Page 142 of Tell No Lies

“What do you mean?” I thought we took care of every detail.

Mckayla would be picking me up for school, so I wouldn’t be alone for even the five-minute drive to her house. Cassie would take me to dance and then back home, where either Mike or Brandon would be with me. I knew this would be where things got tricky. Brandon was still insanely busy at work, and it just wasn’t feasible for him to work from home. Liv offered to step in whenever it was needed, but she had a life to live too. I couldn’t ask anyone to do this, but I didn’t have to. They each volunteered.

“We know the threat is local. I don’t even want to wait for something else to happen, but I know you won’t leave yet.”

“Leave?” My stomach dropped through the floor.

He nodded, “I was thinking of calling Olli.”

I shook my head. There was only one Olli I knew and there was no way he could be thinking of dragging him into this mess. “Brandon, he’s busy. He has is own life. A baby.”

“He also has security and access to more if needed.”

Mike glanced between us, “Who’s Olli?”

“Our cousin.” I answered wanting to keep the rest quiet.

“Why does he have security?” Mike couldn’t let anything slide without knowing everything.

“He’s the goalie for the Utah Fury,” Brandon explained.

Mike sat up. “You’re related to him? He’s one of the best goalies in the NHL!”

I ignored him and focused on my brother. “I’m not dragging his family into this. Emma has enough to deal with.”

He stared at the floor. “I don’t want to, but I will if it comes down to getting you out of here quietly and quickly.”

Shipping me off again didn’t sound like a good idea. It was one thing involving my brother when I didn’t realize I was being followed. I wouldn’t make more of my family a target.

“Fine. If it comes to that I’ll go, but that has to be the very last resort. I’ll do everything we planned. I won’t give this guy a chance to get me alone.” I would obey the rules, anything I could do to keep thing web from spreading.

“I know this seems extreme, Aubrey, but I’m glad you appreciate how serious things have gotten. No sneaking out this time or not telling me where you are.”

I nodded in agreement. There was nothing for me to dispute.

“There are only a few select people I approve of you being alone with. Mike, Liv, Carter, and the Pages.”

“I understand, but what about everyone that was sitting with you today? If none of them left from my solo to the team routine, then we can eliminate them as suspects.”

The three of them seemed to consider this.

“You’re right. Aubrey. I think you just made a valid point.”

I smiled at Liv, appreciating her support.

“Your attack happened immediately after your solo. Do you guys remember anyone leaving during that time?”

Brandon shook his head but had a look of total concentration, as if he was reliving those moments.

Mike looked past me and focused on the wall. “No. No one in our group left. Mckayla had a program and made sure everyone knew when you and Cassie had performances. She didn’t let anyone leave when you guys were going to be on.”

Liv’s smile broke into a beam. “Make a list of who was there. Those people are safe. That narrows down who you know here significantly.”

I jumped up and searched for a notepad and pen in the kitchen. Mike reached up and took them from me. For several minutes, he listed every person who had been there.

“What’s taking you so long?”

He met my eyes for a second before looking back down at his work. “I’m listing everyone that went to Catalina too. Since you got pictures from the trip, it was likely someone with us who took them. I’m eliminating everyone at the show today. That should give us a list of suspects.”