Chapter 10 #2
The next morning, Rick went with Martina and her mom to the police station.
His mom had wanted to go, but Saturdays were busy at the diner, so Rick talked her out of it.
Dani would spend her day with Martina’s grandmother, playing with a few of the cousins and having what was probably a much better day than Rick, who would have to go from the police station straight to the garage for work.
Even though Rick knew he hadn’t done anything, he’d still been vaguely terrified the entire time he was at the police station. He had to go over the evening several times, struggling to answer their questions when he didn’t know the answers.
Did Bryce have a drug problem? Did Bryce have any enemies? What kind of relationship did he have with Alexis Vargas? Had Rick ever seen them fighting? What caused you to go into the women’s locker room? What time was that at?
And on and on and on. The only upside of the day was that he learned that Mike Bailey was okay, though they wouldn’t tell him anything more than that.
By the time they were hustled out of there, Rick felt queasy from the constant low-level adrenaline and would have loved to go back to bed.
Except he had to work. He also needed to charge his phone, because he’d forgotten to last night and when he woke up, it was dead.
He was at his uncle’s shop, cleaning the windows of a car they’d just changed the oil on, when Shauna stuck her head out of the office. “Rick! Get your ass in here and turn off your damn phone!”
Rick immediately put down his cleaning supplies and jogged over to the office.
“Sorry, Shauna. I like the new braids.” Shauna wore her hair in box braids and usually asked the salon to do different colors each time.
They were currently the deep blue and bright green that even Rick recognized as Seahawks colors.
“Got to support my boys, even if they’re having a rough season.” She waved off his further apologies as she went back to her lunch. “Just fix it.” She speared a piece of chicken salad with her fork. “When did you get so popular?”
“Never,” Rick said, quickly scrubbing his hands before he touched his phone.
Now that he was in the office, he could hear the relentless ping ping ping coming from his cell.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize the sound was even on.
” He dried his hands and picked it up, turning off the ringer.
Small crisis averted, Rick checked his lit-up screen.
106 unread messages, 35 missed phone calls. A lot of them from unknown numbers.
Shauna cast a concerned eye on him. “You okay?”
Rick considered lying—not that he had an issue with Shauna, he just didn’t feel like going over it all again.
For a little time today, he had been able to sink into his work and not think about yearbooks, dead bodies, or death threats left on his doorstep.
The problem was, Shauna had been friends with his uncle forever and would catch him in a lie instantly.
Rick gave her the quick version, just hitting the highlights.
When he was done, she held out her hand. Rick put in his password and placed his phone in her palm. She pushed aside her glass container, her lunch forgotten. After a second of scrolling, she glanced at Rick. “Some of these people are asking for interviews.”
Rick ran a hand through his hair and blew out a breath.
“Really?” He peeked over her shoulder as she flipped through the messages.
Shauna was right, a few were from people saying they were reporters—Can we get your reaction?
Are you worried that you’ll be next?—but more were from people at school asking for details.
Did you really find Bryce? Is it true? Did he have his head in his lap?
Rick looked away from the phone. He didn’t want to see any more.
She shook her head. “You found a dead body. That always brings people out of the woodwork.” She set his phone down and looked at him. “You in the middle of something right now?”
“Yeah, I’ve got to finish Ms. Anton’s car.”
“Okay,” she said. “I’m going to go through here and weed out the vultures. I’ll screenshot the messages and put them in a folder, but you don’t need to see them, okay? Then I’m going to block the numbers. You know how to do that?”
“I think so.”
“Good. Keep blocking. Maybe consider getting a new number. I’d like to say I can’t believe some people are harassing a kid who has been through some shit, but I’ve been on the internet.”
Rick hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Thanks, Auntie Shauna.”
She gave him a playful shove. “Yeah, yeah. Just get me something nice on my birthday. And, Rick?”
“Yeah?”
“Has your uncle seen any of these messages?”
Rick shook his head.
“I’m going to send him a few.” She shot him a look that made him shut his mouth before he could argue. “He needs to know. Not only because you’re family, but also because you work here. Sooner or later, this shit always runs downhill.”
Rick shoved his hands into his pockets and blew out a breath. “I didn’t even think of that.”
“I know,” she said absently, already going through his phone. “That’s because your brain isn’t finished developing yet. Makes it hard for you to see consequences. Besides, you’re a good person. It wouldn’t occur to you that people would do such things.”
“You’re a good person, too.” Rick had learned a hard lesson when his dad had taken off—blood didn’t matter. Shauna’s auntie title might have been honorary to an outsider, but not to Rick. Family were the people who showed up and Shauna always did.
“Of course I am,” Shauna said. “But I’ve met plenty who aren’t. I know the drill. Now go finish that car before Ms. Anton gets back.”
