Declan turned to her.“Tess, this doesn’t involve you.”
“He didn’t kill Eddie.”She said it louder, but her voice was shaking.“He couldn’t have.He… he was with me that night.”
Gil’s head swiveled toward her.The confusion on his face was unmistakable.“What?Tess, no, I wasn’t.”
“Yes, you were.”She stared at him.“You were with me, Gil.Remember?”
He shook his head.“No.I was sick that night.That’s why Eddie went out alone.”He watched her, looking confused.“Calm down, Tess.I didn’t hurt Eddie.It’ll be all right.”
“Of course it won’t be all right,” she said, her face twitching.“He’s trying to frame you, Gil.But it… it won’t work because you… you were with me the night Eddie died.Remember?”Her voice went up at the end like a frightened little girl.
The silence that followed was excruciating.I wanted to get up out of my seat so badly it hurt.Tess was trying desperately to give Gil an alibi, and he was refusing to take the lifeline.I didn’t think it was because he was being noble.I think he genuinely thought she had the nights mixed up.It was obvious he didn’t think he’d been with her.And he wasn’t going to admit to something he thought wasn’t true, even if it got him out of trouble.
“Gil, please.”Her voice broke.“Just say you were with me.Please.”
“Tess, what are you doing?”Gil rumbled.“I’m not going to lie to the police.I wasn’t with you.”
“Gil,” her voice was anguished.
Declan ignored Tess’s pleas.“Come with me, Gil.”
“No.”Tess started to cry, and her hand moved beneath the bar.
I stood slowly, distracted by watching Gil.I didn’t process what Tess was doing until I actually saw the gun.It was a short-barreled revolver, the kind bars sometimes kept for security.A feeling of horror washed over me as Tess lifted the gun higher and pointed it at me.
I froze, stomach dropping and panic washing through me.“What are you doing, Tess?”I croaked, meeting her frantic gaze.
“I’m not going to let him take Gil from me.”Her hands were shaking so badly the barrel wobbled.She didn’t look like she was used to handling a gun, but she was close enough to me that if the gun went off, it wouldn’t matter.
At the sight of the gun, the bar erupted.People scrambled for the door.Chairs scraped and toppled.Drinks spilled and someone screamed.
“Tess, put the gun down.”Declan’s voice was calm, but his hand was on his sidearm.He didn’t draw his weapon, but his body was tense.
She ignored him and raised the gun higher, zoning in on the center of my chest.“This is your fault, Spencer.”Her voice was harsh.“You couldn’t leave it alone, could you?You had to come in here, asking Gil all sorts of questions, and trying to get your little story.”
“I just wanted to know what happened to Eddie,” I said softly.
“It was an accident,” she screamed, tears streaking down her cheek.“But you just kept digging and digging until you ruined everything.”Her shoulders shook with sobs.“If you’d just minded your own business, none of this would be happening.”
“Tess, baby, put the gun down,” Gil whispered, cheeks flushed.“Please.”
She shook her head.“No.We need to get out of here, Gil.We can go somewhere where they can’t f… find us.”
“Tess.”He looked shell-shocked.“Stop this.You can’t shoot him.That’s crazy, babe.”
“I will shoot him,” she growled, her finger tightening on the trigger.
I felt lightheaded as I stared at the gun.I believed she’d pull the trigger.I didn’t want to, but I did.How was it possible this crazed-looking person was the same warm, friendly girl who’d helped me pick avocados?Instinct screamed at me to dive for the floor, but I couldn’t seem to move.She had her finger on the trigger, and I had a horrible feeling if I even moved a hair, she’d fire.
“Tess, you don’t want to do this,” Declan said quietly.“You’re not a killer.”
Her laugh was slightly hysterical.“That’s what you think.S… sometimes you have to do things to protect the people you love.”She wiped at her eyes with the back of one hand.“I’m not going to let you arrest Gil for something he didn’t do.”
Declan held out a hand.“If you’ll put the gun down, we can talk about whatever you want.”
“No,” she screamed.The gun jerked in her hand and I flinched, certain for one terrible second that it was going to go off.“You’re not taking Gil anywhere.”
“Tess, calm down,” Gil said as he slowly moved to stand between me and the gun.
