*
Not far from Joel’s apartment, Feliz’s is a swanky Mexican restaurant with floor-to-ceiling shelves of tequila. Naomi feels better the second she enters the lively atmosphere, looking forward to a strong margarita. After taking seats at the bar, she and Leo scan the colorful happy hour menu as they snack on still-warm salted tortilla chips.
“Hiii!” a voice rings out, accompanied by the rapid click-clack of heels against the wooden floor.
Naomi covers her mouth, still chewing as she turns. She easily spots Amelia, her furry burgundy coat contrasting with her platinum-blonde hair. A smiling Tom trails behind her like a golden retriever.
Leo greets his brother and future sister-in-law before leaning over a bright-pink chair to signal the bartender. Naomi is glad he forced her out of the apartment. She needed this. The salty-sweet margaritas and prospect of conversations about things other than the case are calming.
“Check us out, on a double date.” Amelia waggles her eyebrows at Naomi as she searches for her straw with her tongue. She has a cheeky grin plastered across her face.
Naomi rolls her eyes, suppressing a smile as she finishes off another margarita. She glances over at Leo, who catches her eye and winks. The more she drinks, the more she wants to rip his clothes off. She imagines him lifting her up onto the table, running his hand through her hair as he kisses her neck. She’s grateful her hormones are helping distract her.
“He’s just been helping me get some info about the Harlow case, that’s all, don’t get too excited,” Naomi says, trying to convince herself as much as Amelia.
“Oh, how’s that going, by the way—I saw she’s been released?”
Naomi sighs, mad at herself for bringing up Harlow when she promised Leo that she’d take a break. She even convinced herself that she wanted one too. But now, given the chance to talk about it, she can’t resist. So she orders another margarita and explains what she’s learned since she last saw Amelia, from the bruising on Jade’s neck and Trevor’s details on the VMAs to getting kicked out of Colton’s funeral.
“Yo, did you just say you got kicked out of Colton Scott’s funeral?” Tom chimes in.
Leo stares at her blankly. She left that part out earlier.
Continuing to ignore Leo’s suggestion to not think about Harlow Hayes, Naomi—now four margaritas deep—explains to Amelia and Tom how she doesn’t believe she should have been released. How there are too many coincidences. How she changed too much following Jade’s death. Not to mention the fact she believes there could be more victims.
Tom, who was silent for most of Naomi’s rant, responds wide-eyed. “Wow, you really are invested in this.” Amelia nudges him, giving him a warning look, before turning to Naomi.
“So who do you think did it, then, now that Harlow’s been released?”
“No, that’s what I’m saying… it’s her! She shouldn’t have been released.”
Amelia raises an eyebrow, scrunching her face in disagreement. But Naomi doubles down. “You don’t understand. Emily’s sister was adamant Jade didn’t take any drugs. And she was last seen at the manager’s house of Harlow-freaking-Hayes. She was there. One of the last people to see her. And Jade was clearly Colton’s type. And if she was his type, so was Faye… and before you say anything, listen to this...” Naomi sees Leo cringe out of the corner of her eye, alerting her to how crazy she sounds. She knows she should rein it in or change the subject. But impulse takes control and she presses on.
“I compared Jade and Faye’s autopsy reports and their ‘overdose’ levels”—Naomi makes air quotes—“are the exact same on both.” She flails her arms. “I mean, can it be more obvious? Harlow Hayes killed Jade Dutton and then she killed my sister. And covered both up to look like overdoses.”
Amelia narrows her eyes. But Tom is the one to speak first. “Wait. You think Harlow Hayes, the pop star, killed your sister?” he scoffs, looking to Amelia for confirmation.
Amelia greets him with a stern look before she turns back to Naomi, a sad smile on her face. “I mean, anything is possible, hun.” She’s using her extra-chirpy PR voice to soften the blow. “But don’t you think maybe it’s a bit far-fetched? And even if it is true, it’s going to be impossible to prove now. There’s nothing else you can do. Maybe… just let it go.”
Naomi’s jaw tightens in frustration. How can they expect her to just let it go? She looks from Amelia to Leo, taking in their concerned expressions. Then she looks at Tom, eyeing her like some deranged animal. She can’t take it a second longer and stands.
“I have to pee.” She grabs her bag and walks away, on the verge of tears.
Are they right? Is it too far-fetched? Am I just trying to find someone or something to blame for Faye’s death?
Instead of going to the bathroom, Naomi heads outside to clear her head. The cold breeze and misting rain are welcome on her flushed face. She feels so misunderstood. She thinks of Tom and Amelia. The look of concern and confusion plastered across their faces, like Naomi has lost it.
Annoyed, she opens Twitter and types in #HarlowHayesIsGuilty, desperate to find others who share her viewpoint, even if it’s for different reasons than hers. She could show him these posts to back herself up.
@LovelyLauraaaX0: #HarlowHayesIsGuilty idgaf what the fucking corrupt justice system says, she deserves the death penalty
@JesusStan009: Not surprised Harlow Hayes case was dropped, she’s one of them, only trying to sell sex and evil #HarlowHayesIsGuilty #illuminati
@MrAmerica08916: It’s always the good ones that get hurt in the end. Nice Christian boy like Colton Scott taken from the world by an atheist whore #HarlowHayesIsGuilty
@HHevangelist: #HarlowHayesIsGuilty is trending even though the case has been dropped! Leave her the fuck alone and get a life
@ColtonStrongxx: She basically confesses to murder in her lyrics this is bullshit #HarlowHayesIsGuilty #PrayingForTheScotts
