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“They’re stripped. Just let Brandon know and he’ll get new ones. They cost a buck, if that.”
Releasing the vent, he gently lowers it to the floor and stands to his full height, setting the screws on the dresser. I’m frozen in place as my eyes fall on what lays hidden behind the old piece of metal.
“Spence,” I mumble, his name barely slipping passed my lips as shock knocks me on my ass. Literally. I fall backward, landing with a thud.
“Are you okay?”
I point toward the vent, and Spencer laughs. “Do dark places scare you now? You were the one that loved to go to the haunted houses, Andi. The one that always dragged Sam, knowing she was going to scream every time she rounded a corner. I swear—”
“Spencer!” I holler, interrupting his trip down memory lane. “I’m not scared of dark holes. There’s something in there.”
Crouching back down, Spencer tries to see what’s in the hole, but his head blocks the light. Pulling his cell phone from his back pocket, he turns on his flashlight and shines it inside, the sight causing him to take a seat next to me.
We sit in silence, neither of us sure what we can say in this moment. Spencer’s flashlight is still pointed at Sam’s apron, a multicolored, fuzzy pen sticking out of one of the folds.
“You were going to arrest someone without the evidence I told you we needed?” I finally ask.
“The chief was convinced it was him. He didn’t want to wait. There’s a judge issuing a search warrant for multiple properties right now. This place included.”
“I can’t believe Brandon would do this,” I say, the words slipping passed my lips as I expel a loud breath.
“He didn’t. It was his brother, Ben.”
“Ben Royal?”
“Yeah. Every single one of the officers wrote his name down while you were presenting the profile. Every. Single. One. They all went to school with the Royals. They know him. Knew he had a bad relationship with his father. He was a track star in high school but a fuck up in all other aspects. And he likes to be the center of attention.
“Even the chief was sure it was him. Before we looked at your list. Before we watched his interview from five years ago. He wasn’t called in by anyone, he came in and offered to help. Claimed he walked through the park that night on his way to Riley’s and saw Sam walking home. Waved at her but didn’t stop to talk to her.”
“That wasn’t in the file.”
“It appears there was a lot missing from the investigation. Things they didn’t think were important were left out of the notes. The chief’s job is on the line. I think that’s why he wanted this case closed. He had to know if anyone found out how badly they fucked up the initial investigation, heads would roll. Mainly his.”
Spencer finally turns off his flashlight and tosses his phone on the floor next to us.
“Don’t you need to call this in?” I ask, my eyes still focused on the now dark hole. I don’t need light to have a clear image of what I know is there.
“Yeah. I just need a minute to process, ya know? It’s over, Andi. It’s finally over.” Spencer let’s out a gruff breath, and when I turn to thank him for his hard work and dedication, I find tears streaming down his cheeks.
Wrapping my arm around his broad shoulder, I pull him to me, and he lays down with his head in my lap.
“Thank you,” he mutters, wiping away the tears.
“None of this would have been possible without you, Spence. You dedicated your life to solving Sam’s murder. You never gave up. Not even when it all seemed hopeless. Not when life got hard. Not when you wanted to run. You stayed and you made sure someone was always searching for answers.
“I may have put together the picture of who did it, but you kept hope alive. You brought the town together to celebrate Sam’s life. And now you get to tell everyone that the case is closed. Not because it’s been five years and it’s time, but because you caught the bastard responsible.”
“I really should call this in.”
“Take another minute to relish in the victory. To let closure wash over you, Spence. Remember this feeling for the rest of your life. Once you make that call, this place is going to be a flurry of activity.”
Spence closes his eyes and breathes deeply. Reaching for my phone, I quickly shoot off a text to Jay. I know he’s on his way home, that he probably won’t get the message for hours, but he deserves to know it’s over. He deserves to know the name of the man that took Sam’s life.
Me: Case closed. They’re arresting Ben Royal right now for Sam’s murder.
This isn’t just closure for Spencer, it’s for all of us.
My phone rings seconds after I send the message.
