Chapters (66)
- PREFACE
- Full Page Image
- ONE
- TWO
- One week ago
- THREE
- Present day
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
Without the plaster, I should be a little less recognizable, but that doesn't mean I can be reckless. I walk to the corner of the building, waiting until more people flood the street before I lower my gaze to the ground and do my best to get lost among them.
As I put one foot in front of the other, getting farther and farther away from the police cars, my heart beats loudly in my chest as my optimism soars.
I can do this. I can...
"Right there! Stop right there," someone yells.
I turn my head only for a second to see a few policemen point at me, already running toward me. Without even thinking about it, I run.
It doesn't register that running from the police will only make it worse. The only thing I know is that if I get arrested, I'll never be able to get justice for Nikki.
The sea of people parts for me as I run, the police behind me. I may not be too familiar with New York City, but I know that Noelle's place is within walking distance from Times Square. And once I'm there, I'll be able to get lost in the crowd. My plan made, I turn to the right, going down onto 56th street. If I keep straight, I should come across Times Square—I think.
The police are hot on my trail, but it's not just officers running after me. The sound of sirens echoes from behind.
Oh, God. I'm screwed.
Not only do I have short legs, but I'm also still recovering from a car crash, in addition to having a broken arm that's now freshly out of its cast—before its time. I'm no match for some officers who undoubtedly run for a living or a bunch of police cars that have priority everywhere.
Just as I start to give up hope, I notice one of the billboards on a building shift to a new ad on a sparkly background.
You've been invited.
I frown at the familiar words.
Just two more blocks.
The words change again.
101 W 54th St.
The invite! It's the same address as the invite!
Dare to take the leap!
I maintain my stride, but one glance backward and I can see that the police are getting closer and closer to me.
As I round the corner to 54th street, in a moment of complete madness, I decide to go to that address, hoping it could at least help me elude the police for some time.
A neon flashing light with a flickering 101 W 54th street is above the entrance to a historical building. And that solidifies the decision for me.
I dash to the door and knock, waiting anxiously for someone to open and counting down the seconds until the police spot me.