Chapter 32
Aubrey
AFTER THE ALIBI
I groan when we pull up the driveway and see all the people still filling the backyard.
I’m home a few hours earlier than normal.
Doug messed up the schedule, had too many of us there and needed one of us to take off early because it was too crowded behind the bar.
I’m usually the last to offer to do that since I need the money, but it’s been a long-ass week.
But it’s Friday night and I forgot Serenity planned to use the backyard to throw a birthday party for her boyfriend, Frank. The small space is packed with people and the party doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. I should have just stayed at work.
“This is more people than she said it would be.” Deacon throws the car in park and goes to get out but my hand on his arm stops him. He’s given me a ride home every night this week, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m getting a little spoiled.
“It’s his birthday. If everyone else in the house is okay with it, I’m fine with it too.” The crowd and noise won’t bother Deacon so he’d only be forcing Serenity to end Frank’s party early for me.
“No one else’s window is within feet of where she set up the keg.”
Unhooking my seat belt, I lean close and give him a hug. “Thank you for the ride. So much better than walking.”
He tugs on the back of my shirt before I make it out of the car. “Hold up.” Deacon opens the center console and pulls out a single key. “Here’s the key to my room I promised. Stay in there tonight. You won’t hear them up there. Use the tub again if you want.”
“I’m definitely taking you up on the tub again but I’m sure the crowd will be gone by the time I get out, so I can stay in my room. I’d hate if you got off early and you couldn’t get some sleep because I was in there.”
He laughs and leans a little closer. “If I’m being honest, finding you in my bed wouldn’t be unwelcome.”
My cheeks heat and I duck my face into my shoulder. The huge, goofy smile is still in place when I look back up at him, which makes me blush even harder.
I’ve been alone for so long. So scared to let anyone in. Let anyone get close in case I lost them like I lost my parents.
But then I realize I’ve already let Deacon in.
I’m already past the point where I would be devastated if something happened to him.
I’d say it snuck up on me but it didn’t.
It’s been growing slowly but steadily since he first moved in.
This past week just highlighted how often I turn to him and how rock solid and there for me he is without question.
His hand slides into mine, our fingers lacing together.
The second his skin touches mine, I know I’m not alone in my feelings, even if I’ve only just recognized them for what they are.
There must be something in my expression that makes him think he’s overstepped because he starts to pull his hand away.
I tighten my grip, trapping him. “I probably look like I’m freaking out or not open to whatever this is but I am.
I’m just not very good at letting people get close.
And I don’t know how to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.
And not just this week. You don’t think I know you’re the one who refills my laundry detergent and makes sure there’s food in my cabinet?
It’s not fair though. You’ve been so good to me and I haven’t done anything as nice for you. ”
There’s surprise but then also something else in his gaze.
Maybe it’s relief that I’m finally seeing what he’s been trying to show me.
He slides his free hand across my cheek, into my hair.
“You’ve trusted me with your biggest secrets.
Looked to me when you needed someone. I think we’re pretty even. ”
We stay like this for a few seconds until he slowly pulls his hand away from my face then unlinks his fingers from mine. “I better go. I’m close to bailing on work and going inside with you but Chris would kill me. Stay in my room. I’d love nothing more than to find you in there when I get home.”
Emotion clogs my throat and words fail me, so I can only nod. He watches me until I turn the corner and disappear from view.
I’ve gone from dreading the night to suddenly looking forward to it.
I unlock the exterior door to my room so I can get my things before going to his. Heading to the bathroom first, I load my caddy up with bath and hair stuff then move to the closet to grab some pjs.
Just as I shove my hand in the top drawer, I feel something sharp. “Ow!” I pull it out and my finger is bleeding. Carefully, I move the clothing aside piece by piece until I see it.
I don’t realize I’m screaming until Shane and Eddie rush into my room. Shane skids to a stop next to me. “What’s wrong?”
Eddie looks in my bathroom as if he’s searching for an intruder then pulls my curtain back to check my window.
My injured hand is balled against my chest and I’m trying to slow my breathing.
Shane leans closer to look into my dresser then at me, confused. “What the hell is that?”
Eddie moves in to see for himself. “Shit. That’s a big fucking knife.” He grabs a pair of sleep shorts and uses it as a barrier between his hand and the hilt, then holds it up for inspection.