Rick jogged back out of the office, careful to watch where he was going. The week he was having, he wouldn’t have been surprised if he slipped on a wrench or a random bolt and cracked his skull on the floor.
—
Rick had his coveralls half off and was scrubbing his hands at the sink when he heard a knock. His uncle Vic opened the office door and stuck his head in. “You’ve got company.”
Rick frowned at him and rinsed his hands. “Company?”
Vic shrugged. “Bunch of kids. Martina’s with them. I don’t know the rest.”
Rick dried his hands and followed his uncle out to the front.
The shop was closed, and they’d just been tidying up before they left for the day.
Rick had been looking forward to spending some time at the Lopez house for dinner, not just because Mr. Lopez was an amazing cook, but because he’d also hoped it would be loud enough to drown out the thoughts of the day.
Rick was heartily sick of his own head, which had been mentally chasing down what-ifs since he woke up.
He wasn’t sure he was up to the company of people he didn’t know well, even if they had Martina with them.
Despite the warning, there were more people waiting for him in the parking lot than he’d expected.
Camryn and Nika were standing next to Martina, who had an apologetic expression on her face, he assumed because she’d known he wouldn’t enjoy the surprise.
If it had been just them, he would have, but the group also contained Paxton, Landon, Alexis, and Zara.
Alexis in particular seemed uneasy and shaky, which was understandable.
“What’s going on?” Rick asked.
Paxton crossed his arms, leaning against his Audi. “What’s going on is that the Scooby gang here dragged us all down to this hellhole because you can’t be bothered to answer your phone.”
Shauna and his uncle had come out with him, and Rick could tell they weren’t happy at his tone or the way his lip curled when he took in their shop.
Shauna had stiffened but otherwise didn’t move.
Vic cracked his neck and grinned, crossing his arms so his muscles strained his shirt. “You don’t like my shop, kid?”
Paxton stuck his chin out arrogantly but didn’t respond.
Zara cut in, obviously irritated. “We thought due to recent events, it might be good to compare notes.”
Paxton laughed. “Is that what we’re calling Bryce’s death? Recent events?”
“Shut up!” Alexis snapped, her arms wrapped tight around her own body. “For once, Paxton, can you just shut up? This isn’t a joke!”
Paxton shrugged. “Calling it like it is.”
Vic scanned the group, his brows furrowed, his shoulders tight. “Seems like a cozy meetup. Not sure you should attend, Rick.”
Shauna dipped her head, dropping her voice. “How many of these kids have your number?”
“Probably all of them,” Rick said. He didn’t think it would be too difficult for anyone to get ahold of it. “But I think it’s best if I see what everyone has to say.”
Vic looked like he wanted to argue, but bit it back.
“Okay.” He grabbed Rick’s shoulder and dragged him aside.
“House rules for tonight. Don’t go anywhere isolated, don’t go alone with anyone but Martina, and I want updates.
” He paused, his jaw tight. “In fact, turn on location sharing on your phone. I want to know where you are.”
“You hate location sharing,” Rick said. “You once said you weren’t a tagged deer and didn’t appreciate being treated like one.”
“Yeah, well, that was before your name landed on a murder list.” He squeezed Rick’s shoulder. “I mean it, kid. I don’t know what’s going on, but it’s freaking me out. I’m worried. You should be, too.”
Rick thought of Bryce’s slack face, his skin cool to the touch. His uncle didn’t need to tell him to be worried. He’d passed that point the second he’d realized Bryce was dead. “Okay.”
“I’ll get Dani from the Lopezes’.” Vic’s tone told Rick not to argue, not that he planned on it. “You’re staying at my house until further notice.”
Which meant Rick was stuck on the couch. Vic had a spare room, but that would go to Rick’s mom and Dani to share. He’d miss being in his own room, but he had to admit, he felt safer at his uncle’s.
“Got it.” Rick had never seen his uncle this worried. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
Paxton cupped his hands around his mouth. “Can we go now? Some of us have things to do.”
“Like your mom,” Martina muttered.
“What?” Paxton snapped the question at her, his head whipping around.
“Why is it always moms?” Camryn scrunched her nose as she looked up at the sky, like maybe the answer was spelled out in the clouds.
“Because no one in their right minds would touch Paxton’s dad,” Vic said. “He’s the village bicycle.”
Based on that comment alone, Rick thought that his uncle might still be a little pissed about the comments Paxton had made about the shop.
“Now, now,” Shauna said, clucking her tongue. “We don’t slut shame in this, our place of business. Even if it is the Embry family we’re talking about.” She grabbed Vic’s arm. “Come on, Hercules. Let’s finish closing up so Rick can go play with his…acquaintances.”
Vic grunted but let her lead him away. “Fine. Rick, I meant what I said about your phone.”
Rick nodded, then went to grab his things.