“Oh God,” I sit down on the bed slowly. Nick has just told me about the body they think might be Jade. “No, not God,” I correct myself bitterly. “Where the fuck is God in all this?! Nowhere! Jade might be dead and it’s all my fault! I should be dead not her!”
“Don’t say that Ali!” Nick’s face is pale. “Jade is not dead and you don’t deserve to die either!”
“It is my fault though! Right?” I look at him, hoping he’s not as angry at me.
“Ali, we are just goin’ round in circles this way!” Nick yells. “And can’t you at least think about what Brian is goin’ through instead of playing the blame game?!”
I stare at Nick as though he has just slapped me. And in a way I guess he has. And I needed it.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I say. “Should I go see him?”
“No, AJ’s with him right now,” Nick sighs and walks back to the door.
“Don’t leave me,” I whisper and he sighs.
“I can’t just sit here right now,” he tells me. “I can’t help but blame you for all this shit. And I don’t want to do that but…” he shakes his head wearily. “Just get some rest Ali.”
“As if,” I mutter. “Nick?” I stop him as he’s about to walk out. “It CAN’T be Jade.”
“I don’t know,” he admits. “I don’t know how Brian would deal with it if it was. Those two…”
“I know.”
“And I don’t know if we’d ever get past it,” he adds walking out of the room.
Marcus puts away his cell phone and opens Brian’s door. He walks inside and sees Brian and AJ sat up against the far wall. They are silent, just keeping each other going. They both look up at him and he smiles.
“Truro just called. It’s not Jade.”
“It’s not? She’s not dead?” Brian asks and Marcus shakes his head. “Oh thank God.”
“I told ya!” AJ exclaims with a grin and the two guys hug each other hard.
“It’s gonna be ok Brian,” Marcus says.
“God,” Brian sits up suddenly. “Just because this one is not Jade… How do I know she’s not lying dead somewhere?”
“Brian, don’t let yourself think that,” AJ says. “Just think that this one is not her.”
“I’ll try,” Brian sighs and bows his head.
“Marcus,” AJ signals for him to leave and he does, shutting the door quietly behind him. He heads to Ali and Nick’s room. They will want to know as well. He knocks on the door and Ali opens it.
“Hey Ali,” he says. “I just wanted to let you know – the body isn’t Jade’s.”
“It isn’t?” she asks and then laughs sharply. “Oh God! It’s not her!”
“Where’s Nick?” Marcus looks past her into the empty room. “He should know.”
“I don’t know,” she says sadly.
The phone rings at 4am and Brian dives for it.
“Hello?”
“You told the police.”
“I am so sorry,” Brian says. “Please give me another chance. I have the money right here and I will not tell them this time. I just want Jade back.”
“Why should I believe you?”
“Because it’s the truth. I’m goin’ crazy without her!” he pleads and Flurry laughs.
“Ain’t love sweet. Ok, you get one last chance. But if you fuck it up they’ll be fishing your girl outta the Hudson for WEEKS to come. Get me?”
“Yes,” Brian says shakily.
“Ok. Just you this time. Bring the money to Brooklyn Bridge. There’s a convenience store just across the bridge called Fast Stop. Leave the money in the trash can outside there and leave, don’t look back.”
“Ok. And Jade?”
“What about her?”
“How do I get her back?”
“When I get the money. You better leave now. I’m waiting,” he hangs up.
Brian grabs the bag and runs out of the hotel room. The floor is deserted and he hits the elevator call button. It doesn’t come fast enough so he runs down the stairs.
Thirty minutes later, he’s told his cab driver to wait for him and he is walking over the bridge. He can see the convenience store up ahead, its name picked out in neon red lights. He starts to run. He reaches the trash can and pushes the bag into it. He leaves and doesn’t look back, even though every fibre of his being is calling out for him to just glance back. He climbs in the cab and goes back to the hotel.