Before I Go: A dark and tense psychological crime thriller. by Marie Reyes (reading strategies book txt) 📕

“Of course.” Alex sat back on the sofa.

“We don’t want you to get in trouble for our sake though. Josie already blames herself for Miguel’s wife.”

“Is that the one that died today?”

“Yeah.” Michael sighed and ran his hand through his hair, it was getting in desperate need of a good trim. “There is one other thing you could do for me. I can pay you… although… if the police are looking for us, will they be keeping an eye on our bank accounts, I wonder?”

“Don’t you worry. You pay me back when you can for anything. What is it you need, anyway?”

“Well, it’s kind of two things, really. I left something important in a locker in a hotel in Arenales. It’s probably not there still, but it’s important, and I can’t get anywhere near the place. They know me there.” Michael’s mouth seemed to work independently from his brain. He couldn’t believe what he was asking.

“So you want me to pick up something for you?”

“If that’s okay. Just quick, in and out. Book a night, check the locker. I hid it right at the back, so I’m hoping they didn’t find it yet. I’ll give you whatever money is left in my bank account.”

“What is it?”

“I’d rather not say, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

“It’s kind of exciting. Aleksander undercover. What’s travel if not to have some crazy story to tell after, huh?”

Michael’s conscience twinged like a faulty muscle. He assured himself that Aleksander was in no danger. They had no idea who he was, to them he was just some other traveler. The thing that really bothered him was what he was asking him to pick up. If he knew what he had been tasked with, would he even have agreed? Aleksander couldn’t get into trouble; pentobarbital was legal here. Michael knew Aleksander’s curiosity would get the better of him, and he would have a look at what was inside the brown bag. Michael decided he would worry about it later and pushed the thoughts away.

“So what’s the other thing?” Alex asked.

“Do you know if there is a drug-store near here?”

“What for?”

“I’ll write you a list.” Michael grabbed a pad of paper that had been kindly left by the owner by the phone and started scribbling down a grocery list.

Chapter Twenty Four

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.“ Josie held the scissors against her long, sleek hair.

“It’s just hair. It’ll grow back. Do you want me to do it for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll do it. Then I’ll do yours. You know you look like you’re wearing a mop on your head.” It was the first hint of a smile, or an expression other than sadness or fear that he had seen on her face for a while.

The contents of a pack of hair box-dye was laid out on the kitchen counter: a sachet, two bottles, a pair of gloves, and an instruction manual. “What do I do with this?”

“Are you kidding, Michael? It’s easy. Just read the directions. What is it with men not wanting to read instructions? It’s like a sickness.”

“But they’re in Spanish.”

“Look at the back. I’m sure it will have English on there.”

Michael held the crinkled fold-out leaflet in front of his face, squinting at the small writing like he was a lost tourist reading a map.

Josie sighed. “Just mix the three bottles together, give it a shake, and slap it on. It’s not rocket science. Give it here.” She put the scissors down, took the biggest bottle and unscrewed it, adding the color sachet and the small bottle of oil to the developer before screwing the lid back on and giving it a vigorous shake. As she twisted the protective seal off of the main bottle, liquid erupted out the top like a volcano. “Here you go, try to get it even okay? Don’t want you standing out more than you do already.”

He squeezed a load of the creamy liquid on top of his head and rubbed it in with his bare hands.

“Michael, seriously? It’s black hair dye, you’re going to stain your hands. Careful not to get any on the floor either, because that will stain too.”

He burst into uncontrollable hysterical laughter that shook his entire body and left him gasping for breath. One minute they were minutes from certain death, and the next they were worrying about getting a stain on the floor. Such things seemed so utterly insignificant now. He could see the ends of Josie’s lips reluctantly turn up, as if she was desperately trying to keep her feelings bottled up, until the pressure was so much that it spewed out like that bottle of chemicals he was putting on his head. The great-heaving laughs wrenched their whole bodies until tears streamed down their faces, and they weren’t sure if they were laughing or crying.

“What is going on in here?” Aleksander came from outside, bringing the smell of cigarettes in with him, and looked at them as if they had lost their minds. “Careful with that. I want to make sure I don’t get charged for damage.” His words only served to make them laugh harder, and his look of bemusement turned to laughter.

“Don’t you think Michael will look really hot with black hair?” Josie said in-between gasps.

“Like a sexy Lego man.” Aleksander laughed as he grabbed his fourth beer.

“Maybe we need a fake mustache to complete the disguise?” Josie added, red in the face.

“No, a sombrero. Maybe a poncho.” Alex’s released a series of short, high-pitched laughs.

“A newspaper with two eyeholes cut in it.” Josie wiped tears from her eyes and let out a snort.

“Too far. Too much.” Alex had started to calm down now and was capable of taking a sip of beer without the threat of having to spit it out with laughter.

“Alright, alright, relax. I’m not unleashing my new look just for fun. Besides, Josie is bleaching her hair next, so that’s