Chapter 23: Over the Edge

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Chapter 23:

Over The Edge

Frank wasn't his normally brash self in the car, and Emily knew it was because he knew how bad things were. He knew she was probably going to die. They all did. It certainly didn't stop them from trying to play Secret Service with her, though. She just had to hope that she didn't end up like Lincoln or Kennedy. Emily tapped her fingers against the edge of her phone, staring at the message from her would-be assassin.

"All I want is you. Give yourself up."

The words were strangely chilling to her. The whole message bothered her, but "All I want is you" unnerved her. She couldn't help but wonder if there was a deeper meaning to everything that was happening. The cops would be closing the case of the wreck in a matter of days. Whoever this was knew that. He had set it up. Why wouldn't this person just let her go? Why was this psycho so desperate to have her? Had she really pissed him off that much? Was it a matter of pride? Of him looking weak in front of his people if he didn't follow through on the hit? Was it a game of control? A game of ownership? An ego thing?

She continued to stare at the message, trying to make sense of it, trying to figure out if there was some kind of encrypted message buried in the words. She just needed an idea of who this person was. A key. A clue. Anything that could point to his identity. Just as she'd suspected, Manny hadn't been able to get a hit on the unknown number. He had uploaded the message and its data to his computer and was going to work on it some more.

She glanced out the window and sighed. The rain had let up. There was a slight misting here and there, but the heavier stuff was behind them, slowly creeping along their tail.

"For the record, he knows you're right," Frank said, slowing the car down to take a left hand turn. Emily looked over at him. "It's why he's so pissed."

"I know."

"Personally, I think it's a ridiculous idea to go belly up for the creep doing this shit to you. You're reckless as hell for even considering it, and..."

"Thanks, I'll log that away in my flower-print diary." Emily rolled her eyes. "Look, I don't need another wannabe dad in my life telling me what an idiot I am. I know fully well how dangerous it is."

But what else was she supposed to do? Risk Ali's and Lily's lives? No matter what she did, it was going to end badly. If someone was going to get hurt, it deserved to be her. Her loved ones were innocent.

"You didn't let me finish." Frank muttered, irritated that she'd interrupted him.

"Now you know how all the ladies in your life feel." Emily gave him a sarcastic smile.

He huffed out a laugh. He hadn't been expecting so much lip from her, especially given all the shit she'd just been through. He didn't realize that she needed the normalcy.

"Damn, that was quick." He nodded in approval. She opened her mouth, ready with another zinger, but he stole the punchline. "Let me guess, that's what she said?"

"Nothing gets by you, except personal hygiene."

"You really missed your calling in stand-up comedy," he said dryly.

"Nah, I don't do nearly enough blow." Emily smirked.

Frank laughed again.

"Got to hand it to you, you're really on your game today." He was impressed. "Also, I like the fact that you are assuming I've got ladies in my life."

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