Page 22 of Passerby: A Psychological Thriller
Ashley and Davis are here, as is Cole. Roy stops by, but thankfully his appearance is short-lived as a call comes in about a group of inebriated teenagers causing trouble down at the beach. Johnny is in attendance too, with a date who isn’t the usual.
She keeps giving Ashley the stink-eye, and I swear she must be the only person in this town, aside from me, who isn’t falling all over themselves in order to get close to her.
Even I have to admit, she looks perfect. I wouldn’t have thought one could find a dress of that caliber on such short notice, here in Jester Falls, but Ashley proved me wrong. Although, I suppose she could wear a paper sack and still look like she stepped out of the Golden Age of Hollywood. It isn’t fair. Everyone wants to know where she got her dress. When Ashley tells them she got it at Anita’s boutique, she and Anita become fast friends, and Anita doesn’t like anyone.
“I take it you don’t like this one either,” Cole says.
“I just don’t understand what he was thinking, bringing her here.”
“Look at her,” he nods. “That’s what he was thinking.”
“I am looking at her.”
“You never like any of his girlfriends, Ruth.”
“Yeah, well, I especially don’t like this one.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much.”
“And why is that?”
He takes a sip of his beer. “Men never want what they already have.”
I think about this for a long moment, and I wonder if Ryan feels that way about his wife. It’s been a long time, and I wonder when is the appropriate time to give up hope?
Most everyone in this town would say it doesn’t matter. He cheated, and cheaters get what they deserve. I’d like to believe that were true, but I’ve seen too much to the contrary.
I search for Ashley Parker in the crowd and finally spot her on the dance floor. “I wouldn’t say he has her. At least not the way he thinks he does.” I motion with my head, and Cole’s eyes follow mine. “Mark my words. That woman is going to hurt him. She’s evil.”
“It’s tempting to see your enemies as evil. But there’s good and bad on every side.”
I take the bottle from his hand and toss it in the trash. “Who knew this stuff made a philosopher out of you?”
He smiles. “How are you doing?”
I know what he’s asking, and it’s a loaded question. “I’m fine.”
“And?”
“And what?”
“Never mind.” He turns to face me and then scoffs. “Someone shot up your car and ran you off the road. But you’re fine. Why wouldn’t you be?”
“My brothers think Bobby Holt had something to do with it…”
Cole looks at me sideways. “And you don’t?”
“I don’t know. I think it has something to do with that woman.” I point toward the dance floor. He follows my finger until his eyes land on Ashley.
I study his face as he sucks his bottom lip between his teeth. When he releases it, he sighs heavily and looks me straight in the eye. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“Bobby Holt’s family is asserting—” He pauses and looks away, toward the beach. “His mother spoke to Gina, at the paper—”
“Your ex-girlfriend?”
“Gina, at the Gazette.”