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He continues going on about fees associated with the ankle monitor but I don’t hear it. The ten percent a bondsman will require to free Oliver is fifty-thousand. We can do that. I’ll pull it from the Stokes business account. Whatever happens next, he’s coming home. The relief of that sends tears down my cheeks.
Oliver is led out of the courtroom and the rest of us meet Lowell in the hallway. “Where are they taking him? I can pay the fifty thousand now,” I tell him.
“He’ll be processed out once the clerk is paid and they’ve attached his ankle monitor. It’ll be a few hours at least.”
He goes on to explain where to go to get the bail paid, reminds me that Oliver needs to meet with him first thing tomorrow if he’s going to be handling his case from this point on, and excuses himself.
We all agree that Milo and Smith will go to the shop before things get catastrophically behind there, and I’ll pick up Oliver when they release him. Tori hasn’t been home since yesterday morning and also has to work today so she heads home after I promise to keep her updated.
Hours later, I get the call that he’s about to be released and I’m just pulling up to the side door of the justice center when he walks out of the double doors. His face is grim, and he waves for me not to get out of the car as he approaches.
“Are you okay?” I ask when he climbs into the passenger seat. He looks over at me silently. “Right. Stupid question.” I pull away from the curb, merging with the traffic. “Are you hungry? Do you want me to stop at a drive-thru?”
“No, thanks.”
It’s all he says until we park in my driveway. Before he can get out, I take his hand. “It’ll be alright. You have a good lawyer. He’ll straighten this out. No one believes you had anything to do with that robbery. All your friends have your back.”
His smile is forced, and he squeezes my hand back before getting out of the car. “Where did you get the bail money? I need to pay you back.”
“No, you don’t. I took it from the Stokes Brothers business account. It’s yours as much as it is mine.”
Once we’re inside, he starts gathering his bags and putting them into his car. I figured he’d be upset, but I didn’t think he’d still want to leave.
“Oliver, you don’t have to go. Especially now.”
He scoffs, and bitterness invades his voice. “Yeah, I do. It’s always going to be something. I was just finding my life and now…” He pauses after stuffing a jacket into his bag and mumbles, “Murder. Fuckingmurder.”
“Everyone knows you didn’t do it.”
His head whips around and I’m met with a blazing stare. “How? Just how the fuck do you know that when I don’t even know?”
Oh god. It never occurred to me that he might doubt his innocence. He stands stone still when I grab his wrists and look him in the eye. “Because I know you. Because I’ve known you most of our lives and you aren’t a monster. You loved Alden. We were the two people who loved him more than anyone else. If you can’t believe me, or believe in yourself, know that Tori and the guys at the shop loved Alden too. Would they have showed up in court to support you if they had any doubts? No matter what the prosecutor or cops told you, you did not do this.”
He steps back and runs his hands through his hair. “They didn’t tell me anything. They kept asking questions I couldn’t answer.”
Fear fills me. Rule number one is never talk to cops without a lawyer. “What did you say to them?”
“I kept telling them that I don’t know. I don’t remember. I don’t fucking remember!” he exclaims, his voice rising.
“Okay, it’s alright.”
“No, it’s not! Stop saying that! I have to remember. How can I defend myself? How can I swear I didn’t do it ifI don’t fucking know?”
“I get it. We can try to trigger your memories again and—”
“No.” He slings a bag over his shoulder and picks up another. “Not we. I’m going home. What we talked about before hasn’t changed. I can’t figure out who I am when you’re looking at me and seeing my brother. My head is too scrambled. I need to be alone and sort some things out.”
He pauses, taking in the look on my face. “I’m grateful for everything, Ella, and I’m not cutting you off. I’m just moving out. I’ll call you after I meet with the lawyer and let you know what’s going on.”
“Okay.” What else is there to say? He’s a grown man. I can’t keep him here if he wants to go.
His voice softens. “You need to get back to your life too. I’m sure you had to cancel appointments today, didn’t you?”
“It’s fine. I rescheduled.”
“I couldn’t have made it this far without you but there’s nothing you can do now.” He leans and presses his lips to my forehead. “Stop worrying about me and get back to your life.”
Sighing, I nod. “I can do one of those things. Promise you’ll call if you need me. You’re still family.”
