his sphere of control. Hell, I had never formed any serious attachments outside of friendships because it was easier to avoid even the idea of having someone I care about near him. My father was the devil, and I had lived my life trying to stand in the light.
That was then. Now Jackie was missing, and I knew I would gladly become just as cruel, just as evil, just as dangerous as him to get her back.
I would do anything for her.
“Come on, Will, we need to talk about this with the team,” Fai stated as he walked past me into the heart of the office and sat at the main conference table.
I could feel myself vibrating with anger. The thin level of control I have maintained my whole life was beginning to snap the longer Jackie was gone.
“What is there to talk about, Fai? She is gone. Missing. Sitting around and talking isn’t going to bring her back,” I spit at the man in front of me. I knew it wasn’t his fault that she was gone. But he didn’t believe her. Not when she was having her nightmares, not when Griffin was alluding to this very moment, and not even now that she was missing.
“Calm down, Will. We are all stressed and worried about her. Lashing out at me is not going to help.”
I scoffed. “You haven’t done anything to help her since she took on this case. You claim that you are all one happy family who will always support her. But you didn’t,” I yelled as I stalked towards the table and slammed my hands down. “You fucking abandoned her. Less than a day ago. Why? Because you didn’t believe her stories? Because you were madshe was with me? Or was it because you don’t and have never fucking respected her!”
Fai stood and looked me dead in the eyes. “Don’t you dare insinuate I don’t respect her. She is my world, my family, my goddamn sister.”
“But do you look at her as an equal? Or is she right that when you see her, you still see that broken girl you found years ago?”
With that, I could see I struck a chord. Fai practically fell back into his chair as I could see him contemplating my words, which were, from the look in his eyes, the unfortunate truth.
“William. Stop.” I turned to face Sarah as she placed a hand on my arm. “Now is not the time for this. We need to talk about where she could be. If she was taken, who did it. Not throw insults back and forth at each other.”
“I am not going to sit here and do this with you. We all know who took her.” I turned to face Fai. “You may not believe it, but this is exactly what Griffin and even Joey stated was going to happen. It was the Cult. That’s why she is gone. We all know it, even if some of us are unable to accept it.”
