That Day by Karen Deen (best novels to read in english txt) 📕

few days? I’m sure you don’t want to be the third wheel in a house where all you’ll be hearing is the bed banging on the wall.”

“Oh my god, you did not just say that, Seth.” Jodie’s just shaking her head in his direction.

“No, it’s okay, he can stay here,” Kurt says. “I already offered and would feel bad sending you away, Oscar.” On the inside, I’m begging that Oscar says yes.

“Bullshit, he’s cool with it, aren’t you, Oscar. We can still catch up with you both, but that way he can take a look at some of my cars, and I can show him around town a bit. Asha needs to rest, and I’m sure he doesn’t want to impose, isn’t that right, Oscar?”

I’m not sure Oscar agrees or really wants to stay with Seth, but he nods and replies, “Sounds great, I’ll take you up on that. I’ll just grab my bag and can follow you there now.” Not making eye contact with me, he disappears but isn’t gone long before he’s back with his bag. Kurt stands, ready to walk them out, and I make a move to get up and head upstairs.

Seth gives me a quick hug, whispering in my ear, “You can thank me later. Three’s a crowd.” His little snicker brings a small smile on my face.

“I might just go up and check on my emails while you see everyone off,” I whisper to Kurt as I walk with him, even though I don’t even have an email account to access. It just seems like an excuse that normal people would give.

“You okay?” he quietly mouths at me.

I just nod, say goodbye, and walk up the staircase to his room where I know he left my laptop and phone.

I’m actually feeling a little tired again. I guess the bang on the head yesterday took more out of me than I thought.

Lying back on the pillow for a minute, closing my eyes, I hear Kurt coming down the hallway.

I lift my eyes open a little, and he just smiles. “Have a little rest and I’ll wake you when Davina gets here. Listen to what your body is telling you.” Not having the energy to disagree, I close my eyes. I hear the soft click of the door closing, and then sleep claims me again.

“I don’t know anything. I just saw them shoot them. That’s all! I just want to go home to my mom and dad. Please, I just want to go home.” I can’t help shouting at them now. I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime in the last twelve hours.

“Can we start at when you got to work yesterday? What happened?” The detective is asking me the question for what seems the hundredth time since we got to the station.

“I already told you. Please, I just want to go home.”

“But you might remember something new.” He calmly looks at me.

“No, I won’t. I went to work. I cleaned the house, then the storm started when they were supposed to be leaving. That man there shot them both, and I ran and hid. Then you turned up.” I point to the picture of the man from the house. Even if the photo wasn’t staring straight at me, I would never forget his face. But it’s the voice that is etched in my brain, and I can’t shake it.

There are words whispered, and I can’t make out what is happening. I can feel my whole body still shivering even though I’m wrapped in a blanket. The shock hasn’t left me yet.

“Jenna, we need to talk now about what’s happened tonight. Your parents have just arrived at the station and we will be bringing them in shortly. But before we do, we need to tell you what is going on. The man, Rusty Locode, that you saw commit murder tonight is linked to a crime syndicate that we have been watching for a long time. They are involved in some really bad things including drugs. We believe they may have been pressuring the Warringtons to smuggle drugs for the syndicate using their import business. They’re under pressure by a rival syndicate trying to take over their territory, and they’re getting desperate.”

The female detective sits down beside me and reaches out, taking my hand, gripping it in an attempt to comfort me for what is about to come, I’m sure, when her partner keeps going.

“These are very dangerous people, and sadly, your life is now in danger. Grave danger, actually. Because you saw the head of the henchmen committing the murder. This particular murder case links Rusty and the syndicate to many things that have been happening down on the docks, drugs being imported and claims of intimidation tactics on some of the businesses there. We have tried to arrest them before, but there was always an alibi for the time frame of the alleged crime and the charges never stuck because we had no witness. No one wanted to talk while the criminals were still on the outside and not locked behind bars. You are like the final piece of evidence to finally bring the whole case together, and it’s enough to get a warrant to arrest them. Getting them locked up with no bail allowed. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”

I feel like I want to puke. The shaking is getting stronger as reality sinks in.

“They will kill me,” I whisper while the tears start running down my face again, not for the first time tonight. But this time the tears are for me.

“I know it’s scary, but we will take every precaution to keep you safe until they are behind bars. We need to make arrangements for you to leave tonight and go into witness protection so no one can hurt you.”

The words are blurring into each other until he says, “You won’t be able to see your parents again until this is all over. They will also be put into WITSEC,