Chapter 31 #2
How the fuck do I explain this without exposing the two of us?
“It’s not what it looks like.”
He laughs. “It doesn’t look like you were trespassing on the Gatlins’ ranch at four in the morning?
Were you lost? Maybe you hit your head and thought it was your property?
Drunk? Please tell me which of those it was so I can convince them that it wasn’t you who let the horses out of the stalls this morning. ”
“I would never,” I say quickly.
Jimmy shakes his head. “I really am trying to protect you. To protect Sadie and everyone else in this town, but this is fucking video proof, Tris! Like, how do you want me to dispute this?”
I can’t tell him. I can’t fucking tell him why.
It would cause more issues for Lark than either of us is prepared for. Not to mention, after the unhinged shit that Fallon said, it might start another war, and Lark would be at the epicenter.
I won’t do it to her.
Not after everything that happened last night. The things she said, the way she feels around her family.
“You can’t,” I say simply.
He blinks. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You can’t dispute it.”
Jimmy stares at me, wide eyes and jaw slack before recovering. “You’re admitting to doing it?”
“No.”
“Okay, Tristan, give me something to work with here. You didn’t go to the Gatlins’ barn and remove all the horses from the stalls?”
“I didn’t.”
“Okay, but you just said you can’t dispute that you were there.”
“That’s right.”
I’m going to stick to the facts and the facts only. I’m not going to admit to what I was doing there.
They have whatever proof they want, and her brothers must’ve watched that recording. They either missed the fact that Lark was there, or the camera didn’t catch her.
I can only hope for that much.
Jimmy runs his hand over his face. “You’re killing me here.”
“I’m not, but I can see where this might frustrate you.”
“Do you want me to arrest you?”
“Of course not,” I say quickly. “I also know that if you do, you’re just doing your job until you uncover the evidence to exonerate me.”
He huffs loudly. “Bro, you’re not going to jail for murder, but this is fucking stupid. You know that? Do you have something that can prove you didn’t do it?”
I shrug.
I do, but I’m not going to tell him.
“Give me something,” he pleads.
“I wish I could.” I put my arms out. “Arrest me if you have to.”
“No, this…I can’t do it. Why are you being so damn difficult?”
I’m done with this conversation. While this is absolutely not the way I planned to have my day go, I’m not going to tell him something that will cause more issues. I’ll go to jail, get my charges, pay the bail, and be home by dinner.
Then I’ll figure out a way to get out of this mess.
“Because I’m a difficult man, Jimmy. Like I said, I’ll go willingly. Can I get bail?”
“You can’t be serious. I know you didn’t do this. I know there’s some logical explanation for this video.”
“I’m sure there is too.”
“You fucking know what it is!” he exclaims.
“I do.”
“You really want me to do this? To arrest you in front of the house? Truly?”
“No, but there is no option. I just ask you one favor,” I say.
Jimmy eyes me warily. “What’s that?”
“Don’t tell anyone about the recording. Not my family, not Sadie. No one. Just pretend it doesn’t exist, okay?”
He shakes his head. “This is…insane, Tristan. You can’t actually think this is the best thing.”
“Will you keep it between us?”
Jimmy huffs. “Yes, sure, fine. If this is what you want.”
We both know that’s the last thing I want, but this is the reality I’m faced with.
Sadie will understand once I explain that I was helping a friend.
My family will just figure this is well overdue and that I’ve been behind it anyway.
As for me, whatever. I’ve endured far worse conditions than the Infinity Ridge Police Station.
“Can I go inside and tell Sadie?”
He blinks, and I see the resignation on his face.
One time, when we were sixteen, Jimmy stole a dirt bike. We both knew it was stupid. It belonged to his brother’s friend, who told us not to touch it.
But they were drinking, and…we touched it.
When the cops came, I took the heat for it. I knew that Jimmy had a lifelong dream of being in law enforcement. I did not. So no matter how many times he tried to say something, I cut him off and took the heat.
He had that same look in his eyes then.
“Yeah, I…okay,” he says with reluctance.
We go inside, and Sadie, Pop, and Harper are there. “I’m going in with Jimmy, and I’ll be out in a bit. Harper, if you could bail me out, that would be great.”
“What?” Harper nearly screams. “What the hell do you mean?”
I raise my hand and look to Sadie. “I didn’t do anything, but I need to go down there with Uncle Jimmy. Okay?”
“Daddy…”
“I promise, Cupcake, it’s fine.”
“All right, if you say so.”
I smile as best as I can. “I do. Now be good, and I’ll be home by dinner so we can talk about all the ways we want to punish your uncle.”
She grins at that. “Deal.”
I turn, look at Jimmy, and nod as I go to spend my time in jail.
I always knew my downfall would be a Gatlin.