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“They found a body last night,” she says simply.
“They what?” I straighten.
“They don’t know who it is yet,” she adds quickly. “But it’s badly decomposed.”
It can’t be Royce. It’s been more than six months. There wouldn’t even be a body left. “Well that doesn’t mean—”
“And they found a bullet,” Jenica cuts me off. “They’re running ballistics on it now, but I think it’s him. Given how long the body was in the water and the bullet…”
“Shit.” Ellie sinks down on the couch and I sit down next to her.
“And that’s not all.” Jenica chews on her thumb and flicks a nervous glance at Jake. “Royce’s father …he’s in Cherry Cove, waiting for the results. It’s like he knows it’s Royce.”
“He came out of hiding?” Ellery’s eyes narrow. “How do youknow?”
“Caleb’s mom is a secretary at CCPD. She told him and he told Travis. I was at the store when he called. As soon as he told me I went home and finished packing, then changed my flight and came straight here.”
Ellery grabs Jenica’s hand and holds it tight. “Well, if it is Royce and they trace it back to us, we say it was self-defense. He tried to—”
“The gun was registered to my brother,” Jenica cuts her off. “If the bullet matches, his father could go after him for first degree murder. He could seek the death penalty, Elle. My brother could die for what I did.”
“Well that’s not going to happen,” Ellie straightens.
Jenica’s eyes fill with tears. “What are we going to do?”
“What we should have done all along.” Ellie looks at me, the fire in her eyes unmistakable. “We let the past take care of the present.”
TO BE CONTINUED
