Noted

Chapter 14

I woke up naked the next morning, at the foot of my bed, to the buzzing of my cell phone which lay beside me. Nicholas Lake had sent a text to the entire team about an early morning "mandatory" emergency meeting.

I quickly got up and dressed and headed out without breakfast. I knew that I couldn't miss the meeting. I no longer cared about staying at the Times; I simply didn't want to appear guilty of anything.

When I arrived at the Times building, I noticed police cars parked in front. So with precaution, I decided to go in through the back entrance. I then climbed the emergency staircase and made my way to the third floor. I nonchalantly walked down the hall, trying not to be noticeable, until I finally arrived at the meeting. The door was slightly opened. Rather than entering, I decided to listen before going inside.

"How do you know it's her?" someone asked.

"Police stumbled upon some footage from 34th Street," replied Mr. Lake. "There was a text on her phone from an unknown number that originated from a store-bought phone...A phone which had been purchased with a gift-card just minutes prior...A gift card originally bought by a Mr. Troy Ramirez...an intimate friend of Miss Moore.

I gasped and placed a hand over my open mouth. I wanted to fall to the floor and die.

"So what happens when she shows up?" asked one of the interns.

"She'll be taken into custody."

"What if she doesn't show up?" asked another.

"Doesn't matter," replied Mr. Lake. "They've already issued a warrant for her arrest for both Miss Moore and Mr. Ramirez.

I rushed out of the building. I placed the hood of my coat over my head, hiding my face, all the way down to my nose. I calmly strolled past a couple of police cars which, thankfully, were empty, and I simply kept on walking.

I knew it was time to run, once I had reached a couple of blocks from the building. I was going to get what I deserved; spend the rest of my life in prison. It was the right thing for what I did, but the moment I heard my name announced as a suspect in that meeting, I couldn't help but answer my instinct to escape.

I thought about how I'd succeed at running away, and about where I'd go, and about how I'd survive once I did get away. My thoughts about running and survival flooded her mind, that without even realizing it, I'd already arrived as far as the Brooklyn Bridge. Since there were several people surrounding me, allowing me to feel inconspicuous, I thought it the perfect place to stop and think.

No matter how hard I tried to figure out an escape plan, I couldn't figure out what do to next. No matter what path I'd take, I was certain I'd leave tracks for the police to find, and I would be caught. I was smart, but I knew the police were smarter. I thought about how stupid I'd been to have purchased the unknown telephone with a gift-card that Troy had purchased with his credit card. What else did I overlook that the police would easily discover? Suddenly, Troy came to mind when I recalled Mr. Lake saying, "They've already issued a warrant for her arrest for both Miss Moore and Mr. Ramirez."

I gasped and said, "Oh, God. He doesn't know."

I was so distraught about planning my getaway that I had forgotten that Troy, too, was involved; even though I didn't want him to be. I quickly dialled his number; I needed to tell him.

"Hello?" Troy's smooth voice said as he answered, sending a comforting warmth to my chest.

"Troy, they found out!" I blurted out. I couldn't hold it in any longer and started to cry.

There was a long silence on the other end of the line.

"How?" Tory asked.

"I listened in on the meeting; they have security footage from cameras, from 34th street, from that night, and that phone I bought; they traced the gift-card back to your debit card. They've issued arrest warrants for both of us."