Page 115 of Tell No Lies

I was in a daze as he walked me into the bathroom. He started the shower and set out a new towel. Turning back to me, he put his hands on my shoulders and leaned forward to meet my eyes.

“Listen to me, Aubrey. I want you to shower and get dressed. The detectives we spoke to last time are on their way over. We are going to talk to them again, but I need you back. You need to calm down. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

He dropped his hands and waited for a response. The most I could give was a slight nod. How could he promise nothing would happen?

Someone had been in my room last night while I was sleeping.

Someone was taking pictures of me again.

I was being followed, and whoever it was knew how to get to me.

I showered and toweled off, each step taking longer and longer. I didn’t bother drying my hair or fussing with makeup before slipping into sweats and a big T-shirt. Then my time was up.

Brandon was sitting across from the detectives, talking to them from the ottoman. He straightened when he saw me and made room for me to sit next to him. I saw the photographs sitting between the detectives and was happy they were no longer in my possession.

The older-looking man caught my eye and nodded once. “Ms. Tate, I’m sorry to see you again under these circumstances.”

Speech still seemed too difficult, so I shrugged in response.

“We’re going to do everything we can to figure out what’s going on. My partner called the facility in Chicago and confirmed that Mr. Carrington remains in maximum security and has no contact outside of his family.”

What does this mean?

Brandon voiced my concerns for me. “If it’s not Morgan, then who is doing this? I have an alarm system, and it was set last night. I asked the security guards, and they said no unauthorized person entered. Explain this to me.” His voice revealed his desperation.

The younger detective spoke this time. “We understand your frustration, Mr. Tate, but I can assure you that we will do everything we can. Although there has been a violation of your sense of security, there isn’t necessarily a crime to report. The note could have been placed by one of your friends, or even by your sister. A cry for attention, maybe?”

Brandon tensed next to me, but the senior detective held up a hand. “I don’t think that is the case here. There has been no harm done yet, but I want to figure this out before someone gets hurt.” He shot his partner a look that seemed to set him in his place.

How could anyone think I would make this up? Why would I do this to myself? The pictures were of me and my friends. How could I have taken them?

I sank deeper into myself, ignoring the conversation around me. If this wasn’t Morgan, then who was it?

“Aubrey. Aubrey!”

I looked up and saw they were all looking at me, waiting. “Sorry, what did you say?”

“They asked for names of anyone who knows about Chicago, or anyone who would do this.”

“Why would any of my friends do this to me? Somehow, Morgan is pulling this off.”

“Ms. Tate, I understand your reluctance to believe this, but the most likely suspects would be the people here who know you. Maybe it’s a prank, but we want to check with everyone. Maybe your friends saw something you didn’t this weekend.”

They could be right. Maybe someone had noticed something I hadn’t. It felt like a betrayal of my friends, but I knew they would understand. “Fine, I’ll write a list of the people that were there.”

“And anyone else you know here.”

I glared at the young detective. I really didn’t like him.

☼ ☼ ☼

Brandon stayed home from work to be with me. I felt bad since things had been so busy for him lately, but he assured me he could do some work from his laptop. I was snuggled into a blanket on the couch and hadn’t moved since the detectives left. I didn’t want to go into my room, in case something else magically appeared, and Brandon hadn’t moved either.

I was sure he didn’t want to leave me, as much as I didn’t want to be left alone.

I fell asleep during the third movie that came on and woke to the sound of knocking on the front door. I looked up and caught Brandon’s eye. We were both on edge and looking suspiciously at the door.

He stood and looked through the peephole before opening the door.