Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 62923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62923 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“You’re supposed to be resting!” Ryder called out from across the room. He was on his cell, trying to make the quickest flight arrangements possible, but keeping one eye on Remi while he talked.
“My head is on a pillow,” Remi retorted. “That’s rest. Anyway, I’ll sleep on the plane. Good enough?” Before Ryder could answer, Remi turned his attention back to Mary. “Does he really love me? You can see that, right? You’d know.”
Mary’s face suddenly turned somber. “He does love you, Remington Newsome,” she answered softly. “He loves you enough that one day he will risk it all for that love. Hold tight to one another while you can. If you don’t let go, he’ll keep you safe.”
Remi’s gaze turned stormy. “What in the hell does that mean? Does something happen to Ryder? You’ve got to tell me if he’s in danger!”
“You’re both in danger, Remi,” Mary answered. “Surely you understand this? The man, the one you are visiting, his hate for whoever stole Jason Waylon’s death from him was already palpable. When he learns of Kris’ escape, he will be most dangerous. He’ll seek answers and I’m sorry, but he will find them. My inner voice tells me that parts of your story have already been leaked to the press. The farmer…he didn’t know any better. Jeremy shared too much, but it was the only way to get the man motivated enough to save Kris.” She patted his hand. “Just remember, Remi, watch for the hints. The dead can only share so much with us.”
After dropping enough bombs to make Remi want to grab Ryder, lock them both into a bomb shelter, and live alone for the rest of their lives, Mary stood up and announced she was leaving. She did, however, inform them that she was going home to pack a bag and then she’d catch her own flight to Texas. She was always eager to spend time with her son and wanted to be there in case Remi needed assistance.
After that, she left them alone in the hotel room. Remi’s heart had never ached so badly with a fear he couldn’t even begin to describe. Something was going to happen to Ryder, and Remi was terrified he wouldn’t be strong enough to save him.
He was staring into space, contemplating how to keep them both safe, when Ryder sat next to him on the bed and asked, “Are you ready, Remi? We got lucky. There’s a flight leaving in forty-five minutes. Jeremy used some police authority that he really doesn’t possess to get us on that plane. Do you feel like traveling this soon?”
“Of course, I do; there’s more work ahead of us. The man…he’s going to be even more angry. We have to stop him, Ryder.”
“We will, babe,” Ryder answered. “Oh, and Jeremy faxed some things for us to review on the flight home, some yearbooks from Gary and Jason’s high school. I guess it’s no shocker that Kris Tatum went to the same high school as Gary Lacasse and Jason Waylon. He hopes you will recognize the missing girl and we can put a name to her face, as well. There’s a connection, and we’re going to find it.”
Chapter Six
While on the plane, Remi and Ryder and looked at four years’ worth of high school yearbooks from O’Connells Preparatory High School in Galveston, Texas. Finding Gary Lacasse, Jason Waylon, and Kris Tatum hadn’t been difficult at all. They were members of a group of friends that were either the most popular kids at the high school or had complete control of which pictures were selected for the yearbooks. There weren’t many pages where one wouldn’t find a picture where either one or all their entire clique didn’t grace the pages: Gary Landon Lacasse, Joshua Peterman, Jason Waylon, Melissa Sanders Brus, Kris Tatum, and Ron Perry. At least, that’s how it was up until their senior year. It was during the last year that Remi had excitedly pointed out the red-haired girl with the beautiful smile.
Veronica Giles Westfall.
When he’d found the first picture of Veronica, Remi’s finger traced over the path of her face. She looked so damn happy…like she’d won the lottery, and it didn’t take much effort to realize Veronica viewed Gary Lacasse as that lottery. If there was a picture of Veronica, Gary was right next to her, his face beaming with the same happiness and beauty of young love.
What went wrong? Who could possibly want them dead, and why?
Where Veronica suddenly appeared, Joshua Peterman disappeared from pictures. Remi and Ryder noted that the senior yearbook was dedicated to Joshua Peterman. He’d taken his own life at some point between the beginning of his senior year and graduation. Had his death been the catalyst to what was happening? Remi frowned; Joshua’s suicide had been nearly two years ago and there was also the fact that Joshua wasn’t involved with any of his visions. It would seem like if the boy was the catalyst, he’d be there with Gary and rat girl…no, Veronica.