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“She’s desperate for answers,” Liam says. “I can’t say I blame her for trying to find anything that could relieve her from being a part of this.”
“Did you know she was planning to do this?” Detective Ray asks Liam. I’m not his responsibility. Why would he even ask something like that?
“No, he didn’t. I went of my own accord and called him after,” I speak before Liam has the chance.
“I wasn’t on their property. I was in the woods, and yes, they were outside. In all honesty, I was hoping to see something through their wall of windows facing the cliff behind their house.”
“Okay, okay, just hold on…do you have an attorney or anything?” He holds his hands up and huffs.
“No, I can’t afford one. I’m a twenty-seven-year-old student who needed a summer job. Now I’m here. I’m telling you the truth. I could see through their window from the woods, but I didn’t need to strain my vision since they were down at the shoreline.”
Detective Ray inhales sharply and takes the phone from the table and hits the play button to watch the footage.
I squeeze my hands together on my lap, digging my fingernails into my opposite knuckles. My knees bounce furiously as I wait for his reaction at the end of the video.
I didn’t realize I was filming for so long until I shift my gaze from my phone in his hands to the clock behind him on the wall. “Wow,” he says. “Can you give me a minute?”
We don’t have the opportunity to say okay before he’s out the door. “I hope this is a good thing,” Liam says.
I’m not sure I feel so optimistic.
A few quick minutes pass before Detective Ray returns with a clipboard and papers. “I will need you to sign this release form to give us access to the footage. You do have the right to a public defender at any time if you would like to consult with one first.” He hands it to me, and I sign as fast as I can, wanting to do whatever possible to avoid prolonging this visit.
“Thank you. I don’t have anything to hide on my phone,” I say with a shrug. “I’m not sure a public defender is necessary at the moment.”
“Understood. I’ll just need another few minutes. I’m going to take your phone with me, and I’ll be back with it after we pull the video.”
“Oh okay,” I say, nodding and shaking my head at the same time.
Liam places his hand on my bouncing knee. “It’s okay. You didn’t trespass.” But I did when I was by their shed. They don’t need to know that, but I’ll pray there weren’t cameras somewhere I didn’t notice.
“I just want this to be over.”
“I know. It isn’t fair that you’ve been pulled into this mess.”
Clearly Lara and Corbin don’t agree.
Detective Ray returns with my phone. “We have everything we need from you now. If we have any other questions, we’ll be in touch. Please continue to take precautions and do not return to their property or the borders of their property. Allow us to do our job, okay?”
I think that’s my slap on the wrist. “Yes, sir.”
Just as we make our way back toward the front lobby, we see and hear several cruisers fly out of the parking lot with their sirens blaring. “This is a good thing,” Liam whispers.
“Is it?”
TWENTY-NINE
MONDAY, JUNE 12TH 8:00 AM
I hardly remember climbing into bed last night after Willa freaked out for a half hour while I explained everything that had unfolded through the night. My mind should be clear after handing over hard evidence, but I guess that was unrealistic hope on my part. I’m just grateful I slept for a few hours.
Today needs to carry on like a normal day. I have a final at ten and it’s the only thing I should focus on.
I grab my phone from my oak nightstand and tap the screen, finding I’ve slept much later than I thought. It’s already eight. I’m not sure if I should feel relieved or concerned that I don’t have any notifications scrolling along my display like I usually do in the mornings. Not even my news app has updated since last night.
I click through my settings, checking the wi-fi connection and various modes the phone could be set on after the police had it in their possession last night.
Nothing seems out of order and the wi-fi looks to be connected.
