Chapter 44: Chapter 44

"Go! Emily, go!" Trish whisper-yells at me, pointing excessively in the direction Jane has disappeared. I nod silently before running towards the alleyway, keeping myself pressed back into the wall. Trish follows right behind me and I have to admit, it really does feel like we're part of MI5 now.

I peer into the alleyway, unable to make out much from the darkness surrounding it. The further I look down, the darker and scarier it is. My heart thumps against my chest and I can feel myself breathing heavier from the adrenaline pumping through my blood.

The floor of the alleyway is littered with rubbish, half open takeaway boxes and black bin bags. I grimace at the sight and strain to make out Jane's figure in the dark.

What the hell is she doing in a dump like this?

"Ew, this place is gross." Trish whispers disgustedly behind me, scrunching her nose up. I nod before placing a finger on my lips, signalling for Trish to stay quiet. The roads are completely deserted and silence surrounds us which means Jane may overhear us if we're loud.

"Can you see her?" Trish whispers, leaning closer towards my ear. I shake my head, straining my eyes further to make out shapes in the dark. I sigh heavily, slumping against the wall.

"We're going to have to go in." I mutter unhappily, cursing the dark winter night's. I hear a rustle come from the alleyway and my head immediately snaps towards it, eyes widening. Jane's small figure walks out, a hood pulled over her head. The dim glow from the streetlight causes a shadow to follow right behind her and I freeze, noticing how close she is to us.

"Abort!" I whisper, turning to face Trish with a panicked look on my face. Trish immediately scurries back in the direction of the car with me following straight behind. I quietly shut my door and slide right down in my seat, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

"Did she see us?" I groan, turning towards an equally panicked Trish. She shrugs her shoulders before peering over the dashboard, her breathing intense from the sudden run.

"She's not acting like she saw us, she's walking away." Trish says, a frown on her face. I blow out a sigh of relief, relieved that the plan is still in action.

"Why is she walking away? What was she doing in that alleyway?" Trish questions, her eyebrows creased together as she struggles to put the pieces together. I shrug, realising that Jane's behaviour is indeed sketchy.

"God, I don't like her at all." Trish mutters, starting her car back up. I sit up straight in my seat before pulling my seatbelt over.

"Me neither, especially since she cheated on Tobias." I grumble, staring out the window as Trish drives home.

"Should we have followed her further?" Trish asks me and I shake my head, feeling exhausted from the day.

"We'll try again tomorrow." I respond, turning to give her a small smile. Trish nods silently, staring straight ahead at the road.

"I miss Ivory, she should be doing this with us." Trish comments quietly, her voice thick with emotion. I agree, a lump appearing in my throat at the mention of Ivory's name.

"I'm so worried about her." I reveal, my stomach tightening in knots with fear. The longer a missing person remains missing, the higher the chance of them being dead.

"Do you think she'll ever be found?" Trish questions, stopping at a red light and turning to face me. I shrug my shoulder sadly, looking up at the car hood and blowing out a deep breath.

"I hope so Trish. I really hope so."

*****

"Do you want to spend the night at mine?" Trish asks, handing me a plate of leftover reheated pizza. I nod, taking a slice before nibbling on the end of it.

"If you don't mind, that would be great." I smile gratefully at her, taking a seat on her bed. I lean against the wall and place my plate down on my lap.

"Of course I don't mind, I've missed spending time with you." Trish reveals, her eyes full of happiness. I beam back at her, feeling the exact same way.

"Me too Trish."

"So I have a question to ask you." Trish says, sitting cross legged on the bed in front of me. She nibbles nervously on her bottom lip, her thick eyelashes fluttering.

"What is it?" I question, waiting for her to break the silence. She let out a sigh, her shoulders slumping in defeat.

"What if Jake and Tobias really did do this? Can you be certain that they're both innocent?" Trish says, watching me warily for my reaction. I pause for a moment before nodding my head, knowing my answer immediately.

"Jake wouldn't lie to me. Since he left the gang, he's been nothing but truthful. He wouldn't dare do anything to hurt our family, not anymore. When he told me about that night, I could sense the truth behind his every word." I explain softly, picturing Jake in my thoughts.

"And Tobias?" Trish asks me, inhaling sharply.

"He told me he didn't do it and I believe him." I respond, giving her a small smile. Her shoulders visibly relax.

"So he's not a cold blooded murderer then." Trish laughs dryly, sounding relieved. I shake my head—

"No, he's not a murderer Trish. He's just hurting." I tell her, wondering why she appears so relieved to hear about Tobias. I guess he's became a friend to her too since they've been hanging out.

"So what do you think Jane is up to?" Trish asks, changing the subject. I shrug my shoulders, feeling like I've hit a brick wall.

"I have no idea until we find out what she was doing in that alleyway, seems pretty weird for a college student to be sneaking around." I explain, wondering what game Jane is playing.

"She looks so suspicious, I kind of want to just arrest her and question her already." Trish groans, sounding extremely frustrated.

"Trish? You do know we’re not actual police officers, right?"

"Whatever." Trish responds, rolling her eyes at my constant reminders of her rights when it comes to the law.

"You can't go around arresting and questioning people who look or act suspicious." I tell her playfully, annoying her further. Her eyes widen and she sits up straighter —

"Yes I can! It's called a citizens arrest." Trish corrects me, sticking her tongue out childishly. I give her a questioning glare and she shrugs.

"I looked it up, okay?" She mumbles, taking another bite of her pizza. I'm just about to question her further when my phone rings, stopping me in my tracks. I frown and stare down at it, not expecting a call from anyone.

Unknown Number.

"What the hell..." I mutter, picking it up and answering the call. I hold it to my ear, frowning and Trish quietens down, looking intrigued.

"Hello?" I ask, hearing complete silence on the other end. Moments pass and I don't hear a response.

"Hello?" I repeat, annoyed at the prank caller on the other end. I roll my eyes at Trish and I'm just about to hang up when a voice causes me to freeze.

Her voice.

"Emily?" She croaks out, sounding extremely weak and disorientated. My eyes widen and I clutch into the phone tightly, frozen in shock.

"Oh my god, Ivory!"

"Where are you?" I ask quickly noticing how Trish has frozen in place next to me. She suddenly scurries forward until she's pressed up against me, her ear pressed against my phone. Ivory remains silent on the other end, her shallow breathing the only sound I can hear. My heart thumps wildly against my chest as I wait for her to respond —

"Ivory? Please tell me where you are!" I plead. There's slight movement on the other end before Ivory speaks again, her words sending chills running through my body.

"Stop following Jane or I'll die."

And with that last bombshell, she hangs up.