Chapter 42 – Aster
ASTER
“This is absurd,” I plead with Liam, shifting in place in the interrogation room’s uncomfortable metal chair. “I didn’t do anything.”
Maybe I’m not entirely innocent, but I damn sure didn’t do what I’m being accused of.
I didn’t leave a severed head on my girlfriend’s bed, and I’m sure as hell not the Kodak Killer.
“Your DNA was on Nolan’s face,” Liam says.
“And I told you that’s because I spat in it after he assaulted Lily!
And maybe instead of interrogating me, you should be out there looking for the real killer.
” My eyes are heavy, my stomach is grumbling, and my head feels like it’s being worked through with a jackhammer.
“You’ve had me stuck in here for over a day, given me no food or water, which I’m pretty sure is illegal, not given me an attorney—”
“It’s hardly our problem if your lawyer doesn’t show.”
I narrow my eyes. “Well, considering you made me use my one phone call to leave a voicemail, I’d appreciate it if I get another,” I say, and he cocks a brow. “Let me call Lily at least.”
“Is this some kind of sick game to you?”
My brows furrow. “What?”
“Are you really going to pretend?”
“Pretend what?” My heart races as he slams his folder shut on the desk and stands abruptly. The metal chair screeches as he pushes back to pace the room.
“You get picked up,” he grits out. “And now Lily hasn’t been seen since. Where is she?” Lily’s missing? Rage fills me that this is the first I’m hearing of it.
“How the hell would I know?” I ask, panic coursing through me. “She was with Jackson when I left.”
He scoffs. “Jackson’s been in Boston all week on a case.”
I shake my head. “No, he was with the officers who brought me in.”
“Not according to the report. They said they were alone, and so were you.” Liam’s expression hardens, and confusion swims in his eyes. I’ve trusted Jackson with my life. Where is he? Where is Lily? Would he really betray me? Why?
Does Lily believe I killed Nolan? Is he helping her skip town?
Panic courses through me at the idea that she’ll have disappeared by the time I’m released.
“She was at my house with me that morning,” I argue, anger filling my veins. “Jackson was there too.”
“At least make your lies believable.”
“I’m telling the truth.” For once.
Liam assesses me. “That’s not possible.”
I lower my voice. “You mean like it’s not possible for some sicko to sneak in your house and torment your sister? Who else knew her whereabouts all the time?”
Liam drags a hand down his face. “No.” He glances at the camera in the corner. “No. You’re the new chess piece. You’re the one I don’t trust.”
My jaw ticks. We’re clearly not able to have an honest conversation in this suffocating interrogation room. I need to get the hell out of here. “I want another goddamn phone call.”
The sun hits my face, and although relief should overwhelm me, all I feel is despair.
“Took you long enough,” I tell my lawyer.
“Sorry,” Annabelle replies, running a hand through her brunette hair. “It was harder to find a last-minute flight than I thought.”
“It’s okay,” I grumble.
“They didn’t have shit to hold you,” she says as we stand near the parking lot.
They were able to find a witness to corroborate the story about seeing me fight Nolan at the fair, which is enough to explain why my DNA is present on him.
They didn’t have anything else to accuse me of the killing. “We should sue them.”
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I just want this to be over with.” And I also don’t want to draw any more attention from the local police.
“Fine.” She waves me off. “But if you change your mind, let me know.”
“Lily hasn’t been seen since.”
Panic claws at my insides, but I’m trying not to alarm Annabelle. She’ll have questions. Far more questions than I have time to answer right now.
Yes, I’m a killer, but I didn’t kill that guy.
No, I don’t know where my girlfriend is.
Yes, I’m freaking the hell out.
No, I don’t want you to see me go full slasher because I fear that’s where this is heading.
There’s a storm brewing in Cleosville, and the last thing I want is my baby sister in the crossfire.
“You need to leave, as soon as possible,” I blurt.
She rears back. “I haven’t seen you in almost a year, and you’re just shipping me off?”
