“I’m coming. I’ll be there soon.” I hung up and floored the gas.
A twenty-minute drive took twelve. There were a dozen cars already lined on the side of the road, leading to Spencer’s ridiculously large house, along with a mix of police cars. I parked behind Rem’s truck and hurried to find the crew.Therese was wrapped in Rem’s arms, Micah was standing still, watching the house, while Emi sat in the grass with an inconsolable Soleil, holding onto Rudy, Spencer’s St. Bernard.
“What exactly happened? When?” I asked the men.
“No one knows much. Soleil found him in the kitchen. His throat was cut.”
I covered my face with my hands. I couldn’t hear that.I thought back to last night. I never could have imagined it’d be the last time I saw him. I’d been so hurt over what my friends had said about me, but now it all seemed so unimportant. Our friend was dead.
Police were draping the yard in yellow tape and shoving the growing crowd back. Shelley Vale was small, so I had no doubt the entire town knew about what had happened.I crossed my arms and watched the scene unfold. Spencer’s name was on almost everything. The parks, the sports teams, every event our town had, the Foxworths were donors.This was bigger than those four teens in the woods.
Spencer’s parents and siblings showed up. They looked more angry than grieving. They spoke to the police and tried to enter, but they refused to let them through. Mr. Foxworth then got on the phone, yelled at whoever was on the other line, and was eventually allowed inside.
“Why haven’t the coroners gotten here?” I sniffled. I didn’t want to see him like that, but it felt cruel for his body to still be stuck inside.
“Construction and a car accident.” Emi stood, leaving Soleil for a moment. “My dad said it’s pretty bad. They don’t know when someone’s going to come.”
Micah swore. “This is so fucked up! First those kids, and now Spencer? It’s a pattern!”
“Will you shut the fuck up?” Rem hissed.I was about to ask what exactly Micah was insinuating when a police officer came over to our group.
“Are you Eisley Doe?”
“Yes.”
“I’d like to talk to you if that’s okay?”
“Sure.” I followed him down to where we were hidden from everyone’s direct view.He pulled out a notebook.
“You were friends with the deceased?”
“Yeah, so was everyone else I was just standing with.”
He nodded. “And did you have any relationship beyond friendship with Mr. Foxworth?”
“No? Why, did someone tell you that? Soleil is one of my best friends. I’d never.”
“So, you were attracted to him. You just didn’t want his girlfriend to know.”
I opened and closed my mouth. What?
“I was never interested in Spencer Foxworth romantically.”
“Because of his girlfriend.”
“No!” I stepped away from the officer. “Because I wasn’t interested period. What is your problem?”
“My problem, miss, is that I have a dead man from a very powerful family and you are getting defensive. If you don’t want to talk here, why don’t we go down to the station and chat?”
“I don’t understand why I’m being singled out. I had nothing to do with Spencer’s murder.”
“You think he was murdered?” He cocked his head.
“He was stabbed!” I screamed.
“All right.” He reached for his handcuffs. “We’re gonna take you downtown to talk privately.”
“I don’t need fucking handcuffs. I’ll drive myself.” I stalked away.
