What If You

grabbed her purse and headed towards the elevator.
A sickness formed inside me as I ran toward her, grabbed her arm and spun her around so her face was mere inches from mine.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I spoke through gritted teeth.
“Let go of me.” She yanked herself out of my grip. “I’m not talking to you when you’re like this. Just don’t give him the damn money.”
“I’m sorry,” I spoke in a calmer voice as I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’m sorry, Everly. Please, let’s go into the living room. I want you to tell me what you know.”
She stood there as she narrowed her eye at me for a moment. After letting out a sigh, she set her purse down and took a seat on the sofa in the living room. Walking over to my bar, I poured myself a double bourbon.
“You know what? I need some fresh air. Let’s go out on the terrace and sit down,” I said.
She got up from the couch, grabbed her beer from the table and we both took a seat outside. The sky was dark, and the moon was just starting to appear.
“I’m sorry, Asher. Do you think I like knowing what I do? I hate it.”
“Just tell me everything.” I brought my glass up to my lips.
“I saw it when I shook his hand at lunch.”
“You saw him kill her? You actually saw him do it?”
“Yes. They had gotten into a fight and were screaming at each other. She went to hit him, and he grabbed her wrists and held them tight. She was telling him that he was hurting her, and he said really awful things. Then he calmed down and said he was sorry. While she was in the bathtub, he walked in and handed her a glass of wine. He asked if she needed help washing her hair and that he’d be happy to do it. He held her down under the water until she stopped breathing.”
I sat there in silence for I had no words for what she had just told me.
“He took her body, wrapped her in plastic, drove out to the countryside and buried her. He packed up and left Paris the next day before anyone knew she was missing. You said he’s staying at one of your hotels, right?”
“Yeah. He is.”
“Is the room under your name?”
“Yes. Why?”
“He doesn’t want to leave a trail. He didn’t fly to New York.”
“What do you mean?”
“He flew to Georgia, rented a car and drove here. So as far as anyone is concerned, he’s in Georgia.”
“He had to give the rental car place a driver’s license to rent the car.”
“He had a fake I.D. and he paid cash. He can’t get an apartment here or a job because the police in Paris will track him down. He knows exactly what he’s doing and he’s using the money you’re giving him to disappear and create a new identity for himself. You’re never going to see him again, Asher. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll be right back,” I said as I got up, went inside and poured myself another drink.
I was riddled with sickness over this and I just couldn’t believe Noah would do that. I didn’t even think he was capable of murdering someone. Going back out to the terrace, I sat down next to Everly and took a few strands of her hair between my fingers. As much as I hated what she told me, I knew she didn’t have a choice. She was protecting me, again.
“I know you’re having a difficult time dealing with me and my issues,” she spoke.
“Is that something you see?” I asked.
“No. It’s something I sense, Asher.”
“It’s a bit unnerving at times. I won’t lie. I honestly don’t know how you handle it. You told me your mom numbed herself to it with alcohol and drugs. I can see why, and I do worry about you, Everly.”
She lightly placed her hand on my thigh as her lips gave way to a fragile smile.
“Don’t worry about me. I’m at peace with it. Sure, at times it can be exhausting and overwhelming, but I’ve learned how to manage it.”
“I’m sorry for the way I behaved earlier.” I softly stroked her cheek.
“I’m not going to tell you it’s okay, because you really need to get a handle on that.”
I couldn’t help but smile when she said that.
“I’ll try. Now what are we going to do about Noah? I can’t let him get away with what he did.”
“I already called the authorities in Paris. Eloise was reported missing and I told them what I know and where to find the body. They said they’ll be in touch as soon as possible.”
“And how are they going to prove he had anything to do with it?” I asked.
“His DNA is under her fingernails. While he was drowning her, she grabbed his arm and scratched him.”
“I still can’t believe he would do something like that.” I shook my head in disgust. “We’re meeting tomorrow. I’m supposed to be handing him a check. What do I do?”
“He told me today that he suggested the three of us have dinner together. Set that up for tomorrow night. I’ll get him to confess and Daniel will be there to arrest him.”
“He’s my friend, Everly.” I looked away from her.
“He’s a murderer, Asher. He purposely killed his girlfriend, buried her body and fled the country.”
I finished off my bourbon and we both got up and went back inside. After setting my glass down on the island, I turned to Everly who grabbed the salad and the pizza from the table.
“Stay with me tonight.”
“I’m not sure—”
“I want you to. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be asking.” I took the pizza box and salad from her and set them down.
“I guess I can.” The corners of her mouth curved upward.

24
Everly
I was in the middle of picking up a few things at Target when my phone dinged. Pulling it from my purse, I saw I