“Is that dried blood?” Shane asks.
I feel like I’m either going to pass out or throw up when I see the engraving on the blade: bwb.
The program for the Rosary had Ben’s full name. Benjamin Wyatt Bayliss.
BWB.
“No. No, no, no…”
Shane steps back. “Holy shit. That knife looks like the same one that was on Ben Bayliss’s desk.”
“Those are Ben’s initials!” I take a step back, tripping over my own feet. “Someone’s trying to set me up!” I press myself against the wall, my hand on my heart as if I can stop it from racing.
“Oh, shit,” Eddie says, holding the knife higher to inspect it.
Shane grabs Eddie by the shoulder, pushing him to the door. “We need to get that out of here. Like right now.”
Eddie has the sleep shorts and knife still gripped in his hand and moves it behind his back when he leaves my room.
Shane is directly behind him, shielding it from view.
I’m right on their heels. No one at the party pays us any attention as we move across the yard to the garage, walking straight to the car the guys started working on after finishing with Ben’s Mustang.
It’s elevated a couple of feet off the ground and all the tires are off to the side.
“Pull the oil pan off,” Eddie says. Shane drops down on the little roller board thing they use to slide under the car.
In a minute or two he is sliding back out, the pan resting on his chest and stomach.
Eddie drops the knife and my sleep shorts in the pan, which is partially filled with oil.
It only takes a few seconds for them to sink out of sight.
“Okay, put it back.”
Oh my God.
Once Shane is out from under the car, Eddie hustles us all out of the garage.
“Sit,” Shane says.
I find an empty folding chair not far from the keg. Eddie fills up cups for all three of us while Shane pulls two more chairs closer, putting them on each side of me.
My blood is pounding and my hands are trembling so bad that beer is spilling over the edge of the cup. “I can’t sit out here. I need to find out who was in my room. Who would do this to me.”
I go to get up but Eddie puts a hand on my leg, holding me in my seat. “No, we’re waiting right here. There will be time for that later but not right now.”
Shane puts his arm on the back of my chair, his hand resting on my shoulder.
“The only reason you plant something like that in a place where it would easily be discovered is so the cops find it. You’re not supposed to be here.
You should still be at work. So there’s a good chance the cops will arrive before you’re scheduled to be home. ”
“You think the cops are going to show up here?” My voice is shrill.
Shane nods. “Yeah, I do.”
Eddie says, “And we’re going to be shocked when that happens since all we’re trying to do is enjoy our housemate’s boyfriend’s birthday party.”
The wait is excruciating. It’s only about an hour before my normal shift ends and I don’t know what we’re going to do if we pass that time and no one has shown up. But almost as soon as I start to think the guys have overreacted, the wail of sirens has us all turning around.
The driveway is only wide enough for one car, but the noise tells us there is definitely more than one out front.
Half a dozen cops flood the backyard. The music is turned off while we all stare at them.
One of the cops steps forward. “I need everyone to stay right where you are. We’re looking for Aubrey Price.”
The three of us stand and I raise my hand slowly. “I’m Aubrey Price.”
He moves toward me, a piece of paper extended. “We have a warrant to search your premises.”
There’s no need to fake being shocked, because even though the guys told me this was likely, I’m absolutely floored this is happening. I take the paper from him but don’t look at it. “I don’t understand. Why do you need to search my room?”
“It’s all listed on the warrant, but to summarize, we are searching for a hunting knife that matches the description of the one missing from the Bayliss home.”
“This is crazy! I don’t have anyone’s knife!”
Eddie puts a hand on my arm. “Aub, it’s best to just let them do what they need to do.”
Serenity moves closer. “I don’t know why y’all are here but this is bullshit.”
Shane shakes his head at her then whispers softly, “Don’t give them any reason to arrest you, okay?”
It looks like she’s about to go off on them, but Frank slides an arm around her and whispers something in her ear. Whatever he says seems to settle her down.
The cop looks at Eddie, Shane, and Serenity. “Are you the other residents?”
They nod and Serenity adds, “There’s another one but he works nights.”
Eddie asks, “Does the warrant cover the search of the entire house or just Aubrey’s space?”