Shit, he was going to do it, wasn’t he? I steeled myself, waiting for the blow I would receive.
“Have you talked to Ava?”
“Uh, no, Sir.”
I could tell Ava I wanted to dick her down, but someone’s murder was too much, and now she wanted me gone.
“She’s been at the sorority house for the last few days. Barely came home today, and it looks like she hadn’t slept a wink.” Mr. Hayes scratched the back of his head, looking uncomfortable.
Good.
“She won’t talk to me, but maybe she will talk to you?”
Wait, what? He wasn’t firing me?
“You want me to go talk to Ava?” I couldn’t help but repeat.
“I just don’t want her to be alone in the house,” he admitted.
“Okay, I can do that,” I told him.
I left the auto shop and took out my phone to text Micah. If Ava was withdrawing, I didn’t think I was the right person to help her get out of her funk.
Me:
Mr. Hayes told me to talk to Ava
Micah:
What happened? Is she okay? Why did he ask you?
That last bit hurt.
Me:
Because I was at work and closest to his house. Idk but I’m on my way
Micah:
Should I go? I’m the one closest to her
Me:
Sure
I put my phone away before I felt more useless.
Since Mr. Hayes told me to go over, I assumed he had left the door unlocked for me, which he had. It was stupid because there was a killer on the loose. Then again, no one had any idea of the shit that was drowning us.
I locked the front door but left the back unlocked, then let Micah know. It was better than having the front door wide open.
Taking two steps at a time, I made my way upstairs.
Ava’s door was ajar, and no noise could be heard. Maybe she had finally managed to get some sleep?
“Ava,” I called out so I wouldn’t freak her out. “It’s me, Cruz.”
I pushed the door open and stepped into her room. She was lying in bed, her hair fanned out all over the pillows. She was in an oversized auto shop T-shirt and fuzzy socks. Her body didn’t move, but her gaze did follow me inside. Ava didn’t speak, didn’t crack a smile…she looked catatonic.
