“I did leave a note.”
“You did what?”
“That night. After Ben dropped me off back at home. I couldn’t sleep. I was so scared. Somehow Marc’s jacket got left in the backseat of my car so I snuck over to his house and left it on the porch.”
“With a NOTE?”
“I pretended it was from Marc and I wrote that he had left town, runaway. He was always talking about leaving this place. I figured his dad wouldn’t hurt so much if he thought Marc had just up and left.”
“No one found a note Shelly.”
“I know. I have no idea what happened to the note but I swear I left it there.” Shelly paused as we entered town. “Where are we going?”
“Where do you think? To the police station! You are going to tell Kirk everything you know!”
“NO! I can’t do that! We will lose everything! Jason, please, we were just kids.”
“You, you and Ben both, should be in jail for the rest of your lives.”
Shelly’s voice changed from pleading to utter coldness. “You can’t prove anything.”
“Prove? That’s what your worried about? How about the fact you drove me out to where Marc’s body is?”
“You could just as easily have done it yourself, buried Marc. Everyone knew you were the last person to see him alive.”
I ignored Shelly and drove straight to the police station. She was right. It was going to be her word against mine but I didn’t care. I went around to Shelly’s side of the car and yanked open the door. I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her with me towards the front of the police station. She didn’t make a sound.
I open the door and pull Shelly inside. I yell out, “Hello? Anyone here?”
Kirk poked his head out from the back room and seeing me gripping Shelly by the arm he quickly walks to the lobby. “What in the hell are you doing Camden? Let go of her!” Kirk pulls my hand from Shelly’s arm.
“She’s under arrest, Kirk.!”
“What the hell for?”
“She killed Marc!”
“Ok Camden, I’ve had just about enough of your crap.”
Shelly spoke up, “It’s true, Kirk.”
“Kirk looked at her with a concerned look, “Shelly?”
“I’ll tell you everything but first, can you call Ben?”
Chapter Two Hundred Nineteen
It was well after three in the morning when I finally got home and snuck to my room. I didn’t even bother to undress. I lay on my bed, in the dark and let the tears fall freely. I had stayed at the station and joined Kirk in the interview room while Shelly and Ben poured out all the details of that horrible night.
Ben had admitted that he was the one who had been trying to scare me off of the investigation. He thought that by smashing my car, burning the other car and sending me on a wild goose chase with the note from “Marc” he could frustrate me enough that I would leave.
Shelly cried her little eyes out but I felt no sympathy for her. What she and Ben had done, and then covered up was the worst tragedy of my life; of Mr. Forrester’s life.
I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through what came next.
Chapter Two Hundred Twenty
It had been a week since Shelly’s confession. With her and Ben’s help, Kirk and the Chief had located Marc’s body. His bike had been buried right along with him.
Marc’s dad had arranged a second funeral and this time, I was there. The whole town had come out to pay their respects. I had stood by the graveside watching everyone around me mourn for a second time.
Kirk in his class A uniform. Mikey clinging to Sarahbeth’s hand, her red hair blowing in the wind like the day I met her. She had stared at me with sad wide. Marc’s dad looked better than I’d ever seen him; sober. And Mom and Dad were right by his side.
Marc’s dad gave a eulogy. He talked about how much he loved Marc and how he was finally at peace.
Peace. I too felt a little more at peace. Shelly and Ben had been taken over to he county seat and booked into the county jail. The D.A. was still trying to decide what charges, if any, he would bring against them.
I had telephoned Lizzie and told her everything. She had been so comforting and strong.
My captain had called yesterday and advised me I was clear to return to duty. I had immediately made arrangements to fly back as soon as possible.
Harmony would always be my home but I had a future waiting for me out in California. I knew that future it would be waiting for me the minute I stepped of the airplane and into her arms.
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