Still Waters Run Deep

Chapter 30: On the Warpath

Chapter 30:

On the Warpath

Emily stood in front of Zane, ready to tackle him if he tried to run. She stared at the fresh gash on his head, no doubt a product of their fight yesterday.

"So that was you in the locker room." She frowned at him.

"It's not what you think." He didn't try to deny it.

"I think you're caught up in something you thought you could handle. I think you got cocky and thought you could take me, but you got more than you bargained for."

Zane's forehead crinkled in thought.

"Okay, it is what you think. But I wasn't going to kill you or nothing. I was just going to take you some place until I could figure out what to do."

"So just aggravated assault and kidnapping then? How thoughtful of you." She glared at him. "Who are you Zane?"

She wanted to ask him how his DNA had ended up on the shredded piece of fabric Donnie found, but she didn't want to reveal how much she knew. She was playing her hand close to her chest.

She looked for a dog bite on his arm, but didn't see one. Her gaze fell back on his eyes. She'd never stopped to actually look the boy in his eyes. She saw a hint of familiarity in them. But she couldn't place from where.

"Who is he to you?" she asked.

Zane took a beat before he answered. He considered his response. After thinking about it he came to a staggering realization.

"No one."

"Then give him up. What's his name? His real name?"

"I don't know."

"Where can I find him?"

"You don't find him." Zane rubbed a bruise on his arm. Something told Emily it was not from their fight yesterday. "He finds you."

"What kind of cryptic bullshit is that?" Emily grit her teeth together. She was so sick of the runaround. She was ready for answers. Real answers. "What is his game?"

"I don't know." But he did know. He was torn between two worlds and he didn't know what to do. "Can we not do this here?" He looked around nervously, like someone might be watching him.

"We can do this here or we can do this at the police station." Emily threatened.

"You're bluffing." His face blanched.

"Try me." Emily puffed her chest out in anger. "I have been pushed to my limits. I don't care what I have to do to protect my family. I don't care if I incriminate myself. I'd be willing to bet that they'd go easy on me. You though? You're 18 now. And you have a hell of a record."

"You can't bring the cops into this." He looked terrified. "He has someone on the force in his pocket. He's got this whole fucking town in his pocket. You have no idea. I talk and we're both dead. And I don't want you to die." He'd had a change of heart after he'd nearly shot her the other night. Pulling the trigger had felt good at first, but then the warmth of his alcohol had started to wear off and he realized the ramifications of his actions. He remembered how badly he'd felt after Grace died. "Lily already lost her sister because of me." He sucked in a breath. He hadn't meant to let that part slip.

Emily's blood ran cold. She felt a tight pressure in her chest, like her heart was getting ready to rupture.

"What do you mean because of you?" Though she knew the answer. She could see it in his eyes. Her pulse was racing. Her thoughts were swirling in her head. She felt dizzy.