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Chapter 59

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

ZAIN

When I arrive at the station, I expect to be treated like an ex-con, but I am greeted with a smile from the girl on the desk. Less than five minutes after arriving, I'm whisked through to Sheriff McFadden's office. He asks me about how I'm adjusting, before telling me that he's read through all the paperwork about my case.

While our talk answers a lot of questions I had about the initial investigation, it's also left me with new ones, and from the troubled expression on his face, he feels the same way.

When I leave, it's with a promise to check in again toward the end of the week, when hopefully some of the things we discussed have had the chance to fall into place. I have a lot to think about, and changes to make to my initial plan, based on the things we discussed. I'm not sure how I'm going to achieve what I need to do, but I'm sure I can think of something.

I don't go straight back to my parents' house, instead taking a detour down to the beach front, where I park the car, and get out.

The tide is going out, but it's still close enough to the rocks that there's only a very small path along the beach. There's no one else around, so I walk down the steps, and onto the sand. There's a gentle breeze, which cools the summer heat a little, and I stroll along the shoreline, memories playing out in front of me.

Of Jason, Louisa and myself fooling around in the sea. Of the two of us surfing while Louisa sunbathed. Of exploring the caves.

If I close my eyes, I can hear their laughter, their voices as they call to each other, and I have to swallow against the lump in my throat.

It's been so long, and yet it feels like it happened yesterday.

When I finally return to the car, I have my emotions under control once more, and I'm ready to go back to the house and face my family … and Ashley.

I sit in the driver's seat, but don't start the car.

Ashley Trumont. The girl has had a starring role in my nightmares for years. Somewhere along the way, I forgot the child she was when she made her accusation and turned her into a soulless monster deadset on ruining my life.

Her words of earlier have been echoing around my head ever since she uttered them.

If no one knew, then why did Detective Holson ask you who the father of her baby was?

Why hadn't I ever questioned that? Why did I never wonder how he knew?

But I know why. Until she watched my interrogation video, I'd blanked the entire thing out of my head. I couldn't tell anyone what was said in that room. All I remember is the terror, the sickness, the heartbreak, and the confusion.

But now it's a question that needs an answer.

And it's one Sheriff McFadden couldn't give me .

He wasn't the town's sheriff at the time of the murders. He's only been in town for a couple of years. In some ways, that makes it easier to talk to him and get his thoughts on how the case should be dealt with now. In others, he didn't know Jason and Louisa, or the relationship dynamic we had back then.

Not that it matters.

What matters now is that for me to get the answers I need, my plan has to change.

Now it's no longer about making Ashley pay.

No, that's not strictly true. There are still things I have to resolve about the part she played in my trial.

But now, my focus has to move to a more important question. Who was really responsible for the murders, and how can I bring them to justice?

I start the car and drive back to the house on autopilot, my mind thinking over the conversation with the sheriff. I need to work out the next step, and put it into motion.

To do that, I need to convince Ashley to take part in the interview with me tomorrow. It shouldn't be difficult, I can wave the contract she signed under her nose and tell her she has no choice.

Anticipation licks through my veins at the thought of the fight that might cause. It startles me, distracts me, and I almost see the red light too late to stop. Slamming my foot on the brakes, I bring the car to a stop before I run the light.

Why am I looking forward to fighting with her?

A horn blares behind me, and my gaze snaps up .

Fuck. The lights have changed again, and I'm holding up the rush hour traffic.

I flip the person in the car behind me my middle finger, and drive off. It takes less than ten minutes to reach my parents' house. I park the car on the drive, instead of in the garage, just in case I need to go back out later.

When I walk inside, the last thing I expect to find is my dad waiting in the entrance hall. He beckons to me with a crooked finger and turns to walk into his office. I follow him.

"Close the door."

I do as he asks and cross the room to take one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"I hoped to catch you before you walked into the chaos you've caused."

"Chaos?"

"Did you really think your mother wouldn't notice?"

"Notice what?"

He slams one palm down onto his desk. "Don't play the innocent with me, Zain!" His shout echoes off the walls.

I lean back on my seat and arch an eyebrow. "I'm not the twenty-year-old kid you remember. Shouting at me isn't going to give you answers any faster. What are you talking about?"

"You brought the girl who took you from us into our house , left her with your mother for hours, without any explanation. Why the fuck is she wearing a wedding ring, Zain?"

"What did she tell you?" My voice is calm, while my mind races wondering how much damage control I'm going to need to do .

I knew there was a risk of her saying something, but what exactly has she said?

"Absolute nothing."

That isn't the answer I'm expecting.

"Nothing?"

"Nothing, other than it isn't anything important. Just a ring. Which is clearly bullshit."

"Why is it bullshit?"

He straightens and stalks around the desk until he's standing in front of me. "I may be old, but I'm not stupid or blind." He jabs a finger at my hand. "You're wearing a similar ring."

I lift my hand, and study the band around my finger, then look into my father's eyes.

"I've just spent fourteen years inside a prison cell. One I never thought I'd ever leave. I thought I'd die in there." I stroke a finger over the gold. "It changes your outlook on things." My voice is soft. Every word is the truth. "One of the biggest things it's taught me is that you don't know what might be around the corner. If you want to do something, want to have something, don't wait. Grab it with both hands and live in the moment. Because who knows when it'll be snatched away from you."

I stand up.

"And I wanted her."

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