Chapter 60

Chapter Sixty

I stand there in the bathroom for at least two minutes, hyperventilating with panic.

I can't believe this. And yet…it makes too much sense not to be true. Randy had the key to Bonnie's apartment. Randy has no alibi. Randy is decidedly creepy.

If only I had told Jake the truth. Why did I let Gretchen talk me into keeping my mouth shut?

I wish I had my phone—I could call Jake and he'd drive over here with sirens blasting. He might already be outside. But I left my purse out in the living room. I can't contact him without going back out there. And the idea of going back into the living room with that man fills me with terror.

But what can I do? I've already been in the bathroom way too long. At some point, Randy is going to get suspicious. And since he knows what he's got hiding in here, he'll likely do anything to protect his secret.

I drop the bag of hair back in the toilet tank and replace the cover. I try not to think about the fact that one of those locks of hair belongs to Bonnie. Randy murdered her and he stored her hair in the toilet. It's just too awful for words.

And now Gretchen has agreed to be his wife. That's even more awful.

I compose myself as best I can. I can't let on what I've found. As I put my hand on the doorknob, a wave of dizziness comes over me. I push it away and open the door. I am going to have to put on the performance of a lifetime. At least until I can text Jake and get out of here. I just have to act natural to make sure Gretchen isn't in any danger until the cops arrive.

"Hey, what happened in there?" Randy asks when I come back into the living room. They have finally stopped kissing and are cuddled together on the couch, Randy still drinking from his wine glass. "We were worried!"

Does he suspect what I might have found? I attempt to laugh, although it doesn't sound like a normal human laugh. Oh well. "I should probably get going. I'm sure the two of you want to celebrate together."

Randy looks like he's about to agree, but then Gretchen jumps off the couch and grabs my arm. "Don't be silly! I bought this cake at that amazing bakery down on Twenty-Seventh Street this afternoon, and I thought we could share it now. I just put it out on the table."

I rub my stomach. "Actually, I am so full from your delicious casserole."

Is that a good enough excuse? Do I have to tell them that I have my period?

"Oh come on, Syd!" Her eyes are shining. This has probably been the best day of her life, and it's about to become the worst. "Please stay for cake. Come on—it's my engagement night!"

I look over at Randy. His eyelids seem to be sagging a bit. I guess the excitement of getting engaged has been too much for him.

Before I can come up with another excuse, someone bangs on the door. There's a doorbell, but this person doesn't seem at all interested in using it. They slam their fist into the door four times in a row.

"Sydney! Are you in there? Sydney!"

It's Tom's voice. Crap, someone must have let him into the building.

"Oh no!" Gretchen frowns. "Why is he still bothering you? God, some men are so awful!"

You have no idea, Gretchen…

Gretchen walks over to the door. She presses her index finger against her lips to tell me to be quiet. I glance over at Randy, who doesn't seem to be paying much attention to me, thank God. He looks like he's almost dozing off. I grab my purse off the coffee table and rifle through it to find my phone.

Damn it, where's my phone?

"I'm sorry, Tom," Gretchen says through the door. "Sydney isn't here at the moment."

"Bullshit!" He slams his fist against the door again. "I know she's in there! Let me in! Let me in or I'll call the police!"

"And tell them what?" Gretchen says shortly. "That you're banging on my door and demanding that we let you in? We're the ones who should call the police!"

I had my phone in my purse—I'm sure of it. Tom texted me before I walked into this apartment, and I had it then. And after I blocked his number, I put it back in my purse. So where is it?

I bend forward, trying to get a better look inside, and a wave of dizziness comes over me again. What is going on here? I only had one glass of wine.

I look over at Randy on the sofa. His eyes have drifted shut completely. I can't believe he's sleeping through Tom banging on the door this way.

"You know what I'll tell the police!" Tom hisses through the door. "Let me in right now! I swear to God, Daisy, you better not hurt her."

Daisy? Who is Daisy? What is he talking about?

"Daisy!" He is shouting now. "Daisy, let me in right now!"

"Why is he calling you Daisy?" I ask Gretchen.

She turns away from the door, her expression thoughtful. "The thing is, Sydney," she says, "there are a few things about me that you don't know."

And then she turns back to the door and twists the lock.