27. Hiccup

TWENTY-SEVEN

HICCUP

SHEP

I wait a few more seconds before peering out into the hallway and realizing nobody is there. Rejoining the group in the main hall, Harlow is nowhere to be seen so I make my way over to Lennon, finding her in the middle of some of her friends, dancing.

Once I get her attention, I nod for her to follow me over to the back of the room.

“What?” she whines. “I was just starting to have fun.”

“Shit went south,” I deadpan.

She drops her arms dramatically before groaning. “What did you do?”

“She asked me why we were together and I couldn’t lie to her. She’s worried now about what all you know.”

“Well did you tell her not much? I’ve been keeping an eye out like you said but, Shep, look at him. He seems fine?”

The doubt from Lennon makes my stomach knot up. This must be exactly how Harlow feels but worse. How can people really not see that Beckett isn’t a good guy? What type of performance is he putting on to make Lennon of all people think he wouldn’t act like that?

Both of our attentions are grabbed when we see Beckett and Harlow talking over in the corner. Beckett looks upset and has a drink in his hand now. By the way Harlow is folded into herself, I can tell whatever he’s saying isn’t good.

I watch as Beckett starts to guide Harlow outside by the small of her waist. I want to run over there and intervene but Lennon places her hand on my arm and whispers, “Just wait. There are so many people here, he wouldn’t try something.”

As if hearing what she had just said, one of my fraternity brothers and co-worker, Max, stumbles up next to us appearing to be watching the same interaction we are. He has a beer in his hand and I can tell he’s already had a few drinks by the way he’s teetering back and forth. “Ugh, there they go again.”

Lennon and I whip our heads towards him.

“What did you just say?” I rush out, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Those two. It’s the same shit every time they’re here together.” He takes a swig of his drink before pointing in the direction of them with his beer. “Should have”— hiccup —“seen the blow out they had the night Harlow got hurt.”

My eyebrows shoot up so fast. Lennon gasps before placing her hand over her mouth.

I move, this time to stand in front of him and take the drink out of his hand, setting it down.

“What are you talking about, Max? You were there the night she got hurt?” My tone is clipped, but this is all news to me and apparently also to Lennon, who is turned and facing him, wholly invested.

“Damn, Fords. No need”— hiccup —“to take my drink.” He lets out a large sigh then looks over his shoulder at the pair who are now outside by the pool. “I mean evvveryone was at that party.” He points at Lennon. “Even her.”

“Right, but what I’m asking is you saw them fight that night?” I urge him to continue.

“Ohhh, yeah. Big one too. Couldn’t tell you what about but I saw Beckett dragging her like that outside and,” he lets out a big breath, “next time I saw her, she was rushing out the door holding her shoulder. With thisss one.” He tries to point at Lennon, but his finger is moving in so many different directions.

“Did you tell anyone about this?” Lennon asks this time.

“Nope”— hiccup— “it really all just came back to me now, seeing them and whatever.” He reaches past me to grab his beer and takes another swig before his face turns serious. “Maybe I just needed to be in the same sate, no , state of mind to remember. Like in those crime shows, when they try?—”

“Yeah, Maxy. Thanks.” I push past him then turn around and take his drink from him again. “I think you’ve had enough. Lennon, come on.”

I hear Max sighing behind me as I direct Lennon out into the hall. When we’re finally alone, I look at her before asking, “Did you see Harlow get hurt that night?”

Lennon pinches the bridge of her nose. “Well, no, but...”

“You never saw her fall?” I rush out as too many gears start turning in my head.

“No, but she came up to me, and I—oh, God,” Lennon lets out a wail. “He did this, didn't he?” She steps forward and starts to cry. Damn, I’m out of my depth again.

I offer her my chest to cry on, consoling her with one hand, while pulling my phone out with the other. Two rings go through before I hear my best friend’s voice on the other line.

“Damn. Not even an hour in and you already ? —”

“I need you to come get Lennon. Now.” Her head perks up at this.

“I’ll be there in five. I didn’t go far.”

“Good man.”

“Hey, pass Lennon the phone for a second will you?”

I hand it over to her and I can’t hear Wes, but her cheeks turn a slight shade of red then she hangs up and gives my phone back.

“Thanks again, I’ll see you later tonight.” Another tear slips down her cheek. “Protect her.”

I place my hands on Lennon’s shoulders, squaring her to me. “I’ll take care of this,” I say, my voice serious.

She nods her head then turns to walk towards the front door.

I give myself a few minutes to think. So many thoughts are rampaging through my mind, but I focus on the most important one: keeping Harlow safe.

It takes all of two minutes to find the room I’m looking for after sending Lennon outside to Wes. I open the door and make my way to the computer that I know holds all the security footage archives.

I’ve helped with enough events at the frat house to know how to navigate this software. Sending off a text to the person in charge of our security resources that I need to look for something, he gives me the go-ahead and I sit down, typing in the date I need.

I pull up the outdoor cameras, looking for the angle that shows the scene Max described through his hiccups.

I start the footage and fast forward to a little before midnight. Everything I’ve heard leads me to believe Harlow’s accident happened right around that time frame. I set the speed at 2x and lean back, watching for any semblance of her blonde hair. After a few minutes goes by, I start to worry this is going to be useless, then I see it. I see her.

At 11:43 PM, I see Harlow outside with a group of people. She looks happy and they all seem to be talking. No more than a few seconds pass and Beckett enters the screen.

“Shit,” I say to myself.

I notice Harlow starts to pull away from the crowd and Beckett is following after her. I lose them for a second then they’re back on screen but farther away.

“Oh, come on. Does this thing zoom? It has to.”

I manipulate the screen and it focuses on Harlow and Shep who are now by the boulders we have behind our pool.

After another minute ticks by, my stomach drops.

“That piece of shit,” I mutter to myself, before taking my phone out and recording the footage. I watch as what can only be described as a nightmare unfolds.

It looks like Harlow is trying to talk with Beckett but he’s clearly upset. He throws his drink at her and when she tries to walk off, he grabs her arm and yanks her back towards him. I almost vomit when her shoulder visibly pops out of place.

Harlow collapses to the ground, immediately holding her shoulder with her hand. As if it can’t get any worse, Beckett then shoves her out of the way. She lands on her hurt shoulder, then turns and throws up, probably from the pain.

Beckett looks down at her for another second before walking away.

I pause the security footage and feel tears welling up in my eyes.

It’s so dark that nobody seemed to notice what was happening or maybe they were just far enough away from most people that nobody saw. Either way, my heart aches and I feel sick at what I’ve just discovered.

I quickly open up my messages and send the recording to my dad, Pierce, and our fraternity president, then send Wes a text as well to not leave until Harlow comes out front.

Pushing away from the desk, my hands shake and bile rises in my throat. I make my way to the main room, finding Harlow and Beckett still talking outside.