Chapter 25 #2
“Yeah, and your house. I’m exhausted and trying not to overthink everything and freak out. I need a distraction. Which one do you like spending time at more, and how big are they? Do you take the trailer back to Flagstaff when you have longer off periods? What color is your front door?”
Jack indulges me, answering all my questions and giving me more puzzle pieces to what makes him tick. I’m pretty sure this is the most he’s spoken in the past year combined, but the tightness in his jaw never leaves.
“We’re almost there, Lo. You’re so close.
” Jack’s voice encourages with pride. The effects of the last four days have caught up with me, a wave of emotion flooding in as I focus on my feet, one in front of the other, while the canyon disappears into the evening shadows, allowing me to bask in my small accomplishment with its silent bow.
I’m fighting back tears, feeling a little silly for crying, but the sight of the last few feet before the end feels like the most meaningful finish line of my life.
Jack curses, and I peer over my shoulder, frowning as I follow his line of vision to the two police officers waiting grimly at the edge of the rim. I feel his hand on the small of my back, fury tightening his shoulders.
“Don’t freak out, okay,” he says reassuringly. “It’ll all settle once they hear the whole story.”
“Jack? What’s going on?” My words come out slowly as we approach. The officers each nod a greeting at the fuming man beside me. From the looks on everyone’s faces right now, there’s something they all know that I don’t.
“Jackson,” one of the officers murmurs.
Jack clears his throat as he steps forward, keeping me slightly behind him when he addresses the older of the two officers. “She didn’t do it, Owen.”
“Wait, your first name is Jackson?” I ask. It feels like I’m five seconds behind in processing everything, especially with all the strained facial expressions and unfolding information. “And of course I didn’t do it! Who thinks I did it?”
The other officer, who wears an endearingly permanent smirk, lets out a snort. “She doesn’t know?”
“Doesn’t matter,” the other interrupts. “You know how this goes, Jack. We’ve gotta take her in.”
“What don’t I know?” I have been left entirely too far out of this loop.
Jack sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose with his free hand. “My full name is Jack Jackson.”
I blink, my mouth forming an O. “Wow…I didn’t see that one coming. Definitely have some questions for your parents. I mean, is your dad also a Jack—Wait…” My eyes shoot to Owen. “What do you mean, take me in?”
Jack’s hands tighten into fists, his protectiveness swoony and foreboding. Whatever these two are here for, it has Ranger Jackson unsettled.
“Ma’am, I’m Officer Owen, and this is my partner,” he motions to the man beside him with a little wince, like owning their connection is embarrassing. “Officer Mary. We have evidence linking you to the murder of Brandon Sleigh. You’re going to have to come with us.”
“Your last name is Mary?” I tilt my head at the blonde officer.
“We go by first names here. It’s a family name.” Mary shrugs.
“Your first name is Mary? But you’re a guy…Wait—evidence?” I squeak, a wave of lightheadedness hitting me.
What in The Twilight Zone is happening right now?
“She sees a doctor first,” Jack insists with so much steel in his voice that it makes me shiver.
Officer Owen purses his lips but eventually dips his head. “Fine.”
“Jack, what’s happening?”
Pain swirls in his eyes. “They have a photo of you standing over Brandon’s body. With a rock in your hand…a rock covered in blood.”
“But I didn’t do it.” I frown, pushing back the panic. If one sliver of it slips through, it’ll open the floodgates. Every pent-up emotion will crash through, and I’ll crumble. It cannot end like this.
“I know you didn’t.” Jack lifts his hand like he wants to comfort me, but then drops it. “And they will, too, as soon as we tell them everything. Come on,” he nods. “The doctor’s waiting for you.”
“You called a doctor?”
“Of course I did. You’re barely standing on your own two feet. I told them to interview you at the clinic. Not sure they’ll let me in the room, but I’ll try,” He explains with a squeeze of my hand after the officers turn their backs.
I nod, taking one last look at the canyon behind us, barely a hint of it ever being there as it’s swallowed by the shadows of the night.
We reach the patrol car that’s already bracketed by a stern-faced Owen and a less intimidating Mary, and Jack peels Marigold off my sweaty back.
Being separated from this weathered yellow bag evokes a twist of sadness in my gut.
When Jack moves to put her in the trunk with his own backpack, my hand shoots out, halting his movements.
“Can I keep her with me?”
His eyes crease with concern for a second before he nods.
This is it. He thinks I’m nuts. Maybe I am, but Marigold and I both started this trek with a whole truckload of weight, and here we are, days later, pounds lighter and slightly worse for the wear.
Murder accusations aside, I’ve shed the weight I brought into this canyon. But the feel of this backpack’s many rips and tears, the sight of all the scuffs, blood, and dirt—it’s a comfort, seeing the evidence of everything we overcame together.
Officer Owen tracks every move we make, his gaze laced with suspicion. Jack places his bag in the trunk, and his shirt clings to his back, damp with sweat. Mary smirks when he catches me admiring Jack’s muscles.
My legs twitch as I slowly lower myself into the back of the open police car, my body using its last energy reserves on the descent.
Those reserves really must have been empty, because the next thing I know, the car has stopped, and Jack is murmuring my name when my head lifts from his shoulder.
“I’m innocent,” I mumble as I startle awake.
Owen and Mary have already climbed out, standing sentry a few feet from the open door, and Jack turns and places a hand on mine, catching my gaze.
His voice is gravelly when he speaks. “Everything’s gonna be okay. Let the doctor check you out, then answer their questions. In a few hours, you’ll get to have that shower I promised you and sleep in a moderately comfortable bed.”
“I’d kill for you to take me to bed right now,” I groan. Then I roll my lips in and pinch my eyes shut. “Yup…I heard it. Pretend I never said that.”
He tries to hide the smile that creeps across his face.
“I actually planned on taking the shuttle back to the South Rim,” I grimace. “But that’s when I thought I’d emerge midday, at the latest.”
The four-hour shuttle ride would be pure torture to endure, even if it weren’t too late to catch the last one.
“I have a room for you. But considering we still don’t know who’s behind all this, I’d feel more comfortable if I stayed close. I’ll sleep on the sofa, or the floor, or in the hallway outside your door, but—”
“Jack, it’s okay. I’d actually prefer not to be alone.” I smile, hoping this protectiveness of his extends beyond the next few days, although I have my doubts when he’s already started reinforcing his walls.
His shoulders relax a fraction before he nods and climbs out. I follow after him, scooting across the seat, courage seeping into me with the squeeze of his palm against mine.
“That’s also assuming I’m not arrested and put in a cell,” I mumble as I get to my feet again.
“That. Will not. Happen.” The intensity and the fire in each word make me want to curl up against his chest.
Yup, I’ve still got it bad.
“Okay, then. Let’s get this over with.” My mouth curves in a reluctant smile.
It’s a Band-Aid. I know I’ll fall apart later.
But Jack’s steady presence as he leads me to the medical building is an anchor, albeit a temporary one.
It’s exactly what I need to successfully hold it together, at least until I’m back in a hotel room, safe to finally let out all those emotions that have been building up over the last few days.