“Hey man, let the lady go first!” Jay pants, grabbing at his shirt to drag him behind us.
“Over. My. Dead. Body. Baby.” He grinds out, fighting to try and get out of his grasp as we all nearly topple into the greenhouse situated furthest from the house. It’s currently in the shade which will soon begin to shrink, hidden by a hedge of shrubbery. She makes it to the door first, teasing them both. I think her kisses make me lust drunk or something, the lasting effects tuning the puzzle solving side of my brain to jelly because I wouldn’t have guessed this on my own.
Herbs, leafy plants of all sizes and roses are scattered upon rows of shelves. It’s humid, an automatic water sprinkler wetting everything in a regular rhyme. Bran again tries to push himself to the front, but Jay cages him in his arms and I wrap mine protectively around Robin’s tiny body.
“The man is a lunatic.” I whisper in her ear, smiling as visible goosebumps rise on her skin. Bran clambers over me like I’m nothing but an inconvenient placed piece of furniture, but he’s considerate enough to carefully side step her.
“Suck it Drew!” He laughs manically, before bending down and moving a bunch of rosemary pots. The blood red envelope stands out amongst the plants and he wastes no time handing the clue to her, whilst he uncurls the secret from the elastic band. The three of us gathered close to read it, the writing this time looped cursive.
Looks like Daisy has been having her rent paid for by a much older sugar Daddy.
Daisy Buchanan is Lily, so this secret doesn’t really shock me. In fact, I don’t think this will upset her in the slightest. Come to think of it, I don’t even know if the woman has a job. I try to keep myself only occupied by one Claythorne sibling, avoiding the other two whenever our paths cross.
We all seem to grumble in disappointment, but I know we’re all relieved the secret wasn’t our own. Things could become very difficult with Robin if I don’t find mine first.
Whilst apologising for being a competitive caveman, Bran holds the door open and lets her walk out first. Just as we pass the shade and walk into the sunlight, a piercing scream filters out of the pool house.
“He’s fucking dead!”
Chapter eleven
Robin
FORone glorious, stolen moment I was able to let my past dissolve. I forget all the pain that usually grips me like steel, nestled around my throat. Even on my best days I experienced loss all over again and honestly, I can't see the day it'll ever stop.
I know it's selfish, but I feel robbed of that unconditional happiness Wren was able to help me feel. It only lasts for a split second as reality crashes back into me, in the form of Corbin’s dead body floating in the swimming pool.
Fucking fantastic.
EVERYONE piles into the pool house as wailing cries fill the air. Phoenix, Merle and Cardinal appear in the doorway behind us, and collectively look upon the body floating upside down. The blood mists into the still water, a dark stain crusting on the back of his head. The entire pool is red, leading me to believe this didn't just happen.
Without hesitation my best friend and Cardinal push past everyone and dive into the water, turning him over and dragging his body to the side of the pool. Working together to heave himout, his swollen skin scrapes against the tiles and he lands with a wet slap. Following, both men climb out and presumably out of instinct, Cardinal checks his pulse. The air is oppressive and stagnant from the heated pool system, causing a faint decaying smell to already bloom. Phin pales, dragging his brother over his lap and starts to cry.
A roaring starts in my ears and I stagger, my legs buckling from underneath me. I’m confused, why aren't they working? Wren is suddenly holding me up and he’s speaking, but it comes out distorted like I’m the one under water. I don’t hear a thing. I look back over to Corbin and take in his bloated face and all of a sudden, I’m going to be sick.
Pushing myself out of his grasp with probably a little too much force, I stumble to the side of the pool, clutching the first thing I can find which is a discarded ice bucket and throw up. My body is strained and I expel everything. Through the flush on my skin I can feel soothing circles on my back, his thumb working into the grove between my shoulders as I shake. Wrenching again and again, I keep going till I’m practically dry heaving.
Over the roaring in my ears, I hear someone announce that he’s dead, but I barely register anything around me. Of course he is, the waxy texture of his blue skin isn't natural.
I can hear Merle telling Phoenix to stand up and to stop touching the body, the demands to call the police starting. I really try to get a handle on my breathing but my lungs seize, the more I claw for clarity, the clearer I can hear crying. His sobs rise over the roar and I return to gasping for air.
Strong arms littered in tattoos lift me by the elbows, guiding me outside and I restrain from double over and heave some more in a bush. The smell of sandalwood and mint surrounds me and I lean my entire weight into that semblance of comfort it brings. My sandals scrap against stone as fresh air hits me, but the air still feels stifling.
“I’ll go find Maggie and get her to—to ring the police.” Lil hiccups, rising from where she was sitting and starts running back to the main house.
Wren gently sits me down on the steps and Merle comes out next holding a soaking Phin, his body twitching because he's having a panic attack. More words are being shouted around me and I can’t take anything in, all I can do is watch my best friend shake and sob, falling apart. His sadness is mine, but whilst he breaks for a brother he longed to be loved by, fear slices me to the bone for a different reason.
It’s happening again.
I was asleep when my Mum was murdered–we never saw her being taken away. I did see their mothers body sprawled on their pebbled driveway though, her limbs were at an odd angle, head snapped and blood stained each stone around her.
It’s happening again.
It’s happening again.
Again.
Again.
