You've Got it Bad

Thirty Four

Jade's POV

It had been nearly 24 hours since Perrie had been missing, and if I didn't find her soon I didn't know what I would do.

I drove around for hours trying to think of what I could do. I couldn't trust the police to find her. I've never trusted them in the first place. You see how they used this as an opportunity to corner me because of my past records. Records that had been sealed by the way.

I decided to go to the Starbucks Detective Pinnock said Perrie was visiting. I got out of my car and walked up to the front door and then turned around.

It was well past midnight, so I knew they weren't open. I just wanted to stand where she stood. I needed to retrace her steps, if that made any sense at all. My adrenaline was pumping and my heart was going a mile a minute.

I looked out into the lot and saw no cars or people at all. I paced up and down the parking lot, combing every inch of it, looking for something... anything. I assumed her car had been towed away.

I must've walked up and down that lot a dozen times, but I found nothing. I'm not even sure what I was looking for. I got back in my car and leaned my head against the steering wheel in frustration and despair.

I nearly gave up on her before and that was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever come close to making.

To be clear, it wasn't because I thought she was weak, it was because I was weak, but if being with her has given me anything, it's strength. She had been strong for me so many times. Literally my rock. I will never give up on her. Ever.

Suddenly, a thought hit me. What if Jimmy was alive? What if he had Perrie? My stomach twisted at the idea.

If by some miracle that asshole was still alive, and he did have her, when I found them, I would kill him again and again and again to make absolute sure not another breath escaped his lungs

But how could that be? I saw him with my own eyes. I felt the life leave his body. There was so much blood. He was dead. I know he was. But I'm running out of explanations.

Still, the idea crept in and took hold. No matter how much I tried to push it away, it stayed.

What if I missed something? What if I wasn't as careful as I thought?

And if he was alive, then he would stop at nothing. He would come for the people he knows I love, and for me. If that's what this was, I wasn't going to let him win.

I quickly scrolled through my call log to redial the number that Perrie and I called a few days ago for her cousin.

"Hello?" The familiar voice answered and she sounded as if she had been crying too.

"H-hi, is this Perrie's cousin?" I asked, suddenly a ball of exposed nerves, on the verge of tears again.

"Yes, who's this?" She replied, sniffling.

"My name is Jade. We met—"

"Oh, Jade! Please you have to find her! Please! Tell me you're looking for her!" I couldn't even get my sentence out before she cried into the phone.

"I'm trying." I replied, tears pricking my eyes as my throat tightened. "I won't ever stop trying, but I'm going to need your help."

"Anything!" She replied quickly.

"The guy you investigated for us, were you able to find a location for him?" I asked.

"Yes. But, Jade... these people seem dangerous. I tried to warn Perrie but she didn't listen. God, I should've just never told her anything! I should've never left her there alone!" She cried.