Here Without You (Red Hook 4)

The girl nodded. “I was in the bathroom. I heard yelling, and it took me by surprise. I heard two different voices besides Gerald’s.”

She started crying again and Matt got her a bottle of water out of the mini-fridge. She took a drink and a couple of deep breaths. “I turned off the bathroom light. I didn’t see anything. I was too afraid to look, but I could hear everything.”

“How well did you know Gerald?” Noah asked her.

“I met him in a club in Morehead. I’ve seen him around, but I didn’t know him well. We came here to party.”

Noah nodded. “Okay, go on.”

“One of them had a Latin accent. He accused Gerald of ripping his boss off of some drugs. Gerald was arguing, saying he gave some dude drugs to get him a girl. He blamed the girl for getting his brother in trouble,” she continued.

Matt had a hard time standing still and listening to this. “Another voice said he didn’t care about Gerald’s personal life. He wanted the money or the drugs back. I heard a shot. I waited behind the shower curtain. I was too terrified to move. Then I heard you all moving around and I went out the connecting room door.

“Thank you so much.” Noah motioned for Greg. “Greg is going to take you home, okay?”

She stood up and nodded. Greg led her out of the room.

Tony pushed himself off the wall. “Well, this a plot twist.”

“Do you think this means Holly is out of danger?” Matt wanted to know. He had a gut feeling this wasn’t over, but he wasn’t sure if it was just him feeling this way.

“I want to say yes, but my gut is telling me different. These guys are killers and I want them out of my town.” Noah opened the door back up and let the coroner come in and take Gerald’s body. Matt was exhausted. It had been a hell of a day, and his mind felt like it was in chaos with all that was going on. He followed his brother out of the room, glad to breathe in some fresh air.

“You going to get Holly?” Tony asked.

“No. It’s late, and I need a shower and a bed.” He was in a messed-up mood. Everything going on weighed on his mind. He took out his phone and texted her, explaining that it had been a long, stressful night and he just need to sleep. She texted right back that she understood. She told him she was having a camping night with Hope and would see him tomorrow. He smiled, feeling a little better that, for tonight, she was safe.

Chapter 15

“Matt, I need my own clothes,” Holly argued with him the next morning. He had been at the station all day. He told her about Gerald. She was sad that his life had ended so young, but that was the danger of being involved with drug dealers. She knew something else was going on, but Matt refused to tell her. She knew he didn’t want her to worry, but it was still frustrating. “I know you’re busy. Liam is off today. He can take me by my cottage real quick, and I’ll come back here. Faith isn’t feeling good and I’d like to spend the day with her.”

She heard him sigh over the phone. “Okay, doll. I know Gerald is no longer a threat, but we don’t know about these newcomers. One of them was spotted at Helena’s diner, so be careful. Noah is nervous because they haven’t left town.”

“I promise. You be careful, too, Matt. I love you,” she told him.

“I love you, too, Holly.” His voice softened. “I promise I will see you tonight. I miss my girl.”

She hung up and went to find Liam. He was in the kitchen, getting Hope a drink. Faith was on the couch watching a movie with her feet up.

“You want to take me by my place to grab some clothes?” she asked him. He handed Hope a sippy cup and nodded. “Sure.”

He picked up Hope and sat her on the couch with Faith. “We will be back in a bit. I am taking Holly to grab some clothes.”

Faith nodded as her daughter climbed on her lap and snuggled up to her. “Okay, be careful out there. I don’t know what is going on, but Adam sounded worried when he called earlier. He’s been talking with Noah all morning.”

“I know. Matt, too.” Holly put her hand on her stomach. She had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach that it wasn’t over yet. “I will be. It won’t take me long to run in and grab clothes. Then Hope and I are making dinner.”

Hope nodded at Holly with a smile.

Liam led her out to his car. Holly looked out the window. The town looked the same. It was another sunny day, and people walked up and down the street, going on with their daily lives, yet the idea that three drug dealers were out there somewhere making plans to set up shop in this wonderful town was scary. It would bring danger to all these people and she couldn’t stand the thought of that happening.

“I hope they catch those strangers,” Holly told Liam. “Drug dealers running around Red Hook is not good.”

“Me too,” he agreed as he drove. “I’m not sure they have any evidence to put Gerald’s death on them, but I hope they do. Otherwise, I am afraid it will be hard to get rid of them.”

Holly shivered despite the warm day. She stayed silent for the rest of the way, consumed with concern. She had finally called her mom and updated her on all that was going on, including her reunion with Matt. Rebecca was worried and wanted to come to Red Hook right away. Holly assured her it was all under control and almost over. She hoped she wasn’t lying.