In The Name Of . . . (Sequel to Fault Line) [Completed]

Chapter Six

The man, Richie, looks at me like I grew two heads.

"How do you know him?" Lizzy asks bewildered, standing beside me.

"It was a shot in the dark. Jane told me about some of her adventure and mentioned how he assisted in getting her out of the FBI facility."

Richie and Lizzy's expressions relaxed. They seemed pleased with my answer. But, I mean, it is the truth.

Richie smiles, motions to the two chairs placed in a funny looking circle, and tells us both to take a seat. We do as we're told and he places his elbows on his knees, leaning towards us both. "Where to begin?" he asks, switching his gaze to Lizzy.

"Alright, it started with Jane's beginning. Her mother abused her and in a desperate act for it all to be over, Jane stabbed her mother . . .  repeatedly." Lizzy looks from Richie to me. "Then after she and her sisters were brought to her aunt's house, she ran away after the cops were on to her. Then somehow she met me. But I know that more happened here, I just don't know what." Lizzy states, looking at us.

I nod slightly. Am I the only one here that somewhat knows all about Jane's story?

"Okay . . ." Richie sits up straighter. "Do you know when she arrived in Missouri?"

"Around eight or nine days after her mom's death, she could've did anything in that much time." Lizzy says.

"I know for a fact that she stayed in Michigan for four of those days. She stayed until after the funeral." I say, my voice lowering at the end of the sentence.

"Alright, that's something. Now it gives us a shorter time span to find out what and where she went." Richie nods, more pleased with the information.

"She could've bought supplies in that time or hid in an old building." Lizzy offers.

"I don't think that's it though. If the police were after me, I wouldn't spend too much time in town gathering supplies, I would get them along the way somewhere else."

I don't offer up any information. I know where she went, but I just met these people, I have to be careful. Jane trusted them once . . . and I can respect that they helped her out, but I'm not Jane and they haven't done nothing to help me out beside ask if I wanted to learn more about Jane's death.

"True . . . she could have done anything. Lana . . . do you have any idea?"

I blink at the two people in front of me. "Umm, she could've tried to get away but had to go back into town to get some money."

"Of course! She probably didn't have any money on her when she ditched the house. She must've gotten the money from someone . . ." Richie trails off, deep in thought.

Lizzy and Richie think about it, though I know, I always know what Jane did. I'll never forget the story.

"Wait." I take their attention. "Back when I was little I remember Jane told me something. She said, 'You can always count on your friends, especially in dire times.' So, maybe she went to her friend's house?" I ask.

Lizzy looks towards Richie and he returns the gaze. They have a conversation through each other's eyes. They both nod.

"Who was her friend at that time?"

I think, the name foreign to my mouth. "Stacy Neuman."

"Might as well start there." Lizzy says. She looks at me. "Nice work, Lana."

I smile, though it doesn't reach my eyes. And I know that they know it.

"You okay, Lana?" Richie asks me, leaning forward a little.