Under the Stars

“I did it to protect Molly.”

“Molly… Molly,” he mocks me. “Get out of here, Lara. I’ve had enough of your sentimental notions. Go home and leave me alone.”

He stands as if he’s through with this conversation, but I’m on my feet just as fast. “I’m not finished yet.”

“Yes. You are.” In three steps he’s right in front of me, bearing down with his intimidating gaze. “Don’t cross swords with me, girl. You have more to lose in this than I do.”

I take a staggering step back, but my leg bumps into the chair. “I-I don’t know what you mean… I don’t have anything to lose.”

His lips part with an evil grin, blue eyes glittering. “You have everything to lose. You don’t want what I know getting out. You don’t want the truth going public.”

“You’re wrong. I want the truth now.”

“What truth? About the body in the salon?”

“What bod—”

“The body I helped cover up. The one that was never completely destroyed?”

“No.” My vision clouds, and I fumble for the door.

I rip at my sleeve, scratching at the hem, trying to get the bug off of me, trying to keep Mark from hearing these words…

“You arranged your experience with Guy against my warnings and attempts to help you.” My hands slip along the wall, searching for the door to run, but he’s behind me, on top of me, pushing me down with his accusations. “I told you to stay away from him, but you ignored me. You lured him into your dressing room, then you brutally murdered him.”

“No!” I scream, my hands cupped over my ears.

“Yes, little Dark Angel. I have it all recorded. Every room in that theater was under surveillance, yours included, and Landry has the thumb drive. Come at me, and you will lose everything. Your daughter, your freedom, your life.”

I shudder violently, as if frigid cold water is being poured down my back. My fingers finally locate the doorknob, and I turn it, slamming the door wide open and racing down the stairs.

All the words he said are screaming in my mind. Cameras, surveillance, the secret I thought was hidden, burned up in the fire. Landry, the corrupt New Orleans cop… He dug it up, and now he’s just waiting to send my world crashing down around my head.

I’m out the door, running for the hotel, when Mark steps out of the alley, blocking my path.

“Oh!” I pull up short, holding up my arms as if to defend myself.

“Easy,” he says.

I’m breathing fast, and we’re far enough away from the bar that the noise is subtler, muted.

“Mark…” My voice trembles and breaks.

He watches me, blue eyes distant, withdrawn. He looks at me like I’m someone new, someone he doesn’t know. He’s a cop, a hero. Long ago he told me he wanted to be one of the good guys. Now he knows I’m just as bad as all the bad guys we’ve left littered across the continent. My sins are out, and I’m no different than the rest of the fallen angels in the hell we left behind.

“We need to get to the hotel.” He takes a step to the side and puts his hands in his pockets.

All the gestures of love, the embraces, the warmth, are gone. Now he addresses me as if I’m a person of interest, a suspect to question. I wonder if he’ll read me my rights.

He only tilts his head to the side. “We have to talk.”

9

The darkest place I’ve ever seen was inside me, and nothing scared me more.

Mark

Every room in the theater was under surveillance…