Hacking The Heart [Immortal Hearts #1] (#Wattys2016)

[17] - Chemistry Of A Car Crash

4th Street - FBI Building; 2:06 AM:

"So, you're saying that you told me you loved me and kissed me, and Landon caught you, which led to the fight." Kaylee summarized what Finch had told her. "Why can't I remember any of it?"

"You were there, and told me that you and Landon broke up." Finch replied. "That night at the hospital, you took me to a hotel and we had sex. You don't remember any of it?"

Kaylee lowered her head as an odd mix of emotions swirled through her young mind. Was he lying to her? Why couldn't she remember anything about him or around that time, especially so if she went as far as breaking with Landon and having sex with Finch? Most of all she was angry, extremely so.

"Do you remember what you did to me?" Kaylee asked, referring to what he had done in the forest.

Finch shook his head. "I don't remember anything after that night at the hospital. That guy...I think he said his name was Richard Sandave or something. What did I do to--"

Finch's head was turned sideways by a fully-fledged smack from Kaylee's open palm. What she had been through, what he had done to her, he hadn't remembered any of it. That was what made Kaylee angry, more so than everything else. Why did she have to be the only one who remembered it? Why was she the one had to suffer with having the memories of it?

"You...fucking raped me." Kaylee's hands - rather, fists, visibly shook as she told Finch what he had done. "...You fucking asshole."

Kaylee got up and began searching for some clothes or even something to cover herself with. However, all that existed in the room was a garbage can, a bed, and a single, stainless steel toilet. That was all, if you excluded the one lamp and the large metal door, that is.

"Under the bed." Finch said.

"What do you want?" Kaylee asked, her voice filled with contemptuousness.

"Your clothes, they might be under the bed." Finch pointed at the black space in between the bed and the cold, dirty ground. "If they aren't there, then they are probably gone."

Apartment Complex Near 4th Street; 9:46 AM:

Landon, after killing Jeffrey along with Martin and his family, went to his apartment and got a bit of sleep, which he had desperately needed. Hours later, he had come to. Immediately, as though he were a robot, he sat up and looked at the front door. Since he had killed Martin and Jeffrey, he had one more victim that belonged to the so-called 'BD4,' and that man's name was Dale.

Dale was a person who Landon couldn't find anything on whatsoever. No fake names or identities could be found, Dale was truly off of the grid. According to Jeffrey, Dale rarely, if ever, spoke to anyone. He didn't have any known family or friends, just partners (who were now dead, obviously). The one single thing Landon was able to find out, however, is Dale's address, thanks to Jeffrey.

After getting up, Landon searched the address and quickly found the exact location using Google Maps. That was how he ended up getting to the cheap, nearly desolate-looking apartment complex. What Landon wondered was why someone like Dale, who most likely had quite a bit of savings under his belt, was staying in the dump Landon stood in front of.

Was it as it appeared? Was Dale broke and without money to spare, contrary to Landon's beliefs? If Landon was correct and Dale did have money to spare, then why would he have chosen to stay in, for lack of better word, a dump? Was there something more than what met the eye?

More importantly, what did Dale know? Was he involved in The Sundown Project, outside of kidnapping Kaylee? The facts were laid out in front of Landon, as were his suspicions, assumptions, and presumptions. He combined everything, but continued to come up with nothing every time. Was it due to the simple fact of Dale being a ghost in every sense of the word that made him so hard for Landon to figure out?