Chapter 41 – Lily
LILY
“Want onions?” Aster asks, setting veggies and a carton of eggs on the counter for omelets. We got in late last night, and regardless of the crazy events we’ve endured, I had the best night’s sleep I’ve had in weeks.
“Sure,” I reply from my spot on the bar stool doing the crossword from today’s newspaper, feeling all cozy and domestic in the absolute best way.
Unfortunately, now that the sun’s risen, I can’t shake memories of the other part of our evening and stop my mind from wondering if we’re closer than ever to some answers.
“Hey, babe?” I ask Aster, and his quizzical eyes meet mine.
“Yes?”
“Yesterday, at the cabin, what did the person you were chasing look like?”
“I’m not sure.” He shakes his head, the chopping of his kitchen knife against the wood echoing in the room. “I didn’t get a good look.”
“Is there anything you remember?”
“They were probably close to six foot. It looked like they had a heavy jacket on with a hood, so hard to tell the build. The grass was too tall to get a look at the bottom half.”
I blow out a raspberry. “Do you think it was Jude?”
“Could be. Or one of his guys.”
“What should we do now?” I ask, trying to gauge his thoughts.
“It might be best to lie low for a few days, see if anyone comes sniffing around that might have seen us. If they are from the Westerford estate, we’ve been there a few times, so I’d like to know if someone recognized us on our turf rather than be blindsided on theirs.”
I nod, eyes falling to the newspaper, drawing little hearts in the free spaces. “Should we check out Vetrel’s apartment today?”
“I still think that’s a bad idea,” he replies, now dicing a bell pepper.
“But it’s a lead.”
“It is a lead,” Aster admits.
There’s a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” I tell him.
“Are you sure?” he asks, brows furrowed, a knife in one hand and a kitchen towel thrown over his shoulder.
“Yeah, absolutely.” I hop off the bar stool and head towards the door. I open it to the sight of two police officers and my brother’s partner. “Um…” My eyes find Jackson’s. “Can I help you?”
His gaze is distant. “Is Aster home?”
“Yeah, he—”
“Who is it, babe?” Aster asks, rounding the corner. “What’s going on?”
“We need you to come to the station for some questioning regarding the circumstances of Nolan Moore’s death,” Jackson says, and my heart freezes in my chest.
“Who?” Aster asks, feigning obliviousness.
“The most recent Kodak Killer victim.” Jackson’s jaw is tight, and I’m not used to seeing him so serious. “And we’d like to ask you some questions regarding the case.”
“You can’t be serious?” I scoff, and panic courses through me.
“It’s just a formality,” Jackson assures us. “It won’t take long.”
“Let me just grab my purse,” I say. “And we’ll meet you there.”
“I’m sorry, but that’s not how this works,” Jackson says. He gestures to the two men in blue. “These officers are going to take Aster, and we can meet him there.”
Aster’s proximity tingles, and he places a hand on my spine, leaning into my ear. “It’ll be okay.” He kisses my cheek. “I love you.”
My panicked eyes meet Aster’s, and before I can respond, he’s gone, being shoved into the back of a police cruiser like a criminal. “Jackson, what are you doing?” I shriek, and he comes inside, shutting the door behind him. “We need to leave.”
“We won’t be doing that,” he says, and my chest seizes.
“Why not?”
He rubs a hand against his stubbled jaw. “I need to tell you something.”
Panic consumes me. “What could you possibly need to tell me that’s more important than us going to the station to get Aster out of whatever this mess is?”
“There’s DNA evidence that suggests Aster was involved in Nolan’s death.” My eyes find his. Every single molecule of air in the room is gone in an instant.
“That must be a mistake,” I say, but my voice lacks conviction.
“It’s not. DNA from Aster was found on Nolan’s head.”
“And you’re sure it’s Aster’s?” It would surprise me if his DNA was in the system given how careful he is. I rack my mind for the memories of the night before I found the head. “Aster and Nolan got in a fight the night before he died. I’m sure that’s where it came from.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I was there when it happened.”
His jaw tenses. “And neither of you thought that information was important to share with us when his head was discovered or when the photos of the decapitated body from the Kodak Killer were received?”
“It wasn’t relevant,” I argue weakly.
“Considering Aster’s now at the center of a murder investigation, it seems pretty relevant.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “What was the fight about?”
I sway on my heels. “Nolan attacked me.”
“Nolan attacked you?” he asks, and I nod. “Then he shows up dead?”
“Looks that way.”
“Well, I’d say that gives Aster a pretty strong motive.” Shit. Did I make their case stronger? “Either way, it’s not just the DNA. There’s more evidence. A lot more.”
“Like what?” I scoff.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you.”
“Why the hell not?”
“The investigation is ongoing and…” His voice trails off.
“And you don’t trust me.” I struggle to keep the hurt out of my tone.
“It’s just… you’ve been a bit cynical of the police since Vi died. And don’t you think it’s possible Aster’s clouded your judgement a bit?”
