Page 11 of Entangled

Seven long days without her here.

Mr. Reid has since gone live on TV to plead for his daughter’s safe return. There’s even a reward of ten thousand dollars to anyone with information that leads to a break in the case.

Walking into the kitchen, I switch on the small TV on the counter before opening the fridge. We don’t have much in the house, but that’s nothing new. I reach for the leftover pasta salad from yesterday, then pause, listening.

“Dylan Cooper from the small town of Skelton was arrested earlier this evening in connection with the murder of high school student Chloe Reid.”

I shut the fridge and stare at the TV.

Murder? Dylan killed her?

“There is still no body in the case of the missing high school girl who disappeared in the early hours of the twenty-seventh of October, but police believe they have sufficient evidence to charge Chloe’s boyfriend, Dylan, with her murder. Blood matching Chloe’s was found in his bedroo—”

Switching off the TV, I place the remote on the counter. I’m trembling. The silence threatens to suffocate me, and I blink against the tears that sting the backs of my eyes.

“Oh my god…”

My feet move, carrying me out of the kitchen and into the hallway. I put on my Chucks before hurrying outside. It’s drizzling with rain, and by the time I’ve crossed the grass to Mr. Reid’s porch, my hair is frizzy, and my gray Oxford hoodie is damp. I knock on the door and wait. I don’t know what I want to say to Mr. Reid. I just know that I don’t want to be alone right now.

The lock sounds in the door and then it opens, revealing Mr. Reid. He’s unshaven, with bloodshot eyes and a food stain on his white T-shirt. I’ve never seen him this unkempt before. He used to take pride in his looks, but losing his daughter…

“I watched the news.”

He opens the door further and steps aside, a silent invitation for me to enter.

“Can I get you anything?” he asks in a croaky voice. I quickly shake my head, following him into the living room, where we take a seat on the couch. The coffee table is littered with empty pizza boxes and beer bottles. There’s even an ashtray with cigarette stubs. I’ve never seen Mr. Reid smoke in my life.

“I don’t know how to feel,” he admits. “Relieved that someone was arrested? Sad because they believe she was murdered?” He scoffs, elbows on knees.

“Both?” I suggest softly. I’ve never lost a family member. I can’t begin to imagine the pain Mr. Reid is going through right now. I feel lost without my best friend.

“Fuck,” he breathes out, rubbing his face. “I always thought Dylan was a decent guy.”

When he looks at me, tears bead on his lashes. I don’t reply because I don’t know what to say. Mr. Reid seems happy not to be alone. We sit in silence, both deep in our own thoughts.

“Can they arrest him when the only evidence is blood?” I ask him.

“Yeah.”

“What if he didn’t do it?”

Mr. Reid sighs long and deep. “We have to trust that the investigators know what they’re doing. Dylan was the last one to be seen with her. Her blood was in his bedroom.”

I chew my lip. It’s hard to imagine Dylan would ever hurt Chloe, but he was sometimes jealous and possessive.

“How are you holding up?”

Tucking my hair behind my ear, I attempt to steady my shaky inhale. “I miss her.”

He stays silent, waiting for me to carry on.

“She came around every morning, you know?” My vision blurs. When I blink, tears fall, and I wipe them away. “It’s so quiet now. I keep expecting her to walk into my house every morning. She never knocked.” I release a soft laugh. “She just waltzed right in like she owned the place.”

Inhaling a ragged breath, I whisper, “Mr. Reid—”

He shakes his head. “Call me Grayson.”

“Grayson.” I taste the letters on my tongue. “She could still be alive.”

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