“I didn’t mean to scare you. I’ve been calling your name.” It’s Deacon. He’s crouched in the grass behind me. “I was getting a little worried since you’ve been out here so long. You okay?”
Brushing the tears away, I say, “Sorry, got lost in my head a bit.”
He gets up, moving away. “There’s no rush. Take all the time you need. Just wanted to check on you.”
I get up. “No, I’m ready. I’ve got to be at the bar soon so it’s time to go.”
I run a hand across the top of each headstone. “This may have been a setback, but I promise I’ll find out what really happened to y’all that night.”
Chapter 30
Camille
AFTER THE ALIBI
Wednesday, October 14
I’m trembling in the chair next to Hank when he finally ends the formal interview.
“Sully, I think we’re done for today. You can see how hard this is on Mrs. Bayliss. If you have any other questions for her, we’ll be happy to meet here with you again, but I’m going to have to insist we give her a break.”
The detective clearly isn’t thrilled this interview is getting cut short. Hank told me he would stop if it he thought we were drifting into territory he wasn’t comfortable with and to just sit quietly and let him be the bad guy. I guess when Detective Sullivan started asking if Ben and I had marital problems, Hank thought it was moving into murky waters.
And he wouldn’t be wrong.
I wait for the detective to throw some weight around and threatensubpoenas and all the other things you see on those cop shows, but he nods and starts packing up his things. He’s got to have his own thoughts about why Hank chose to stop the interview, but I don’t have the bandwidth to worry about that.
It’s hard enough just to put one foot in front of the other right now.
My phone vibrates with a text notification from Silas. He’s outside.
“Detective Sullivan, my brother is here if you want to talk to him.” I’d rather get that part over with sooner rather than later so the detective can move on.
He straightens up and nods. “Yes, that would be good.” Then he looks pointedly at Hank. “Any problems with him joining us in here or would that be too much for Mrs. Bayliss?”
It’s a jab that I try hard not to react to.
Hank’s got that smirk. The one that lets you know he thinks you’re an asshole without saying it. “I think we can accommodate the few minutes it should take for you to speak with Mr. Everett.” Then Hank looks at me. “Want to tell him to come on in?”
I nod, then send the text to Silas, explaining what he’ll be walking into. A few minutes later, Lila is escorting him into the conference room.
Silas greets everyone in the room then sits down next to me. He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “You good?”
My eyes must be red and puffy so there’s no hiding how emotional I’ve been. “Yes, I’m okay.”
Hank leans forward to look past me at Silas. “The detective has a few questions for you.”
Detective Sullivan has pulled the recorder back out and set it to record. He does the same opening, stating his name then Silas’s while also mentioning that Hank and I are still present. Then he chuckles beforeaddressing Silas. “Mr. Everett, I feel sure I know what your answer will be, but can you please tell me where you were on Saturday night?”
Silas settles back in his chair. He looks relaxed and I’m envious of his ability to hide his emotions so well. “Sure, I met Camille for a drink. She had told me she’d be nearby when I saw her at the fundraiser for the Tarver Braddock Foundation.”
“And where did you have this drink?”
“Bar called Chantilly’s.”
The detective is back to taking notes while Hank and I sit quietly and watch their conversation.
“And what time did you leave?”
