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I knew I needed a break. Couldn’t outrun anyone right now.

So, I sat down.

More sirens.

Shit.

Then I noticed something familiar out on the water. I squinted my eyes to see more clearly, but yeah, out there, bobbing up and down in the low waves, was what had to be Alan’s little fishing boat. And the lanky silhouette in it had to be him.

“Damn…” I smiled as I fished my cell phone out of my pocket. I had to think a moment to remember his number. The sirens disturbed me and made me miss my own phone.

As I called I saw the silhouette bend down out there. That boded well.

“Hello?” I heard the mechanic’s voice as he picked up.

“Alan?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s Maggie. I—”

“Oh hey, Maggie. I didn’t realize you had a new num—”

“Listen, Alan. I need help. Look toward the shore. Can you see me?” I got up slowly. My brain protested wildly by starting to thump inside my skull.

“Oh, yeah. That you?”

“Yeah. I need help, Alan. Please.”

“Sure thing. Hang on.”

And with that, he hung up. Slowly, I put the phone back in my pocket and sat down on the rocks again to wait. As I watched the little boat change course, I managed a little smile. Sometimes I fucking loved my Community.

Five

Finding Evans turnedout not to be easy. I wasn’t all that surprised. If she had been able to walk away from the car crash, she couldn’t be too badly hurt. Maybe she’d been more prepared for the crash than Thomás? I had no idea. I left the scene of the crash and headed in the direction she’d gone. I ended up walking along a high edge that eventually sloped down to a stony beach. It headed straight for town, and with no sight of Evans, I had to double back and get the car. I had no doubt she had headed into Ashport, but exactly where was a tricky question. She hadn’t gone home. This time, she wouldn’t. I also doubted she would go to any of the places she kept clothes, or at Gerard’s or Annalise’s. I was aware I was getting to know her anew these days, and I knew enough to know that she would not want to risk anyone’s safety. That was what she lived for, wasn’t it? Helping others. I had been so blind. Of course, I hadn’t known about the crazy world she lived in, but still. I had read her all wrong.

It was already dark outside by the time I stepped into Danny’s, craving coffee. I had no idea what to do next. I would have to start knocking on doors despite not believing she would go to any of the places Yorov or Larkin might know about. Maybe they had ideas about where she might hide out. Of course, there was also the possibility that she was lying hurt in an alley somewhere. I didn’t think so, judging by how far she’d walked, but you never knew.

“Here’s your coffee, Nate,” Danny said putting a large cup in front of me, the smell itself waking me a little.

“Thanks.”

“Anything else?” she asked.

I was about to say no but then looked closer at the old lady. She looked like a grandmother spat out of a fairytale book. Short, thin, and with white curly long hair and two sharp blue eyes that smiled at anyone she saw. I might as well start knocking on doors here.

“Do you know a Maggie Evans, Danny?” I asked her, taking a sip of the coffee.

“Maggie? Sure. She’s in here now and then. Why?”

“I’ve never seen her here.”

“Oh,” Danny smiled and put a hand on her hip. “She usually comes in the late afternoon or evening.”

I nodded while drinking. Of course she did. Cops flooded this place during the day, so naturally, she’d use the place in the evenings.

“Have you seen her today?”

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