Figuring out who I was and where I went from here was next year’s problem. Getting through the next few minutes, dealing with Aubrey, was today’s issue.
She and the mysterious young man who showed up in town when she did stepped out of the house. They walked together toward us, abandoning any pretense of them barely knowingeach other. They showed up today so Aubrey could grab the few family items she’d requested Hanna put aside for her.
The two of them stopped next to us, not taking the final steps of getting in the car and driving away.
I should let it go but the question still nagged me. “Are you going to tell us who you really are?”
The young man carried bags and had a box at his feet. “My name is Gabriel Harbison. Sort of.”
Not really an answer but why did I expect straight honesty from anyone associated with Aubrey?
He shrugged. “Harbison is my mom’s former name. I decided to make the change because of family stuff.”
More daddy issues. I didn’t want more information. “Got it.”
“He’s writing about the Tanner family. Lucky him,” Aubrey said.
The crowd started shuffling and shifting. Aubrey and Gabe had managed to hit on the one topic no one wanted to discuss.
Stella looked hunted. “No, thank you.”
Hanna shook her head. “Nope.”
“Not interested.” In fact, I couldn’t be less interested.
Jeremy winced. “Ditto.”
Aubrey shook her head. “Don’t panic. You all assumed it was for a book. Gabe probably hinted at that, but it’s for a thesis.”
Stella stiffened. “Excuse me?”
“Did I forget to mention we went to college together?” Aubrey smiled. “Both of us under different names because of family mess, which is fascinating if you think about it.”
Mess?
Aubrey plowed ahead without waiting to gauge our reactions. “He’s a genius and skipped, like, five grades somewhere along the line, but he’s in a PhD program at Penn State. I actually start in the same program next summer. I’ll keep the name I’ve been using to avoid a paperwork nightmare, but we all know I’m a Tanner.”
I had so many questions.
In a gesture so much like her mother, Aubrey let out a dramatic sigh. “Makes sense for me to lean into the Tanner name when it suits me.”
Hanna frowned. “If you say so.”
A student. Really? “What’s the program?”
“Criminology.” Aubrey delivered the news without a hint of irony.
Gabe’s enthusiastic smile. Aubrey’s satisfied expression.
I was going to be sick.
“Aubrey actually inspired my thesis. It’s...” Gabe waved his free hand in the air. “Well, I won’t bore you with the official title but it’s about the impact of true crime commercialism and enthusiasm on the communities involved in the underlying event.”
“I came to figure out who killed my family and why. Gabe said he’d help.” Aubrey elbowed him. “You should apologize to Marni for hitting her. He panicked.”
“Sorry.” He had the grace to look ashamed. “I was also the one running along the back of the property the day you found the body. I guess you all saw me.”
“A spectacular performance.” Aubrey treated us to a theatrical bow. “It didn’t go how I planned but seeing your actions andassessing the reactions now, talking to people in town, will help him.”
