Jackson rubs his hand over his scruffy jaw. "When I found her body on the beach I completely panicked. I didn't know what had happened but I knew they'd try to blame me. I checked the cameras but the only ones that were working that night were the ones by the front door."
"Someone damaged the ones in the back? Or did the wind knock them out?"
"Someone did it. The wires were pulled out. If the wind did that, it'd have to be a hurricane force wind, not an ocean breeze."
"You noticed the cameras were out when we talked. That was what? Almost midnight?"
"Yeah. I tried to fix them but couldn't so I just went to bed. It was probably around one."
"And what time you find her?"
"Just before seven. The sun had just come up and I went out back to see if I could figure out what made that noise I heard. The one I told you about."
"Did you find out what it was?"
"The umbrella over the table fell over. I'm guessing that's what it was."
"Why would it just fall over?"
"It doesn't fit right in the pole. It falls over all the time if the wind is going a certain direction."
"Are you sure that's the sound you heard?"
"I'm not positive but I'm guessing that's what it was."
"Unless it was the killer."
"Even if it was, I can't prove the noise I heard had anything to do with her death. I told the cops about it and they didn't seem to care."
"Because they think you're guilty. They're not even trying to look for someone else."
"You believe me, right?" He looks in my eyes, his arms going around me. "That I didn't do this?"
"Of course I believe you." I hug him, pressing my head against his chest. "I know you didn't do this."
He kisses my head, then pulls back, his eyes returning to mine. "I love you. I'm going to do everything I can to fix this."
"I know." I reach up to kiss him.
"Get out!" I hear Braden yell. "You don't fucking belong here."
I turn to face Braden, standing between him and Jackson.
"He was invited," I say to Braden. "Go upstairs and leave us alone."
"I'll go wherever the hell I want," Braden says. "It's MY house. You're just a guest. And he's just a..." Braden narrows his eyes at Jackson. "A fucking murderer."
"Says the guy who shoved his girlfriend off the side of a cliff," Jackson says, crossing his arms. "Correction. MY girlfriend."
"She was never fucking yours," Braden says, his jaw tightening. "She only went to you to get my attention. The bitch could never get enough attention."
"Jackson, let's go." I tug on his arm. "Breakfast is almost ready."
"They're gonna find out you did it," Jackson says to Braden. "It may take years but they're gonna find out."
Braden smirks. "They'd have to make up evidence to convict me."
"That may be all it takes. If they can make shit up about me, they'll do it to you too."
