Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“I think everything, there might be a missing spot or two, but I remember how I got to Montana now.”
When his eyes met mine, I could feel all the emotions swimming around inside him. “I’m okay, Liam.”
He lifted my hand and kissed the back. “I hate this for you, but at the same time, it brought you to me.”
“You’re the only good thing that has come out of this whole nightmare.”
“Are you ready to talk to Randy and Jonathon, or should I tell them to give you some time?”
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “Now that I can remember what happened, I think it will be helpful. I can see the guy’s face clear as day in my mind.”
“Is he the one who kept you in the basement?” Liam asked.
“He has to be, but why would he bring me here? Back to Montana? And don’t you find it strange it’s back to the same area Chad lives in?”
Liam nodded. “I’ve already been thinking about that. I can’t let go of the fact that Chad might have something to do with this. And with Emily.”
I closed my eyes. “I hope he doesn’t, Liam. I really do.”
Liam stood and reached for my hand. “We’re in this together.”
“Together,” I replied.
When we made our way to the kitchen, MaryAnne was cooking meat and Billy was chopping up lettuce.
“What can I do to help?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady and strong.
MaryAnne stopped what she was doing and made her way over to me. She drew me in for a hug, holding me tightly. I nearly wept with the knowledge that so many people cared for me. I went from having no one, to having the most amazing people in my life.
She stepped back and used the pads of her thumbs to wipe my tears away. “You don’t need to do anything. Billy and I have dinner taken care of. Are you okay to talk to Randy?”
Smiling, I hugged her once more. “Yes, I’m good. MaryAnne, thank you for being such a great friend. I know we haven’t actually known one another for very long, but it feels like I’ve known you forever.”
She smiled. “I feel the same way.”
“Mallory, are you up to telling us what you remembered?” Randy asked as he approached, Jonathon not far behind.
Exhaling a long breath, I faced the two police officers and nodded. “Yes. Let’s do this.”
Liam took my hand, and we followed Randy and Jonathon into the living room.
“I’m going to record this, okay?” Randy asked.
Clearing the frog in my throat, I replied, “Yes, that’s fine.”
“Liam said you’ve gotten some of your memory back?” Jonathon asked.
“Yes. All of it, actually. I found a picture in the boxes that Liam had shipped to his house. The picture was from a going-away party at the restaurant I worked in. There was a man standing off in the background. He looked familiar to me, and then I remembered where I’d seen him. He was in the deli the day I went missing. He was smiling at me, and I thought at the time he was flirting. I got my sandwich and went back to the hotel. I decided that night that I was going to leave and move to a place closer to downtown. The lady at the front desk, she told me her cousin was looking for a roommate. I wrote down her name and number and I remember feeling excited at the idea of possibly finding a place to live. I walked into the bathroom, forgot something, and walked back into the main area of my hotel room, and he was standing there. I instantly remembered him from the deli, asked how he got into my room, and then realized he was there to do something bad. I screamed and tried to get to the bathroom, but he grabbed me. Then he punched me to get me to be quiet. I fought him off as best I could, and I got free. I nearly made it to the door before I felt something hit my head. Then everything went black.”
I closed my eyes and drew in a few deep breaths. Liam took my hand in his and gave it a light squeeze. When I looked at him, he smiled and gave a head nod.
I exhaled and went on. “I remember waking up in the backseat of a car. I was tied up, there was something shoved in my mouth, and the same guy was in the front seat driving.”
“Is he the guy from the basement?” Randy asked.
“I guess so. But I couldn’t see his face once we were in the basement. It’s like he’s blacked out in my mind. It’s frustrating to me.”
“Don’t be frustrated,” Jonathon said in a soothing voice.
“Do you remember the name of the motel?” Randy asked.