Chapter 28 #3
She is not a good liar and her story will fall apart if she opens her mouth. We’re going to have to work on that with her. “We’ve been with her nearly everyday,” I interject. “If not us, her best friend, Summer.”
They look back to Berlyn for confirmation and she nods again, dabbing her eye with the tissue once more. At least it makes her look more convincing.
“Maybe that’s why?” I suggest with a shrug. “We were worried after that last stunt,” I continue, adding my own grimace while Ezra nods.
“We’ve heard how situations like this can escalate. Do you think Berlyn is at risk here?” he takes over, playing the role of concerned boyfriend.
The officers look unsure on how to answer that but eventually one of them dips his head in acknowledgment. “It’s good for her to have her guard up,” he agrees. “She’s certainly at the center of this case.”
Berlyn’s body trembles. “You mean…” Her voice thick and I’m impressed because even I believe she’s in shock. “Is it my fault?” she whispers, making both officers rush to assure her it’s not.
Ezra smirks behind them, shaking his head at her antics.
“Whoever did this is deeply disturbed,” the officer who has been mostly quiet says.
“The bigger concern is your safety, Ms. Matthews. All of the anger he had directed at Richards could easily turn towards you,” he pauses, looking around the room at each of us.
“Or the people close to you.” He pats her on the shoulder and West rubs her back and the officer continues.
“Is there anyone in your life that stands out to you? Has shown up in places you weren’t expecting them?
Seemed to pay too close attention to you? ”
She sniffles and moves to get up from the couch.
“Umm, my friend and I have talked a lot about it,” she confesses, moving to the dining table and grabbing a notebook from it.
I arch a brow at Ezra, but he shakes his head.
He isn’t sure what she’s up to either. “We’re pretty sure the stalking started after I started college here. ”
My eyebrows raise, shock preventing me from keeping a poker face. I expected her to play dumb, especially since she’s not a very good liar.
Berlyn hands the notebook over to the officer. “That’s a list my friend and I made when we were trying to figure out who it could be,” she says, looking at the floor. “None of the names really jump out at me, but we didn’t know what else to do.”
Her list. I almost laugh. Maybe I don’t have to kill those fuckers after all.
The officers flip through her list, pointing out the notes she made next to each name. “This is very helpful, thank you. It gives us a place to start.”
The silent officer studies me before looking over at my brothers. “And how long have you three known Ms. Matthews?” he questions with a raised brow.
“We grew up together,” I answer. A slight exaggeration, but easily verifiable. “We all went to school in Madison.” Our hometown isn’t too far away. Close enough for them to recognize the name as he jots that down in his notebook.
“And you’re all enrolled here?”
“No,” Ezra answers this time. “Only, I’m a student, but the three of us live together off campus.”
He pauses, watching the three of us closely before focusing on Berlyn. “And have you always stayed in contact?”
“Here and there. I do the maintenance on her car,” I answer. “Have since we all moved here.”
Ezra narrows his eyes at the man, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “And we’ve had classes together over the years. We started hanging out more over the last few weeks when we came over to help fix her AC.”
Berlyn licks her lips and nods, agreeing with both of us.
The officer gives Ezra an unamused arch of his brow. “And when did the sleepovers start?”
Berlyn flinches and West squeezes her shoulder in comfort while Ezra steps in front of her. “I’m not sure how any of that is your business.”
His partner steps in, holding his hands up to appease Ezra. “We only want to make sure we’re looking at all possibilities here. Unfortunately, that means looking at the people closest to you as well.”
“Why would they need to stalk me?” she asks. “They’re already here all the time.”
“Are you aware your home owner sold the home recently?” he presses and his partner sighs, rubbing his temple.
Oh fuck. We hadn’t quite gotten around to telling her that part. At least only one of them seems suspicious of us.
She surprises all of us when she says, “Yes, I was aware.”
“And you don’t find it odd that three men you went to high school with bought the house you live in?”
She scrunches her nose in confusion, but doesn’t take her eyes away from the officer and I hold my breath without meaning to. “I mean, it was a coincidence for sure. But I’m really not sure what you’re trying to say.”
Holy fuck, I’m in love with this girl.
“Me either,” Ezra takes over the conversation. “But if you’re insinuating we’re suspects then we’ll be needing a lawyer.”
His partner sighs. “Would you guys just mind confirming where you were on the 21st between the hours of 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. of the 22nd?”