I place my hands on her shoulders. “Belle, I love you. And I really appreciate that you came all the way out here for me. But there’s some scary shit going down in this town, and you can’t be here.”
“Aster, I’m not a little kid anymore.”
“Listen, I know you’re tough. But this is… I don’t even know where to start. All I know is I won’t be able to focus until you’re safely wheels up towards San Fran.”
Her brows furrow. “You shouldn’t be putting yourself in harm’s way either. I’m not sure if you saw the paper, but there’s a killer on the loose, and while I’m glad it’s not you, I don’t want you getting yourself killed either. I can help.”
“I appreciate that, but this is an outside the courtroom type of situation.”
“Do you think…” She trails off. “Maybe you should ask Dad for help?”
“What?” I turn her way, in complete and utter shock. I’m dealing with enough. The thought of my father saying “I told you so” would push me over a cliff. “No fucking way. I want nothing to do with him. Why would you even suggest that?”
“I know, but maybe he could help this once.”
“With what?!”
“Just clean-up duty.”
My brows pull. “You sound like one of his goonies,” I say, and my blood runs cold as her eyes meet mine. “Annabelle. Please, tell me you haven’t been working with Dad.”
She laughs, patting my shoulder. “You’re getting paranoid. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll leave. Okay?”
I nod, contemplating her every word and not appreciating how she avoided my question. But given my fear for Lily’s safety is an urgent matter, I simply say, “Thank you.”
“Don’t do something I can’t bail you out of.”
My lips press in a flat line, and I pull her in for a tight hug. “I’ll try really hard not to get caught.”
The moment I walk through my front door, anxiety cripples me from the inside out, afraid of what I’ll find.
Nearing the kitchen, I see everything is as I left it.
Both phones are dead, so I plug them into the chargers, desperate to see if Lily’s sent me any messages.
Maybe she went into hiding from someone else rather than me.
Avoiding the inevitable, I take a few minutes throwing away spoiled food and wiping down the counters.
I force my legs towards the stairs to head to my room.
I’m well aware she won’t be there, waiting for me, but I’m hopeful all the same. For evidence, answers, anything.
After a much-needed shower, I return to the kitchen to check my phones.
There are ten missed calls from the Solarium, an array of messages from Diego, a few from my sister.
There’s also a missed call from my dad. So much for him not finding anything out.
And there’s absolutely nothing from Lily. A pit twists in my gut.
Baby, where are you?
I call her number. It’s a delusional attempt, but still I try. As expected, it goes to voicemail. I try Jackson. Voicemail. I try three more times for good measure.
Voicemail.
Voicemail.
Voicemail.
Fuck.
Cursing every bit of trust we’ve built, which I suppose would be irrelevant if she’s truly in danger, I head down to the basement so I can use my laptop to check the location of the tracker in her phone.
Walking through the door of the research room, I stop dead in my tracks. The murder board has been emptied, and only a cluster of papers remains tacked in the center. What the hell? With heavy feet, I drag myself closer to photos with an all too familiar style.
Kodak has made a personal delivery.
My gaze catches on blue eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes, vacant and staring right through my soul.
My mind whirls, chest constricting. “No.” I trace the skin, spotting one familiar tattoo after the other.
“No.” Tears prick my vision, and I blink them away.
A leg is lying to the side, and there are the last two letters of the words I carved into her thigh. I shake my head. “No.” My voice cracks.
Blood stains a sheet tucked around her. Nausea rises in my esophagus. Breathing is difficult. No. Her hands are tied. She must have been so afraid.
My knees hit the floor, and I drag my hands through my hair. Tears that haven’t escaped my eyes in over a decade escape as a guttural scream leaves my body, fire erupting inside me. I refuse to believe this is real.
I don’t know who’s responsible.
I don’t know where Lily’s body is. If she’s dead or alive.
But I do know one thing.
Hell has arrived in Cleosville, and Heaven help those responsible.
Death will not be a mercy I give so easily this time.