Brock sets the pen down and sits back in his chair. "We don't have to defend you, Rumor. Even though you're family, you just recently entered our lives. Although I'm willing to protect you from this, I'm not obligated to, and I won't if you turn against Braden."
"You're saying you won't defend me if I don't defend Braden, even if I think he killed Andrea?"
"What if I think you killed Kristen? You certainly have motive. You hated the girl, to the point that you punched her in the face. And I'm sure you felt at least somewhat jealous that she maintained a relationship with the boy you were seeing, even if that relationship was platonic."
"I wasn't jealous of Kristen," I say defensively. "And I didn't hate her."
Brock lets out a laugh. "You have no idea how this works, do you?"
"I know I'm innocent. That's all that matters."
"Your innocence will depend on how good her mother's lawyers are, and I can assure you that Daphne Reynolds will find the best lawyers money can buy. They'll turn you into the angry jealous girlfriend who would do anything to get rid of Kristen."
"I wasn't even there last night. That's proof I didn't do it."
"If you didn't do it then you planned it. You convinced your boyfriend to do it. You told him you wanted Kristen out of your lives. For good."
"That is NOT what happened."
Brock leans toward me across the desk. "What happened isn't relevant. Your fate will be determined by what the police, and later the jury, are convinced to believe by high-priced lawyers who are very good at their jobs."
"Lawyers can say whatever they want but it's the truth that counts. And the evidence. If there's no evidence they have nothing to support their story."
"Evidence can be made up. It can be circumstantial, like something of yours that was left in Kristen's locker at school. Or a threat you made that was overheard by a student. Hitting her is enough of a motive for them to arrest you in connection with her murder. So is dating her ex."
"No, it's not."
"And yet the officer at the door was very eager to speak with you. When he learns of your previous aggression with her, he'll return, possibly with handcuffs."
"So what are you saying? That you'll let them take me away?"
"I'll do what I can. But in return, you support Braden. You stop accusing him of crimes he didn't commit." His eyes lock on mine. "Braden did not kill Andrea. Say it."
I swallow and look away. "I'm not saying something if I don't know it's true."
"Do you want my support or not? Trust me, you can't afford the type of lawyers you'll need if the police charge you with this, and you definitely don't have money to defend yourself against Daphne Reynolds, should she choose to come after you for her daughter's death."
I pause, my anger building. I hate that he's making me do this, but what the hell. It's just words. And I'm only saying them to Brock, not the police.
"Fine," I say. "He didn't do it."
"And?"
I look back at Brock. "And what?"
"You will tell the police he wasn't with Kristen the other night. Their relationship ended when she left him for Jackson."
"You want me to lie to the police?"
"And anyone else who asks."
"No." I shake my head. "Telling them that could help Jackson. I'm not lying about her being here."
Brock stands up. "Go to your room and think about it. You might come to your senses once you've given it some thought."
"And if I don't agree to it, then what?"
He slowly smiles. "You're so much like your mother. Go up to your room. We'll talk later."
