After her talk with Ray Thursday night, Ashley told herself to let Brandon be Brandon. Let him work through whatever he needed to. Ray said he’d tell Brandon everything in the morning and that would help make things right between her and Brandon. This way, Ashley wouldn’t have to tell Brandon she knew about his mom and Ray. It was all going to work out, so there was no reason for her to worry.
Two hours later, she still hadn’t stopped thinking about Brandon’s whereabouts. She picked up her cell and called. No answer. That was understandable, he was mad after all. Maybe she would send a text. No. They weren’t in high school. Brandon was a grown adult. He’d come home on his own soon.
It was midnight when she remembered the GPS app on both of their phones.
Ashley thumbed through the features on her phone and found the app. She clicked on Brandon’s name and waited. Searching…..searching…..creating map. Brandon was on South Tacoma Way, the industrial area. It wasn’t the best part of town for a guy without a car. Ashley grabbed her purse and locked the door before walking out of the apartment.
As she got in her Mini Cooper, she refreshed the map. Now he was by the Tacoma Mall. The buses stopped running after midnight. He either walked or was driven there. Maybe he Ubered there. But why? Who was he with? Could he possibly be cheating on her while thinking she was cheating? Liars never believe anyone. Jesus, was she the only one not secretly fucking someone around here? She started the car and headed towards the mall.
Judging by his location on the app, Brandon was in a blue van parked next to a green Lexus. The van was in a far corner of the otherwise empty, Tacoma Mall parking lot. Something was going on in that van. Ashley parked near a closed down restaurant about a hundred yards away. She turned off her lights and figured they wouldn’t see her. Hell, with what they were probably up to, they wouldn’t notice if she came up and knocked on the window. That idea had its merits, but she wanted to know who it was first.
After a few moments, the side door of the van slid open. A large woman with red hair hopped out, carrying a bag. Ashley watched her throw something small. The woman looked around the parking lot. Even from where she was, Ashley recognized Gretchen. Ashley’s blood ran cold. Gretchen popped the trunk of the Lexus, put the bag inside and got in the car. Alone. Gretchen drove right by without even a glance toward Ashley. Ashley watched the van. Nothing happened. She checked for the signal from Brandon’s phone. It was gone. Gretchen must have found and thrown the phone. She could go get it, but that would mean letting Gretchen get away. Ashley started her car.
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