I lean back in my chair, my hands running through my hair as my mind tries to process what she’s telling me. Half of this story is new information, but the other half I already knew. And it’s colliding in the most mind-blowing way. When I get somewhat of a grasp on what she’s told me, I fill in a few holes she has, telling her about my visit to Aubrey’s house and the bar where she works as well as my conversation with Paul today.
“But why would Margaret attack you like this?”
“Silas thought he was the one driving Paul’s truck all these years, only to find out this afternoon that Margaret was the driver.”
“There is a video that shows this?”
“Yes, I watched it this afternoon with Silas.”
I wait for her to say more but she doesn’t. “And? What’s he going to do, because I don’t see him going to the cops.”
“I told you my family isn’t like other families. They tend to take care of their own problems.”
These hospital chairs fold out into beds but that’s a very generous description of the surface I’m currently lying on. The nurses checked on Camille half an hour ago and she’s finally drifted off to sleep.
The door opens and I shield my eyes from the crack of light from the hallway. It takes me a few seconds to see it’s Silas.
He shuts the door and walks to the edge of Camille’s bed. “How is she?” he whispers.
“Seems a little better. Had a nasty headache a little while ago but the meds seem to have gotten it under control. Do I even want to know what you’ve been doing?”
He’s been gone for hours.
“Looking for my wife, who seems to have disappeared.”
“Say no more.” Because honestly, the less I’m dragged into this, the better.
“Did she tell you everything?”
I nod. “She did.”
Silas watches her for another long moment.
I pull the lever, converting this bed back to a chair. “She doesn’t want to go back to Corbeau. I’ve got plenty of room at my house and can work from home for the next few days so I can make sure she follows the concussion protocol.”
Silas doesn’t say anything, just nods again.
I’m not sure how long we stay like this, quietly watching Camille in the dark. Finally, he turns to me. “I can stay if you need to get home. Your truck is outside.” He tosses the remote and I catch it in midair.
“Thanks, but I’m good. Hopefully, I can take her with me in the morning.”
Silas moves to the door. “I’ll come by your house tomorrow to check on her. Bring her things from Mom and Dad’s so she has some clothes. And then we probably need to have a conversation.”
I nod. “Yeah, I’ve got a couple of things I want to go over with you.”
Scott just emailed me the list of people who were at Paul’s that night and one in particular stuck out.
Chapter 39
Ben
Ten years ago
It’s painful waiting for the cops to show up for my statement. It’s been two days since I dropped Silas off at his house.
The couple who died were from Baton Rouge, and left a teenage daughter behind. It’s all anyone in town is talking about.
Paul’s arrest was as swift as expected. The police keep reminding everyone of all the other crimes he’s been arrested for and suspected of over the years in a full-on PR move so absolutely no one listens to him when he says he’s being framed.
