14
I was certain Josh and my so–called best friend, Danielle, were involved in illegal schemes.
I even suspected that before they met me, they’d already scammed others for insurance payouts.
So, this time, as I went to meet him, I secretly turned on the recording app on my phone.
I glanced at the screen.
Forty–five missed calls.
All from Liam.
—
The meeting spot was an abandoned warehouse.
Josh was always paranoid. What was supposed to be a “runaway plan” felt more like some shady black–market deal.
I can’t believe I didn’t notice–how off this felt in my last life.
The sky was beginning to lighten. The morning sun crept through the broken windows, casting long, pale shadows across the floor.
But my head was still foggy.
I just needed to get some solid evidence to report Josh and Danielle to the police.
And Liam..
Liam.
My thoughts spiraled, his name echoing in my mind like a chant I couldn’t escape.
It was suffocating this betraval this separation. Even for just a moment it felt like 1.
23:34 Mon, Apr 7.
couldn’t breathe.
I didn’t want to lie to him anymore.
I regretted it. I shouldn’t have done this.
As I reached the far end of the warehouse, I froze in place.
The sunrise painted everything in warm golds and pinks, but the sight in front of me was
ice cold.
Josh was tied to a chair, gagged and struggling, his muffled cries filling the empty space.
Behind him stood Liam.
His hands were in his pockets, casually toying with a phone SIM card.
In that moment, everything clicked.
Liam had captured Josh.
He wasn’t just reacting anymore; he was taking control. He was cutting the problem off at
its source.
The voice changer. The phone calls.
Josh hadn’t been the one on the other end. It had been Liam all along.
And then, like a crash, I remembered the things I’d said.
What had I told him over the phone?
“Liam? I can’t even stand to look at him.”
“He’s just a dog that won’t stop clinging to me
“The day he dies? I’ll set off fireworks to celebrate.””
Oh no.
Oh no.
I was so, so screwed.