I shake my head. “That’s not fair.”
“Please.” He steps towards me, and I retreat. “I need you to trust me on this. Seeing him is a bad idea.”
Do I trust Jackson? I think so. We’ve been friends for years. He helped me through Violet’s death and has always been there for me… but why is he keeping things from me? Then again, I suppose I haven’t been forthcoming about my alter ego either.
“This is bullshit!” I say, concluding there’s only one thing that will ease my swirling mind. “I want to see him.”
“You need to be rational.” His tone is patronizing, pissing me right off.
“Jax, please.” Turns out I’m not above begging. “I need to see him.”
“Lily…” He places a hand on my shoulder. “Are you not understanding?”
“What, Jax?” My brows furrow, and I shove him off. “Stop patronizing me.”
“Nolan’s body was a Kodak kill. So if Aster killed Nolan, that would make Aster…” He waves a hand, trying to rush me along as my mind hazes.
“A copycat killer?” I say in disbelief at his insinuation.
“No.” Jackson tilts his head. “The Kodak Killer.”
“That’s not possible.” Is it?
In a split second, our entire relationship flashes before my eyes.
Every accidental run-in that didn’t feel so accidental.
The mysterious gifts that would appear either right before or after seeing him.
His obsession with me that began long before we officially met.
Even our so-called heart to heart last night.
Was it all bullshit? Manipulation so I’d trust him?
This can’t be true.
“Aster fooled you,” Jax says like a slap to the face. “He fooled everyone.”
“No.” I shake my head, unwilling to believe it. The man that I know, that I love, he wouldn’t have lied to me. “I don’t believe this. You said yourself he’s a good guy.”
“I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. Are you?”
Irritation buzzes through me. “I’m never above admitting that, but you are wrong about this.” Things don’t add up. Aster and I were even together during a Kodak kill. Could he have had a partner? He did have a contact he was cagey about. Was it all an elaborate deception? “I refuse to believe it.”
“Lily!” Jackson shouts, and I flinch. “What more evidence do you need? What kind of sicko sends gifts and calls you just to mess with you?” My head rears back. I blink. I blink again. “That’s insanity. How can you not see that?!” I step away. “Lil?” His voice shakes, tone unsteady.
“How did you know about the gifts?” I ask, my tone far calmer than I feel inside.
“Oh.” A beat passes between us. “Liam told me.” I try to silence the alarm bells. That makes sense. Liam might have told him that.
My mind races. Calls you just to mess with you…
The only person I told about the calls was Aster. I pull out my burner, and Jackson’s eyes drop to it. “What are you doing?” He snatches it from me before I can even press a single button.
“Give that back,” I shriek.
“You have no clue what’s going on here.” Jackson’s tone is sharp. “What you’re dealing with.”
There’s only one way Jackson would know about the calls. My body floods with rage, and I shove him. “It was you!” He stumbles as my mind spins on overdrive.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
I release a steady breath. “I never told Liam about the calls.”
“You must have.” His jaw ticks.
“No.” I take a step away from him. “I didn’t.” I reach for my dagger, but it’s not there. Damn it. It’s somewhere in Aster’s bedroom.
Aster.
Oh my god. Is Jackson framing him as the Kodak Killer? I need to get out of here. And go where? I have no clue. Should I tell Liam? Would he believe me after all the secrets I’ve kept?
I retreat another step, and Jackson says, “Lil, I can explain.”
“Explain?!” I screech, tears pricking my vision once more. “Are you the Kodak Killer? Did you—did you kill Violet?!”
“Just listen to me,” he says, ignoring my questions. Then again, I guess I should know better than to ask a man two questions at once. “What happened with Violet was necessary.”
Panic consumes me at his confession as I realize I’m in serious danger. I bolt towards the kitchen, his footsteps booming behind me, but not quick enough. Grabbing the kitchen knife Aster left on the counter, I point it towards Jackson to hold space between us.
“What the fuck?!”
“You killed Violet!” Tears burn my eyes once more. I’m so sick of the tears. “Why?”
“Violet’s death.” He shakes his head. “It was the only way.”
“The only way for what?”
“Please, just let this go. I need you to let this go.”
“Let it go?!” Has he lost his goddamn mind? “Where is her body?” I shout, gripping the handle tighter. “Tell me right now.”
“I can’t.” His tone is irritatingly calm.
“Where the hell is her body!?” I take a step closer, pressing the tip of the blade to his chest.
“If you kill me,” he says, not moving a muscle, “you’ll never know.”
My heart stops. I can’t take any of this. I need… I need Aster.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask with a soft sob.
His eyes are agonized as his hands drop to his sides. “Would you believe me if I said I had no choice?”
I shake my head. “There’s always a choice.”
“You’re right.” A sting to my arm brings my gaze to the sight of a needle and Jackson pushing something into my bicep. “And I hope one day you’ll understand why I made the ones I did.”
In a blink, my panicked gaze meets his. Then it all goes dark.