Run Away

Chapter 38

Evie pulled her cap down on her head as she exited the police station, quickly descending the stairs while looking both ways and hurrying down the street towards the train station.

Once on the train, Evie sat down nervously in a spare seat and watched out the window at the platform scanning every face she saw. Her palms were sweaty and she rubbed them against the thighs of her jeans to dry them.

The train jolted forward as it started to move and begin its journey. Evie breathed a small sigh of relief but also of despair that maybe she was wrong, maybe her plan wouldn't work. What if she couldn't help to find Kelly, what if Ryan didn't have her at all?

As Evie watched aimlessly out the window, her fingers knotted in her lap, she felt someone sit in the vacant seat next to her making her jump slightly at the intrusion. She turned to look at her new companion and her breath caught in her throat when she saw his blue eyes smiling at her.

"Hello beautiful," Ryan crooned at her gently.

Leaning in, Ryan went to brush his lips against Evie's, but she managed to move her face in time so his lips met only with her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Ryan apologised, sitting back up straight, Evie's eyes darting to his in surprise. "I don't know how the police found you. I went out briefly to get something and when I got back the pigs were everywhere."

Evie's brow furrowed in confusion then realisation dawned on her. She knew she needed to play the role if she was going to get an opportunity to save Kelly.

"Where were you?" Evie asked, "I thought you already had all the supplies we needed. I was sick and you left me."

Ryan's head bowed as he shook it in despair. Evie took the opportunity to take a quick glance over the back of her chair to see if anyone was watching them. Nobody seemed interested, which she was grateful for and scared her.

"I made a mistake, but forget about that."

"What mistake?" Evie pushed gently, unsure she wanted to know the answer.

Had he taken Kelly and murdered her? Was she safe? What if Detective Michaels had been right and Kelly had just gone to a friend's house and hadn't contacted Sandra. Questions milled around in Evie's mind, but she took another steadying breath and tried her best to focus on Ryan and getting some answers from him, or it would have all been for nothing. She would have given herself to him once more and for nothing.

"Never mind about that," Ryan answered, taking Evie's hands in his and holding them to his chest. "We're together again and that's all that matters and I won't let anyone come between us again."

His words made Evie uneasy once more. Who had he thought got between them this time?

"We'll get off at the next station," Ryan continued on, oblivious to Evie's fears she was sure he could see all over her face. "I'll get us a new car and we'll get out of this town before the police start looking for us again."

"What about your other car?"

"I left it with a pretty little present in the trunk, easy for the pigs to find," Ryan skited, proud of himself. "It will keep them distracted while we make our escape."

Ryan leaned in and at the same time pulled Evie towards him, so their foreheads were touching. Evie swallowed the lump forming in her throat, praying her sweaty palms wouldn't give her away. He still smelled of cigarettes and whisky, making Evie wonder if he had stopped drinking at all in the time they had been apart. Ryan's cold blue eyes looked deep into her as he spoke.

"In less than a day, we will be in our own little paradise at the lake house. Together forever," Ryan whispered.

Evie's heart pounded in her chest, she was sure he could hear it. Dizziness and made her sway in her seat slightly, but with Ryan holding her she hardly moved. Evie tried her hardest to push her panic attack away, she needed to stay focussed, and it was up to her to save Kelly.