Her Destiny (18 page)

Just like her dad.

“Hey Mr. Benson,” I offer in greeting because I don’t know what else to say, waiting for the blow of his words pummeling me. The man likes to shout. I’ve heard him do it enough. I don’t think being inside a police station will stop him either.

“Don’t you ‘hey’ me, you stupid little fucker,” he mutters, stepping closer to me. I take a step back, wrinkling my nose at the strong scent of alcohol I smell on his breath. “Why are you here? Did they finally find something to pin this on you? Because we all know you did it. You killed my Krista.”

“I didn’t do it, sir,” I start but he interrupts me, cutting me off.

“
Sir.
” He spits the word out, like it’s a curse. “Aren’t you cute, trying to be all respectable and shit.” He grabs hold of the front of my shirt and jerks me close to him, his face in mine. “Give it up and tell the truth, boy. Tell them once and for all what you did to my girl and maybe then God can forgive you. Because I know I sure as hell can’t.”

He’s gonna hit me. Choke me. Something, I don’t know what, but he’s pissed off and looking for a fight. His fingers tighten on my shirt, pulling me even closer to him and I glance around, shocked but not really that no one is paying us any mind.

Fucking cops would probably love to see Krista’s dad beat the shit out of me. They’d probably call it poetic justice because in their eyes, I’m guilty.

Jesus, what sort of corrupt town do I live in anyway?

“Let him go, Hal. Before the cops arrest your ass for assault.”

Hal lets me go at the same time I look to my right to find of all people David standing there, a grim expression on his face. I brush off the front of my sweatshirt, backing away from both of them.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask incredulously. My old friend looks the same but he doesn’t. There’s a weariness clinging to him, as if he’s given up on this town, on himself. There’s an edginess to him too, as he bounces on his feet, back and forth, almost like he’s looking for a fight.

Great.

“We come here a lot to talk to the detectives who are working on the investigation,” David explains. “See if they have any new leads into Krista’s murder.”

Well, no shit. Look at my former best friend, helping my ex’s dad find her murderer. Talk about twisted. “I didn’t realize you and Hal were so close.”

“We became close after what…happened,” David says like it’s no big deal.

Uh huh. This doesn’t sit right. Can’t explain why but what the hell is David really doing? Not that I can trust the fucker or his motives and that’s probably my biggest problem. This all smells wrong to me. Looks wrong. Feels wrong.

And usually when I feel like this, I need to trust my instincts.

“He’s helped me a lot more than you ever did, you little shit,” Hal adds. Trying to get a rise out of me I’m sure but I refuse to take the bait.

Bad enough, how weird it is to have David here, perfectly calm and acting like it’s normal to hang out in a police station all the time. He did more jail time than I did so you’d think he wouldn’t want to step near this place once he got out.

“You all right, buddy?” David asks, a faint smile on his face. Like we’re back to being best friends again or something. “What are you doing here anyway?”

“Confessing his sins is what I told him. He needs to come clean,” Hal says. David sends him a look and Hal clamps his lips shut tight.

“He’s been…upset that there’s been no progress in the investigation,” David tells me, like Hal isn’t standing right next to us. “He’s been drinking heavily, especially lately.”

More like he’s been drinking heavily since we were little kids but I let it slide. “Not much evidence in the case, huh?”

“Not enough, and the police aren’t saying much either. Whoever did it knew what he was doing.” David leans in closer when he says that last bit, like he doesn’t want Krista’s dad to hear. Good call. “We’re starting to wonder if it was someone from out of town. A stranger passing through.”

“Maybe.” I scratch my chin, wishing I could get the hell out of here. Given the chance, I’ll leave the building and wait out in my truck for Reverie. Text her where I’m am so she doesn’t think I bailed.

I can’t stand it in here already. And it’s become a million times worse dealing with these two from my not so distant past.

“So why are you here?” David asks, his tone pleasant, as is his expression. He’s dressed in jeans and a button down plaid shirt, looking every inch a respectable teenage boy hanging out at the police station waiting for more information about a killer. His look, the way he’s acting, none of it rings true for me. It feels like an act and I wonder if I’m the only one not falling for it.

“My uh, friend is talking to the cops,” I offer, not wanting to explain myself any further.

David frowns. “What friend?”

“You don’t know her.”

“Is it that girl who’s family you were working for?” At my look of surprise David continues on. “Krista told me all about her.”

Shit. That means he must know about the trouble Krista tried to cause between us too. “What exactly did she tell you?”

“Nothing important.” He waves a hand, dismissing my question. “What’s done is done. Though I’m wondering what she could possibly say to the detectives that would matter to the investigation.”

“She’s giving a statement as to my whereabouts regarding the night Krista was murdered,” I explain further, fighting against the panic that’s rising within me. I don’t like this, making small talk with my backstabbing ex-best friend. I’m desperate to get out of here.

“Your whereabouts? What are you saying?” Hal asks, his voice getting louder, if that’s possible. “Is she claiming she was with you that night?”

