Gym Junkie

The boys went around to Meredith’s today and nothing seemed amiss. There were no sign of anything being wrong. The neighbour said that they went away unexpectedly because their grandmother was ill.

“I think the girls are being made to film themselves with these rich men, and then sometime soon after, they’re forced to find them and bribe them with the footage.”

“Like the other case?” He frowns.

“Just like the other case, but somehow the girls have started to fight back. Or something is going wrong somewhere.”

“You think the girls are double crossing whoever the boss is?” He sips his beer.

“Why else would he be killing them?” I frown.

“Maybe he kills them after their job is done?”

“No, because then the girls wouldn’t do it anymore. He’s doing it to keep them in line, which means they’re doing something wrong or getting close to turning him in.”

“Hmm.”

I sip my beer again and look over to the door. That’s when my mouth literally falls open.

“Peter’s here,” I whisper.

“Who’s that?’ Ben frowns.

“The stepbrother.”

Bens eyes widen. “You don’t think…?”

“He’s a cop. He’s here.” My eyes hold his. “What are the fucking chances of this shit happening?” I exhale heavily. “Fuck,” I whisper. “I got to get out of here before he sees me.”

We watch him walk through the club and take a seat at a table with three other men.

Ben zooms in on his camera, pretending to read something on his phone as he takes the shot. “You go, I’ll stay. I’ll send these to Tane and get an ID.”

Tully

I wake up with a start to my phone dancing across the bedside table. I glance at the clock and see that it’s 3:00 a.m.

“Meredith.” I scramble for my phone. I’ve been frantic all week trying to track her down. Brock won’t even let me go back to my apartment until she’s found in case they’re watching over there for her. He went out and bought me new clothes, toiletry supplies and everything.

I frown when I see the name light up. Deborah…that’s weird.

Brock sits up, half asleep. “Who is it?”

“Simon’s mother,” I whisper. “Hello, Deborah.”

“Hi, Tully.”

“Is everything okay?” I ask.

“No, darling, it’s not.”

I listen, and my eyes flicker to Brock in bed as he begins to sit up, still half asleep.

“We’re in London,” she says.

“What’s wrong?” Panic starts to make my body go cold.

“Simon’s collapsed.”

“Is he okay?” I whisper as my heart begins to hammer in my chest.

“No, Tully. He’s not. He has… he has Leukaemia.”

My whole world stops.

“W-what?” I whisper.

“They’re not sure if he’s going to make it.”

My eyes fill with tears. “What?” I whisper. “No. Are you sure?”

“He’s asking for you.”

I nod, barely to speak through the lump in my throat. “I’m on my way.”

Chapter 20

I stare at Brock, dumbfounded.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

“It’s Simon. He’s collapsed in London.”

Brock takes my hands in his as I sit onto the bed. “Is he okay?”

I shake my head, the horror too real. “He has Leukaemia,” I whisper. “They don’t know if he’s going to make it.”

“Fucking hell,” Brock mutters under his breath as he runs his hands though his hair.

I stand with renewed purpose. “I have to go to him.”

“What?” He frowns.

I put my hands in my hair as panic begins to set in. “I have to get a ticket.” I begin to pick up my things from the room and start throwing them on the bed quickly.

“You can’t go to London, Tully. His parents are with him, they can take care of him,” he says softly, trying to comfort me.

“I have to go!” I snap, and then my crazy eyes turn to him. “Come with me.”

I nod frantically. “Yes, yes. You need to come, and we’ll go now. You can wait in the hotel while I visit him. Please…”

“Tully, I can’t do that. I just had a week off, and we have to find Meredith.”

“Brock, please,” I whisper as tears fill my eyes. “I need you to come with me.”

He wraps his arms around me. “I want to, but you know I need to find Meredith. She’s in real danger.”

I drop to the bed.

“I don’t want you flying over there on your own. I’ll call your mother,” he says, concerned. “Or do you want to take Callie?”

“No,” I snap. “I don’t want Mum there.” I think for a moment. “Callie has to work. I’ll go alone, I’ll be fine.”

His eyes hold mine. “I’ll buy you a ticket and get you on the first plane,” he says.

Fear begins to fill me. “What if he dies, Brock?” I whisper.

He takes me into his arms and holds me tight. “He won’t. Medicine has come so far. He’ll be fine,” he whispers into my hair as he holds me.

I drop my head to his shoulder, but deep down I know that medicine hasn’t come that far. Let’s hope I’m wrong.

I sit and stare out the window of the plane, completely numb.