CHAPTER 12 The Future We Choose
I knew the exact time because Mason’s phone vibrated against the nightstand hard enough to wake both of us.
He reached for it with one hand while the other remained around my waist.
“Cole.”
His voice was rough with sleep.
I opened one eye.
We were in his Seattle rental again, though technically the police no longer considered either of us in immediate danger. Richard Vale and Jason Mercer had both been denied bail. Lawyers had taken over. Reporters had temporarily moved on to dissecting every available detail of the investigation.
Temporary was the key word.
The media still had questions.
Lots of them.
Mason had declined every interview.
So had Noah.
I had gone back to work.
Or attempted to.
My photography clients had suddenly become very interested in whether Mason Cole would attend their shoots.
He would not.
Mostly because I threatened him.
Mason sat upright.
His body changed instantly.
“What did you find?”
I was fully awake now.
He glanced toward me.
I could tell from his face.
Lily.
I sat up.
Detective Kim spoke for nearly a minute.
Mason didn’t interrupt.
Then he said, “We’ll be there.”
He ended the call.
“What?”
He stared at the phone.
“They found another file.”
My stomach tightened.
“The one you mentioned after the rink?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“She wouldn’t say over the phone.”
That was never good.
“When?”
“Nine.”
I looked toward the window.
Morning light had barely started touching the city.
Mason got out of bed.
I watched him pull on sweatpants.
“You’re pacing already.”
“I’m getting dressed.”
“You’re pacing while getting dressed.”
He stopped.
Looked at me.
“Come with me.”
There was no hesitation.
“Of course.”
His expression softened.
Then he nodded.
Two hours later, Mason, Noah, Derek, and I sat inside a small conference room at Seattle police headquarters.
I had spent enough time with the three of them recently to notice something strange.
They no longer looked like enemies.
Not friends either.
Not yet.
But the constant tension had changed.
Noah still insulted Mason.
Mason still provoked Noah whenever possible.
Derek still seemed to enjoy creating chaos.
But underneath it, something new had formed.
Trust.
Fragile.
Uncomfortable.
Growing.
Detective Kim entered carrying a laptop.
“Good morning.”
Noah looked at the clock.
“Debatable.”
She ignored him.
Kim sat.
“The additional file was hidden inside an encrypted partition on Lily’s USB.”
Mason leaned forward.
“What is it?”
“A video.”
His face tightened.
“From the accident?”
“No.”
Kim looked directly at him.
“Recorded by Lily.”
Silence.
Mason’s hand moved under the table.
I took it.
He squeezed once.
“When?” he asked.
“Approximately eighteen hours before she died.”
My chest tightened.
Kim opened the laptop.
“I want to warn you.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
“Just play it.”
Kim hesitated.
Then pressed play.
Lily appeared.
Alive.
Sitting cross-legged on what looked like a bedroom floor.
She wore an oversized sweatshirt.
Her hair was tied messily behind her head.
For several seconds, she adjusted the camera.
Then she smiled.
Mason stopped breathing.
I felt it beside me.
That smile.
Same as the photograph at his house.
Young.
Bright.
Real.
Lily looked directly into the camera.
“Okay.”
Her voice filled the room.
“If I delete this tomorrow, then I was being dramatic and nobody ever sees it.”
She laughed softly.
Mason’s fingers tightened around mine.
“But if I don’t delete it…”
She looked down.
Her smile disappeared.
“Then I guess I was right to be scared.”
Silence.
Lily continued.
“Evan is in trouble.”
She explained the gambling.
The debts.
The messages.
Things we already knew.
Then she said:
“I’m leaving.”
Noah closed his eyes.
“I signed the apartment papers today.”
She smiled faintly.
“Noah helped.”
Mason looked toward him.
Noah didn’t look back.
Lily continued.
“I haven’t told Mason.”
She sighed.
“If you’re seeing this, Mase, you’re probably furious about that.”
A broken laugh escaped Mason.
Barely audible.
Lily smiled at the camera as though she could hear him across four years.
“I know you.”
Mason looked down.
“I know you think protecting me is your job.”
Her expression softened.
“It isn’t.”
Mason’s jaw trembled.
“I’m your sister. Not your responsibility.”
His eyes closed.
Lily continued.
“And I know you’re going to blame yourself if something happens.”
The room became unbearably quiet.
I looked at Mason.
He was completely still.
“Don’t.”
One word.
Lily stared directly into the camera.
“Please.”
Mason’s hand shook inside mine.
“You introduced me to Evan.”
Her eyes softened.
“So what?”
“You introduce people to people. That’s life.”
She shrugged.
“You didn’t make him lie.”
Mason stopped breathing.
“You didn’t make him gamble.”
Another pause.
“You didn’t make me stay.”
His eyes filled.
Lily smiled sadly.
“I did that.”
“No,” Mason whispered.
The recording continued.
“And if I leave tomorrow, which I will, then maybe one day you’ll understand something I’ve been trying to tell you forever.”
She leaned closer.
“You can love someone without saving them.”
I felt Mason break.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
His shoulders simply folded.