“She
was
with me.” Anger fills me and I turn to walk away, tossing over my shoulder. “I don’t have to explain myself to you. I didn’t kill Krista. Take your rage out on someone else.”

I start to leave the building and David follows after me like a loyal dog, calling my name. I refuse to look at him, acknowledge him, but he grabs hold of my arm and stops me just in front of the station entrance.

“I’m sorry, man. You have to understand where he’s coming from. He’s upset they don’t have a firm suspect,” David says. “Well, except for you.”

My hands clench into fists like I have no control over them. “I’m not a suspect. I have an alibi.”

His brows rise. “All of a sudden, huh? That’s…interesting.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Funny how the supposed truth comes out months after Krista dies.” David steps closer, his pleasant, easygoing demeanor evaporating in a second. He glowers at me, his stance downright menacing and I wonder if he picked up this shift in mood while he was in jail. You learn from the best there. A real first hand lesson on criminal behavior.

“Go ahead and say what you want to say, David.” I take a step away, leaning against the wall, hands shoved in my pockets but my fists still clenched. I could take him out quick. At least, I used to be able to. He’s bigger now, though not as tall as me. And he might’ve learned a few moves in jail too. “I can tell you’re just dying to get it out.”

He smirks, his gaze cold. “Just get it over with and tell them you did it, Nick. They all suspect you. We all know you killed her. She was driving you crazy, unable to take no for an answer and nagging at you all the time. You finally couldn’t take it anymore.”

I can’t believe the nerve of this asshole. “Is that how you think it played out?”

“Sure.” He shrugs, the smirk still firmly planted on his face. I want to punch it off, again and again until he’s swollen and bleeding. Fucker. “Krista was always persistent. A real pain in the ass, but also a good lay, right? So you could look past her crazy behavior just to get with her. At least, I could.”

He’s trying to provoke me on purpose but I remain silent, refusing to say something stupid and give him ammunition to use against me.

“I know she was trying to blackmail you to dump your rich little girlfriend.” At my non-reaction he laughs. “You’re good with that poker face but I see you’re surprised I know. She told me everything. She was so frustrated you didn’t want her anymore that she turned to me. And trust me, I tried to convince her to leave you alone but she wouldn’t listen to me.”

“Right. I’m sure you were working her over, trying to win her back,” I retort. “I don’t need to hear this shit, David. I don’t care what you two did together. I didn’t kill her. I didn’t see her that night. I don’t know what happened or who did that to her.”

“You were supposed to meet her.”

“And I didn’t. I was with Reverie.”

He narrows his eyes. “Right. Reverie, the rich girlfriend Krista hated. Such a stupid name, but I heard she’s a real brainless twit so there’s that.” Another reluctant laugh slips from him. “The sweet and pure minister’s daughter. Did it make you feel better, fucking a virgin? Was it worth it? Considering she’s not rich anymore, I don’t see how it could’ve worked out too well for you since you didn’t gain much. Though that alibi she’s currently giving you must be worth something.”

I rush him without thought, grabbing hold of his shirt and tossing him hard against the wall. “I should kick your ass for saying that about her,” I mutter.

“Go ahead and try. I know how to put up a fight,” David says, his words full of bravado but his eyes edged with fear. “Such a big reaction, dude. Truth hurts, or something along those lines, right? Be glad you’ve covered your tracks with this chick. Your luck will run out eventually.”

“You’re an asshole.” I release my hold on him and step away, watching with satisfaction as he sags against the wall, reaching up to brush the wrinkles out of his shirt front. “Not worth me getting in trouble for beating your ass.”

“Fuck off,” David says, glaring at me. “They’ll find out the truth. They’ll realize you’re the one who killed Krista and I’ll make sure of it. I’m the only one who really cares about that girl. Everyone else tossed her aside like trash, even her father.”

“What, are you saying you’re the only one who loved her?” Please. He’s the most selfish asshole I know.

“More than you ever did, that’s for damn sure. Enjoy your freedom, Fairfield. It won’t last long,” he calls after me as I start to walk away.

“Fuck you,” I mutter under my breath, pushing through the front entrance of the police station and walking out into the rain. The cold air wraps around me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs, and I tip my head back, closing my eyes as the raindrops sting my skin as they fall.

The last thing I need is David chasing after me for the rest of my life, hell-bent on proving I murdered Krista. He’s the kind of dick that would do just that, terrorizing my ass despite all the evidence thrown at him proving I didn’t do it.

I gotta get out of here. I have some money saved. I could give notice on my apartment, sell a few of mom’s things that I don’t need and put the rest in storage, quit my job, box up my shit and go. I can’t take this town anymore. The looks people give me, the whispers. I’m innocent but I may as well be guilty.

But where do I go?

4 p.m.

D
etective Jacoby kept me in that stuffy little room for over an hour, asking me endless questions after I gave my statement, repeating many of them like he was trying to catch me in a lie, which he probably was.