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By the ti on it so hard

I nearly let out a sob when I re my lip drove hi

Two Days Later

I’m nearly rabid orry by the time I’m able to leave the shop and catch a cab to Nell’s Tribeca apartment It’s been two days and I haven’t heard shit from her No calls, no texts She was supposed to cooes straight to voiceet delivered Her boss at the little dive bar where she works a couple nights a week says she never showed up for her shift I contacted her on FB Messenger, no answer Finally, I leave Hector to lock up the shop, because I just can’t take it anymore

I toss a bill over the seat of the cab and don’t wait for change I have to take a few deep breaths before I’ave s were great

Up the stairs three at a ti over a little old lady in the process There’s a piece of paper folded in half and taped to the door Shit, no Fuck no What is this?

I rip the note off the door, and it’s oddly heavy for a piece of paper There’s a plastic baggy inside the paper, and inside the bag is a pregnancy test Oh hell no

Oh hell yes

Positive

And no Nell I search her tiny apart in a cupboard or soie, and three scraords: I’ry, I’s it’s all a juht I’one to the airport or buying a ticket or anything I’s I’ve never told anyone, ever, not even Nell, and I’ve told Nell pretty much every sordid detail ofhours later, the plane has landed and I’ far too fast north on I-75 I’ve shut down I’erous I can’t feel All I can do is act,have to

Miles flash, stoplights change too soon and slowblaring horns and flashingmy parents’ house and it’s dusk, but I know she’s not there, ould she be? I skid to a stop in the middle of the road in front of Nell’s parents’ house I leave the car door open, leave the engine running Unreasoning panic drives me, panic so deep I don’t understand it, but I can’t stop it I can only h the Hawthornes’ front door, slalass shatter and wo here?” Rachel Hawthorne has her back to the sink and has a hand pressed to her chest, confusion and fright in her eyes

“Where is she?”

“Who? What—what are you doing here?”

“Where…is…Nell?” My voice is low and deadly

She hears the threat in ins to shake and back away “Colt…I don’t knohat you’re—she’s out running She went for a run”

“Where does she go when she runs?” I demand

“Why do you want to know? Are you two…”

“Where does she go, Rachel?” I’ I should back down, but I can’t

Rachel is tre, white as a sheet “She’s—the old county line road North It goes in a big arc and she—she cuts across Farrell’s field back this way”