Chapter 15
Aubrey
BEFORE THE ALIBI
A soft knock on my door startles me. I relax when I realize it’s one of my housemates since it’s coming from the door that leads to the interior part of the house.
“Come in,” I call out, since I rarely lock that door.
Deacon’s head pokes in. “Hey, did I wake you?”
I sit up in bed, pulling the covers close since I’m in a thin tee that doesn’t hide much. “No, I’m still up. What’s going on?”
It’s not uncommon for Deacon to pop into my room, but given it’s close to midnight, it feels like this visit is because something is wrong.
I gesture at the end of the bed since it’s the only place to sit in my tiny room.
“Chris checked into that lawyer, Ben Bayliss. Dude is about as crooked as they come.”
This wakes me up. I’ve been debating what to do about Camille Bayliss and the news she dropped on me at the bar last week.
I wanted to show up at their house and demand some answers but Deacon cautioned me to wait.
To let him do some digging first. I have no doubt if Ben Bayliss was doing anything dirty in this town, Deacon’s cousin, Chris, would know about it.
“What did you find out?”
“He’s got a couple of judges in his pocket. A state senator too. Some credible rumors that he intimidates and blackmails witnesses to recant their testimony against his clients before trial.”
“Ugh. So do you think his interest in me has to do with Paul?” Paul has been sending me letters for the last couple of months, telling me he’s trying to get his case reopened because there’s new evidence that will prove someone else was driving the truck that killed my parents.
I have no idea if that’s true, but just the idea that my parents’ murderer is roaming free has been incredibly upsetting.
So when Camille told me her big-shot defense lawyer husband had my personal information, my first thought was he had taken on Paul’s case.
Deacon nods. “Yeah. Asked around and found the PI Ben uses. Guy named Vic. He’s a shady piece of shit too. And also has a massive gambling addiction. Until recently, Vic owed his bookie a substantial amount of money.”
I’m confused. “Owed? Did he pay it off?”
“He didn’t. But we did.”
I lean forward. “Wait. What does that mean?”
“Chris basically took over Vic’s debt from the other book so now he’s got to deal with us. We made him an offer. He tells us what Ben’s up to and why he’s interested in you, and in return he’s free and clear.”
This was not what I was expecting. “Why would Chris agree to this?”
Deacon shrugs. “He can be a tough son of a bitch but we’re family. And I told him how important this was to me.”
His words settle over me like a warm blanket. It’s been a really long time since anyone has cared enough about me to go out of their way like this.
“Did the PI agree?” This is huge. We can stop guessing and get real answers.
“He couldn’t start talking fast enough.”
My mouth gapes open. “Oh God, what did he say?”
Deacon leans closer. “Paul reached out to one of those groups that helps inmates appeal their cases. Somehow, his case landed on Ben’s partner’s desk. A guy named Hank Landry.”
“So Ben’s partner is taking his case?
He shakes his head. “No. Vic said Ben lost his shit when Hank brought it up. Made it clear that no one in his office would be taking that case.”
I hold my hand up. “But wait, I’m not following. Why does Ben care if Paul appeals his case?”
Deacon shrugs. “Vic said Ben only tells him what he wants, not why he wants it. Ben hired him to find out what new evidence Paul is claiming to have and where it is. Said he wanted it ‘no matter the cost.’ ”
I twist the comforter in my hands. “I’m guessing he hasn’t found it yet.”
“No. But something changed a couple of weeks ago. Vic thinks Ben may have found out some details on his own, but he’s not sharing. He promised me he’s going to try to get me more info out of Ben.”
Shaking my head, I reach for Deacon’s arm. “No. What if that guy tells Ben we know what he’s doing and he comes after you?”
Deacon laughs. “He’s more scared of Chris than he is of Ben. As he should be. And the amount of money he owes Chris is significantly more than what Ben is paying him. Guys like him are only loyal to the dollar.”
I drag my hand back and run it through my hair. “But I don’t understand what I have to do with any of this.”
His shoulders slump just a bit. “Didn’t get a clear answer on that either.
Ben wanted a profile on you but didn’t say why.
Probably how Ben learned Shane and Eddie lived here and knew hiring them to restore that Mustang would get him access to the house, just don’t know why he’d want it.
It’s another answer I told him to go back and get. ”
I hug my arms around my waist. “What do you think is going on? What does all this mean?”
Deacon chews on his lip while he considers my question.
“Hell, I’d be guessing, but breaking it down—Ben wants to get his hands on evidence that would prove Paul Granger was innocent no matter the cost. But it doesn’t seem like he’d use it to help Paul.
So the only logical reason was if the evidence getting out could be used against Ben in some way.
Honestly, I don’t know, but most men act desperate, which is what this sounds like, because they’re scared or have something big to lose. ”
He makes a very sound argument. “I hate dragging you into this.”
Even though he looks the part of the tough enforcer, I’ve seen a side of him that wouldn’t be good for business.
Not only does he show up at Doug’s most nights to offer me a ride but I’ve also found extra laundry detergent pods in my almost-empty container that are the same brand he uses, and my food has been replenished on multiple occasions.
Even now he doesn’t hesitate to help me.
“Stop. You’re not dragging me into anything. In fact, Ben Bayliss is the one who dragged all of us into this. By stalking you, buying that Mustang, and hiring Shane and Eddie to restore it.”
I wilt against my headboard and can’t stop the tears that flood my eyes.
I was sixteen when my parents were killed.
Everyone thought it was best to shield me from the details at that time.
All I was told was the bad man who had crashed into my parents’ car had been arrested and was going to jail for the rest of his life.
It wasn’t until I graduated high school that I started looking into what happened that night.
Searched for details. What I found left me with more questions than answers.
Two years later, I went to talk to the detective who handled the case, and he was nice enough as he walked me through everything, but the case against Paul looked thin, even to my uneducated eyes.
I went back a few weeks later armed with questions, and he blew me off.
Told me I was too young to understand and to trust they got the right guy and be glad he’ll never hurt anyone ever again.
Around the same time, my aunt and uncle decided it was time for me to move out of their house. They had taken me in after my parents died, but the moment I graduated high school and turned eighteen, their obligation to me was done.
Getting to the bottom of what happened on that dark road took a back seat to surviving.
The little bit of money my parents had left me was gone.
My aunt and uncle made sure to use all of it to “raise me,” although I’m sure it went to other things, like my uncle’s new fishing boat and the cosmetic procedures my aunt routinely got.
While most of my friends started college, I went to work. It was hard enough trying to figure out how to make enough money to live that I didn’t consider school an option. And it’s so easy to get settled into the rut of a routine, especially when you make just enough to get by.
Then Paul started sending me letters and Camille walked into the bar.
“You think Ben was involved that night with Paul and that’s why he’s going to all the trouble to get his hands on this evidence?”
Deacon shrugs. “That’s my best guess. Ten years ago he was twenty with not much to lose. He’s in a much different position now.”
“If he does get it and it implicates him in some way, it will disappear forever.” It kills me to think that someone who played a part in the deaths of my parents won’t be held accountable for their actions.
Deacon squeezes my foot through the comforter. “Hey. We’re going to figure this out. Let’s give Vic a chance to get us some more info and we’ll make a plan. Just may need to get creative.”