It’s not long after I get home from work on Tuesday that there’s a firm knock on the door, and I know it’s time. Nerves race through me but I steel myself for what I have to do. I open the door to find Chief Foster along with another guy. He looks a few years older than me and he’s wearing regular clothes.
“Hey, Ben,” Foster says. “Can we have a few minutes of your time?”
I nod and invite them in then glance at Mom to see how she’s handling their arrival. She’s been sober the last few days but it won’t take much to have her reach for a bottle.
Foster sees Mom, giving her a smile. “Sorry to bother you but we’re working through the hit-and-run case from last weekend. The suspect threw a bunch of names out of people who had been at his house and could have taken his truck that night,” Foster says. He gestures to the guy next to him. “My nephew, Nathan. He’s staying with me this summer and starting at the police academy this fall. Thought it would be good experience for him to observe. We don’t usually have such a big case, so I didn’t want him to miss out on this opportunity.”
My mom’s hand flies to her chest. “You don’t think Ben was at that Granger boy’s house, do you?” Then she turns to me. “Are you buying drugs from Paul Granger?”
I roll my eyes. “No, Mom. I wasn’t there.”
Foster jumps in quickly when it looks like Mom’s about to start crying. “Mrs. Bayliss, Paul didn’t give us your son’s name. But he did give us Silas Everett’s name. I spoke to Silas on Sunday and he said Ben picked him up from Paul Granger’s when his friends left him and then they went on to Baton Rouge. We’re just following up and making sure that we’ve got the correct information.”
Mom relaxes with a heavy sigh. “Well, y’all almost gave me a heart attack. And yes, Ben and Silas were in Baton Rouge this weekend. My Ben was showing him around campus since Silas will be headed there this fall.”
Foster nods, pleased at her answer. “I just need a written statement from him for the file. And from you too, if you’re willing, since you can verify that’s where both boys were.”
“Oh! Sure, happy to do my part.”
Shit, Mom thinks she’s helping solve this case when she’s actually providing Silas a stronger alibi than I am. And now there’s no way I can back out.
Foster turns to his nephew. “Pull out two witness forms for Mrs. Bayliss and Benjamin.”
He does as requested and Mom and I take a seat at the kitchen table. He puts the forms down in front of us while Foster gives us each a pen from his chest pocket.
“All you need to do is fill out the top with your name, address, phone number, then in the open space below write your statement. Ben, in your own words, say that you picked up Silas Everett from Paul Granger’s house and then the two of you drove to Baton Rouge and spent the weekend there. Mrs. Bayliss, if you’ll just verify that both Ben and Silas Everett spent the weekend out of town, that would be all we’d need from you.”
I haven’t gotten into law school yet, but I’m pretty sure the investigating officer isn’t supposed to tell us what to write on our witness statements. He’s not even trying to make this look legitimate.
Mom signs her name along the bottom of hers and slides it across the table. “Now that’s cleared up, anyone want some coffee?”
Foster smiles at her. “I’d love a cup.”
I finish up my statement, rereading it to make sure the details Silas and I agreed on are right. Then I sign it and hand it over.
And just like that, it’s done. Mom and I deliver Silas an alibi on a silver platter.
Mom turns to Foster’s nephew. “Do you want coffee? And forgive me, I didn’t catch your name.”
He smiles at her. “It’s Nathan Sullivan, but you can call me Sully.”
Chapter 40
Aubrey
AFTER THE ALIBI
Monday, October 19
Mondays are the one day of the week I have the house to myself. Deacon has been by my side since Friday night. He’s been beating himself up about the fact that the moment he left me, Frank was able to steal the USB drive. Serenity is struggling with this as well. She’s not so much heartbroken as she is pissed off Frank used her to get close to me.
Even though Deacon tried to stay home today, Chris needed him at work, so I forced him out of the house. Same with Shane, Eddie, and Serenity. No one needs to lose their day job because I’m sad my safe space doesn’t feel that safe anymore.
I’ve gotten texts from all four of them throughout the morning, which helps, but they can’t keep this up. With Frank gone and the USB drive with him, I’m trying to convince myself to give up trying to find out whathappened to my parents. We all agree that my pushing for the truth is what put me on Ben’s killer’s radar, and I need to get out of that spotlight.
So I gather my laundry and get a load going, then make a grocery list that I can text to Deacon for him to pick up on his way home. I’m going to fake normal until it feels…normal.
I’m folding my towels when the doorbell rings, and I scream as if someone jumped out and scared me. I take a few deep breaths then slowly make my way to the door. I swallow my sense of dread when I peek through the side window to see who’s here.