His head lowered.
I held his hand with both of mine.
Lily continued.
“You’re my big brother.”
A smile.
“My extremely annoying, overprotective, occasionally terrifying big brother.”
Noah laughed through tears.
Mason did too.
One broken sound.
“And I love you.”
She looked away briefly.
Then back.
“But if something happens, do not turn me into another reason to hate yourself.”
Mason covered his mouth.
“Please don’t do that to me.”
The words destroyed him.
I moved closer.
His shoulder touched mine.
Lily’s voice softened.
“I want you to play hockey.”
Mason looked up.
“I want Mom to go to games and complain about penalties.”
A faint laugh.
“I want you to fall in love someday, which I know sounds impossible because your taste in women is terrible.”
I laughed through tears.
Mason stared at the screen.
Lily smiled.
“And when that happens, don’t ruin it because you think being miserable proves you loved me.”
My heart stopped.
Mason turned toward me.
So did Noah.
Even Derek looked at me.
Lily continued.
“That would be stupid.”
Mason laughed.
Tears ran down his face now.
No attempt to hide them.
“Very you,” he whispered.
She smiled one last time.
“Okay.”
Then her expression became serious.
“If I’m wrong about all this, I’m deleting this tomorrow.”
She reached toward the camera.
“But if you’re watching…”
Her hand stopped.
“I love you, Mase.”
Pause.
“Go live.”
The screen went black.
No one spoke.
For a long time.
Detective Kim quietly stood and left the room.
She closed the door behind her.
Mason stared at the black screen.
I didn’t say anything.
There was nothing to say.
No sentence could compete with a dead sister giving her brother permission to live.
Eventually, Mason whispered, “She knew.”
Noah looked at him.
“Yes.”
“She knew exactly what I’d do.”
“Yes.”
“I wasted four years.”
“No.”
Mason looked at him.
Noah’s eyes were red.
“You survived four years.”
Mason shook his head.
“That doesn’t feel different.”
“It is.”
Noah leaned forward.
“You came back.”
Mason laughed bitterly.
“Barely.”
“But you did.”
Derek spoke quietly from the other side of the table.
“He’s right.”
Mason looked toward his brother.
Derek rarely sounded gentle.
Now he did.
“Mom almost lost you.”
“I know.”
“No.”
Derek shook his head.
“I don’t think you do.”
Mason’s face changed.
Derek continued.
“She checked your room every morning in Montana through my uncle.”
Mason froze.
“What?”
“He called her.”
“You knew?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because you would’ve hated it.”
“I hate it now.”
“Good.”
Mason stared.
Derek smiled faintly.
“Means you’re still you.”
For some reason, that made Mason laugh.
A real laugh.
Small.
Exhausted.
But real.
I squeezed his hand.
He looked at me.
For one second, everyone else disappeared.
Then Mason whispered, “She told me to fall in love.”
I smiled through tears.
“She did.”
“She also insulted my taste.”
“She seemed intelligent.”
His mouth curved.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“A little.”
He touched my cheek.
Then he kissed my forehead.
Noah groaned.
“Can we please preserve one emotional moment without you two making it romantic?”
Mason looked at him.
“You cried.”
“I did not.”
“You absolutely did.”
“I had something in my eye.”
“Both eyes?”
“Shut up.”
Derek leaned back.
“This feels healthier already.”
Noah pointed.
“Don’t make me regret tolerating you.”
Derek smiled.
“Too late.”
The door opened.
Detective Kim returned.
She gave us one second to compose ourselves.
Then business returned.
“Richard Vale has agreed to cooperate.”
Mason’s expression hardened.
“What does cooperate mean?”
“He’s providing financial records and testimony against Jason Mercer.”
“What does he get?”
“Reduced charges on the financial crimes.”
“And Lily?”
“No deal there.”
Mason nodded.
Good.
Kim continued.
“The district attorney intends to pursue homicide-related charges based on the dashboard recording, recovered financial evidence, and Richard’s statement.”
“What is Richard claiming?”
“That Jason ordered the confrontation.”
Derek frowned.
“And Richard drove?”
“Yes.”
Mason’s jaw tightened.
“So they’ll blame each other.”
“Probably.”
“Will it matter?”
“At trial.”
Kim closed the laptop.
“But the important part is this: Lily’s death is no longer classified as an accidental fatality.”
Mason stared at her.
“What is it classified as?”
Kim held his gaze.
“Homicide.”
The word landed quietly.
Four years late.
Still important.
Mason nodded once.
“Thank you.”
Kim’s expression softened.
“You’re welcome.”
Outside the police station, reporters were waiting.
Of course.
Someone had leaked the fact that we were there.
Mason stopped just inside the doors.
Noah stood on one side.
I stood on the other.
Derek remained several feet behind us.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I said.
“I know.”
“Your PR team will probably prefer you don’t.”
“They stopped expecting cooperation years ago.”
“That sounds healthy.”
He smiled.
Then looked at Noah.
“Together?”
Noah frowned.
“What?”
“We make one statement.”
Silence.