We know where we were. We were right here. They should know that too since we’ve already told them.
“I’d have to check my calendar,” Ezra mumbles, pulling out his phone.
Berlyn takes a deep breath and for the first time I notice the way she’s keeping her hands tucked behind her back. She’s far more nervous than she’s let on. Our girl. So good. She clears her throat. “Was the 22nd the first day Professor Richards missed our class?” she asks softly.
At their nod, she continues. “They were here. With me and my best friend.” She gets up from the couch, her hands trembling. “Sorry,” she apologizes to the officers. “This is just a lot.”
“We understand,” the nicer of the two officers says, though the one who suspects us gives Berlyn a pitying smile. It’s hard not to roll my eyes. “Is there something you needed?”
She licks her lips. “Umm, you said,” she stumbles over her words and takes a deep breath. “You said you may need my security footage of that night.”
He nods. “It would be helpful in moving to other people on the list.”
“I downloaded it for you,” she explains, walking into her bedroom and coming back with a USB in her hand. “It has all the security data from that night.”
He takes it from her and slips it into his pocket.
“Thank you for this, Ms. Matthews. And for all your help.” He gives her an apologetic look but doesn’t spare much of a glance for the rest of us.
The way they're treating her lightyears away from the way they first treated her when she called for help.
Fucking bastards.
“If we have any other questions, we’ll call you,” he says, rising to his feet and heading to the door.
Berlyn walks them out and we follow closely behind them.
When they reach the door both officers stop and turn to Berlyn.
“Whoever this guy is, he’s deeply disturbed, Ms. Matthews. Please be careful.”
Okay, rude. I wouldn’t say deeply. I happen to think what we did was romantic. We’re just protective of what’s ours. Like Summer said, we were only taking out the trash. Basically community service.
“Officers,” Ezra says, his tone not as sharp as it had been when he threatened to get a lawyer involved. “Do you think she’s safe here? Or…” he lets the thought trail off.
“We do have an extra bedroom,” I offer and Berlyn pinches the back of my arm.
The officer who had been suspicious, eyes us warily before lowering his head in a nod of respect. “We will continue our surveillance, but we haven’t caught anything so far.”
“It’s not a bad idea to have back-up though,” the other officer adds. “Keep an eye on her, boys.”
“We’ll do our best,” I promise and with that, they finally turn to leave.
As soon as the door is fully shut behind them, Berlyn collapses to the floor. “Oh my god, I’m going to throw up,” she murmurs. West picks her up in his arms, chuckling.
“No, you’re not.”
She shakes her head vehemently. “Yes, I really am,” she argues and now that I really look at her, she does look a little green. Her entire body shakes in West’s arms as he cradles her to his chest.
“You did so good, Baby Girl,” I praise. “I didn’t know you had it in you.”
“I don’t,” she cries in exasperation. “I’m so going to kill all of you.” Tears begin to stream down her face and I feel bad, but I can’t help but laugh. She held it together so fucking well while the cops were here. I was shocked shitless. It’s refreshing to see the side of her I had expected.
Even West is smiling as he comforts and praises her through her body-shaking tears. “I don’t do well under pressure,” she sniffles.
Ezra steps up to her, wiping the tears from her cheeks and kissing her nose. “You were exceptional under pressure.”
“Then I don’t do well after pressure,” she laments, making me laugh again. “And you guys own my house,” she laments, letting full body sobs out.
“Would you like us to make it up to you?” I offer and she’s immediately nodding her head against West’s chest even as she continues to cry.
“Yes, and we need to establish rules. Like first of all, no more livers, or antagonizing cops, or becoming suspects where I have to lie. Actually, wait. Maybe just no more murder in general,” she begins to ramble.
Each bit comes through another sob or heaving breath, baby the time she gets all of her rules out, she’s a little calmer. Only sniffling.
Ezra kisses her on the forehead. “Last one might be a little hard,” he admits softly. “It’s kind of our job.”
She eyes him warily, trying to decide if he’s joking or not. “We can come back to that,” she decides. “No more making me lie. I’m so bad at it,” she begins to cry again.
“You were very convincing, baby,” I praise and she looks at me with disbelief in her tear-soaked eyes. “Not so much right now,” I amend, “but when it mattered.”
Ezra smacks me as she starts crying all over again, but she’s so fucking cute, I only find it more adorable.