Talk To Me

Chapter thirty-seven

Present

Leah had grown accustomed to spending her days in the restaurant over the past week while Lily and Oliver worked. As Lily prepped for opening or closing, Leah often found a quiet corner at the bar, curled up with a book. Even though her attempts at turning the pages felt like a failure each time, Lily was always there to help her.

Leah glanced up when the door opened, the familiar chime of the bell above signaling someone's entrance. A woman stepped inside, her heels clicking on the floor, and Leah could tell from her posture that she was someone used to being noticed.

"I thought, I might find you here," the woman's voice was smooth, her tone calm as she made her way into the restaurant.

"I'm sorry, the restaurant is closed already," Lily said, wiping down a wine glass with a cloth, her voice polite but cool.

The woman smiled as she moved closer to the bar, the sweet scent of her perfume reaching Leah's nostrils, something unmistakably familiar, but she couldn't quite place it. As she stepped closer, the air around her seemed to thicken with an almost suffocating intensity.

"That gives us time to speak, Lily," the woman said, her voice still smooth but with an edge that made Leah's skin prickle.

Lily's brow furrowed as she eyed the woman. "Do I know you?"

The woman sat down at the bar, her movements graceful, as she set a small bag and a box on the polished surface. Leah watched her, her instincts firing off.

The woman was in her late fifties, maybe early sixties, with a sharp-cut lady suit, subtle makeup, and a presence that felt too controlled, too perfect. But it was the scent—the perfume—that made Leah's chest tighten. It was so familiar, and yet elusive, like a memory just out of reach.

"Not yet," the woman said, her lips curving into a small smile. "But I know you, Lily Miller."

Leah stepped forward, her gaze narrowing as she tried to place the woman. The voice, it was too familiar. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something about her that felt like a deep-set memory buried in the recesses of her mind.

"I know her from somewhere," Leah muttered, stepping closer to Lily, her eyes still fixed on the woman.

Lily nodded, her eyes narrowing, still unsure. "How do you know me?"

The woman's smile widened, and she tilted her head, her gaze flicking back to Lily. "Well, when my daughter complained about a new girl messing with my business and seemingly messing with a man she likes, I decided to look into it." She raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the tension she'd created. "And your name seemed so familiar. To my surprise, we've met before."

Lily shook her head, her voice firm despite the growing unease. "I don't think we did."

"It's her!" Leah blurted out, her voice rising in disbelief. "I recognize her voice."

The woman slid the small box closer to Lily, her fingers delicate as she pushed it across the bar. "I brought you a gift," she said with a sweet but unsettling smile. "Open it. I think you'll find it quite surprising, as all gifts should be."

Lily took the box with trembling hands, her fingers brushing over the smooth, unmarked surface. She paused before opening it, the sense of dread curling tighter in her chest.

Inside, her black wallet sat on top, and she immediately recognized it. A wave of nausea hit her stomach as she pulled it out and noticed Leah's blue purse resting underneath. Her fingers trembled as she moved the items aside, revealing two phones and two passports at the bottom. She froze, staring at the contents, her heart racing.