Now my research obsession was even stronger. My caned ass didn't stop me from sitting on it all night and trying to find out more about Chloe, piecing together her crime. Everything fell together so easily — the chat conversation, I could totally tell that it was Clo on the other end now that I was reading it in her voice. Her awkwardness when we went to visit Sage. Had they even ever met in person? All of those "good deals" she got us when we were in Seattle.
Goddammit. There were so many signs and I never saw it!
I was anxious all night, hunched over in the dark typing away madly on my keyboard. There had to be some kind of explanation for this.
Before I knew it, the sun was rising and I'd slept exactly zero hours and zero minutes. I wasn't even that tired, fueled purely on adrenaline and fear.
Ratting out Chloe was the last thing I wanted to do — she'd saved my life at Dominic's, I couldn't turn her in for committing all these crimes. In fact, I owed her. Winters probably deserved everything she did to him!
Staying in my room was not helpful, so I rolled out of bed and went to make breakfast. I made enough for Molly, too, because I was about to wake her and she absolutely hated being waken.
The scent of bacon filled her room after I opened the door, then tiptoed to her bed, sitting on the edge. "MollyPop... I need you."
She groaned, torn between indulging me for a bite of the bacon, egg, and cheese bagel I'd made her, or continuing to sleep. "What the fuck, VyVy." One eye popped open and gazed at the sandwich, then she licked her lips. "What time is it?"
I leaned the plate closer to her nose. "Early. But I just need you for as long as it'll take to eat."
Both eyes were fully open now and she pushed herself up, pausing to glance at me. "You don't look so great." Then she snatched the sandwich half off the plate, stuffing her face and sitting up against the wall.
"I haven't slept. Something's worrying me."
She nodded for me to continue.
I told her about the info I'd gathered, leaving out in the beginning that it was Clo, but finally admitting it in the end. "And I dunno what to do. It's a case for Gabe, he's my boss, but I owe her my life." My eyes were getting teary as I spoke, a little sentimental but mostly because I hadn't slept. Regardless, I felt emotional.
"Have you been using again?"
But when Molly said that, the sadness turned to rage. "Are you fucking joking right now? Where did that even come from?" I pushed myself up from the bed, sitting the plate in front of her, ready to walk away before saying something to Molly that I'd regret.
"Sorry, you just sound kind of paranoid. Chloe? Are you sure you got the information right? Maybe you just need to look over it again with a clear head."
I let out a heavy groan, walking towards the door.
"Wait, don't leave." I stopped to wait for her to finish chewing before talking again. "You came for my advice, even made breakfast and woke me up, so at least let me give it to you. I think you have to tell Gabe... he hired you, he'll be able to look over the evidence and help decide what happens to Chloe. Just trust him."
Grumbling, I started walking again towards the door. That wasn't the answer I'd wanted to hear.
"Wait again!"
"What now?"
She reached into her drawer and came out with a vape pen, hooked on an oil cartridge and tossed it to me. "Use that for your anxiety and take a nap before work. Tell them you're sick. I'll vouch for you."
"Thanks," I muttered, using every ounce of self-control to not roll my eyes at her.
"Don't be impulsive. Think before reacting," she recited when I was already out of her room, closing the doors.
I took a hit off the vape pen, piney taste filling my lungs and causing me to cough profusely. Molly was laughing in the background. But within seconds I felt the tension release from my shoulders and back. I kept walking to my room, hitting it again when I got in bed.
Coming in late cuz sick. Molly will vouch. I texted it to Gabe and then took the last hit before closing my eyes and drifting to sleep.
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