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But I knew I needed more to bring him in. The cops wouldn’t arrest Juan off his voice alone. I had to find some kind of footage from that night, some other piece of undeniable proof that put him in that alley. And then I needed to figure out the second piece of the puzzle. Who the hell was Juan with? Was it his brother?
“Fuck this.” Juan coughed and started down the hall. “You’ll regret this shit, puta!”
Sirens started to sound from far off, the wails cutting through the night. Without missing a beat, Juan took off running.
“Hey! Stop!”
I went to give chase, but a hand on my elbow stopped me. “Wait, Beck, don’t. Please.”
It was Oliver.
“Let the cops look for him. I can’t… not again. Just please. Please.”
Oliver’s entire body shook. I couldn’t leave this spot, I knew that. If I left Oliver, he’d crumble.
I held him and helped him back into his place.
“I’m so sorry. I can’t believe I led him here.”
“It’s okay. It’s okay.” Oliver’s hands trembled in mine. “I’m glad you did. It’s confirmation.”
Just then, the door to the bathroom opened. I jumped, ready to fight. Will walked out, looking as pale and scared as Oliver.
“I heard all of that. Everything okay?”
Oliver shook his head. He tried saying no but squeaked instead.
Will came over and hugged Oliver. I could see the friendship between them, the camaraderie that stretched back for years. Will took a step back and took us both in.
“Keep him safe, all right?” He spoke directly to me.
I nodded. I understood where his defensive came from. Oliver was precious to every person he connected with. Will was just looking out for him.
“All right, I really need to get out of here.” Oliver shook his shoulders and wiped at his cheeks. “Beck, can I stay over your place tonight?”
“Of course,” I said. Will, still looking a little shaken, turned to collect his stuff off the nearby table, his pockets jingling with keys as he walked, catching the cats’ attention as they slinked out of Oliver’s bedroom now that the coast was clear.
As soon as Oliver filled up Mason and Jar’s water dishes and food bowls, we took off, Will leaving with us. We said our goodbyes in the car park. I offered Will a ride, but he said he wanted to walk, that he needed the fresh air.
The drive home was quiet. I let Oliver sit in his thoughts, and he let me do the same. The entire time, his hand was in my lap, my fingers twined through his.
When we pulled into the driveway, Oliver asked the first question. “So what next?”
“I keep digging, that’s what’s next.”
Oliver’s head dropped back against the headrest. “I can’t believe he was inside my apartment. I can’t believe it.”
“He wasn’t in there for as long as he’s going to be in a jail cell.”
“Can they arrest him? I know it was him. I’m a hundred percent sure he was there. I know that voice.”
I didn’t want to take the wind from Oliver’s sails, but he had to hear the truth. “It’s still not enough. I need more before I go to the police. I need evidence. Solid, undeniable evidence.”
Oliver shook his head and looked out the window. My driveway light was flooding the space in bright white light, shining down on the row of bushes that lined the path up to my front door.
“Do you think it was Juan and Mario? Or Juan and someone else…”
The question had been bothering me since I considered it. Truthfully, I didn’t have enough evidence to point me directly toward Mario, but just by association, he appeared guilty.
“You need more evidence?” Oliver said, answering his own question. “Jesus, Mary, and Mariah fucking Carey. I need to meditate or something.”
Maybe the time didn’t exactly call for it, but I couldn’t help it. I laughed. The sound echoed in the car as if it had turned into a cavernous space.
Oliver laughed, too. An exhausted type of laugh, but a laugh all the same.
“Seriously, though. I do. My head’s spinning out of control.”
“Aren’t there things you can download on your phone for that?”
Oliver shot me a look. “Yes, there are apps for that, but I need the real stuff. Will used to bring me to this secluded spot at the Port of Authority, right behind cargo bay seven. It’s a small offshoot of the port, and it’s surrounded by tall reeds with a tiny office that’s never used by anyone. You see the entire bay and feel like all of Miami is gone. And it’s such a different vibe than the beach, too. Like, you can meditate for hours there.”
“You’ll have to take me there, then. I’ve never been one for meditating, but I’m up for trying.”
“I’d like that.” Oliver closed his eyes. “I used to go there a lot after losing Derrick. Sometimes I’d just read until I fell asleep; other times I’d actually meditate. I’d feel better every single time.”
