“That was your dad.”
Nothing. He doesn’t move.
“He wants you back home tomorrow night. Foster will be there to take our statement.”
And again, nothing.
Just as I’m about to pull the blanket away and make him acknowledge me, there’s a knock on the door. This gets both of our attention.
Silas sits up, eyes wide. “Do you think it’s the cops?”
I shrug and head to the door, peeking through the peephole. “No, it’s your girlfriend.”
He groans behind me as I pull the door open.
“What are you doing here?” She looks like shit. Eyes red, nose raw.
“I need to see him.”
“Let her in,” Silas says behind me.
Margaret slips past me and all but runs to the couch. He holds the blanket up, allowing her to slip underneath it with him. They’re covered from head to toe, but it’s thin enough I can hear them as easily as if it weren’t there.
“How are you feeling?” she asks him.
“Like shit. What about you?”
“I’m okay. Just worried about you. Worried about everything.” I can tell from the hitch in her voice that she’s crying.
“Did my dad come talk to you last night?”
“Early this morning. He scares the shit out of me.”
Yeah, same.
“What did he say?”
“He asked me what happened and I told him. He said a bunch of stuff about how friends are like family and family sticks by each other. He was trying not to make it sound like a threat but I know that’s what it was.”
They’re quiet for a few minutes, and I feel a little bit sleazy sitting here, listening to their conversation, although they don’t seem worried about talking in front of me. There are three bedrooms if they want privacy.
When Silas doesn’t say anything, Margaret adds, “You know he doesn’t have to threaten me. Your secret is safe with me always.”
One thing I know for sure is I’m not wasting this opportunity, and it seems like Margaret isn’t either.
Chapter 27
Camille
The Alibi
Saturday, October 10
I got back to St. Francisville hours before I was supposed to. I confessedalmosteverything to Silas, telling him what led up to me meeting Aubrey Price and how she convinced me to spy on Ben. And then I walked him through everything I had learned.
Silas listened quietly, then told me what happened that night ten years ago.
It was the most honest and raw conversation we’ve ever shared. Silas sounded so broken. A darkness has hung over him for years, and I’ve finally learned why. There is no excuse for what he did. He was a dumb kid who made a really horrible decision getting behind the wheel that night.
