“That’s a good point. Why don’t you just call him? You did tell him you’d call the other day, so it won’t seem weird that you’re calling him all of a sudden.”
Jake slips his hand out of mine and grips the steering wheel. His knuckles begin to turn white from the pressure. I probably should have told him about Luke, but I wasn’t sure if there was anything to tell, and plus, we were broken up, he can’t get mad at me for spending time with someone else.
“Yeah, okay. I guess I’ll give him a call. I’ll let you know if anything else happens.”
“Okay, well, I better go check and see what Mom’s doing. I’ll call you later. Be careful, Alex.”
I end the call and turn to face Jake. “What do you think about all of this?”
He still has a death grip on the steering wheel and doesn’t even turn to me when he answers. “I think you should call this Luke guy and see if you can get anything out of him.”
“Okay, but first I want you to tell me what’s wrong. Why are you being so cold all of a sudden?”
“It’s nothing, Alex,” he tells me, but doesn’t sound convincing. “Let’s go park somewhere else and then you can call him. I don’t want that guy coming back out here.” Jake starts the truck and pulls away from the curb. I really don’t want to get into this whole Luke thing with Jake, but I don’t want Jake’s imagination running wild either.
“I know what you’re thinking, Jake. Nothing’s going on with Luke and me. Anna and I hung out with him and his friend once.”
“It’s fine, Alex, you don’t have to explain anything. You had every right to date someone else. I just…I don’t want to hear about it, okay?” Jake parks along the street and cuts the engine. This time, we’re further away from Jeffrey’s house, making it a little harder to see, but it’s still a decent stake-out spot.
“So, are you gonna call him?” Jake asks.
“Yeah, I guess so,” I say, locating Luke’s number in my contact list, even though I memorized it last night, but I don’t want Jake to know that. It rings three times and I’m sure he isn’t going to answer when he finally picks up.
“Hey, Alex. I was beginning to think you weren’t going to call,” Luke says, sounding as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. I’d like to take this phone and ram it up his lying ass, but I can’t let on that I know what he’s up to. I have to remain composed.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I’ve just been a little busy. So, what are you up to?” My voice shakes, but I’m trying my best to hide it.
“Just hanging out at a friend’s house.”
“You mean you have more friends besides Cole? He’s going to be so hurt when he finds out,” I say, forcing a laugh. I’m trying to keep the conversation cool and casual, but I really just want to ask him what kind of game he thinks he’s playing.
He laughs back with that sexy raspy sound of his. “Yes, despite what Cole may think, he is not my only friend.”
“So, who are you hanging out with?” Please don’t lie to me, I think to myself.
“Just a friend from around town. I doubt you know him.”
Well, technically, he didn’t lie, he’s just being rather evasive.
“What’s his name? Maybe I’ve heard of him.”
Jake taps me on the leg and points toward the house. I snap my head up and see Luke walking out of the door with Jeffrey close behind.
“His name is Jeffrey, but like I said, I doubt you know him.”
“What’s his last name?” I know I sound like some crazy jealous girlfriend, but I don’t care. He is going to tell me the truth if I have to go over there and beat it out of him.
“What’s with all the questions, Alex? Is something bothering you?” he asks, sounding genuinely concerned. But I know it’s a ploy. The least he could do is be up front with me about his intentions. You know what, the hell with all this! I am NOT going to be dragged into their little game any longer. I’m just going to tell him I know and dare him to try and lie his way out of it.
I look at Jake, “get ready to leave,” I whisper. He gives me a weird look but starts the truck and places his hands on the steering wheel, ready to make our getaway. All right, Luke, it’s time to get down to business. Let’s see exactly what you’re up to.
“I was just curious. It wouldn’t happen to be Jeffrey Banks, would it? Or does he prefer to be called Tyler?”
It takes him a while to answer, and I watch him pacing the porch, his phone still cradled to his ear. I’m tempted to hang up and not even give him a chance to form his story. I already know the truth, and I’m sure that whatever comes out of his mouth will be nothing but a lie.
“Look, Alex, it’s not what you think. Let me explain,” he says, a hint of urgency in his tone.
“Yeah, I’m sure it’s not what it looks like, Luke. Look, I’m done with all these games. You and Jeffrey either need to do whatever it is you have set out to do, or just leave me alone. I am done with all this. You and Jeffrey have been behind the threats the whole time, and then you pretend to be my friend. Screw you!” I hang up without giving him a chance to respond.
I look back toward the house and see Luke running to his car. He jumps in the driver’s seat with Jeffrey limping behind him as quickly as he can and clambering in. They speed off to God only knows where and I feel a sense of relief wash over me.
“Should we follow them?” Jake asks.
I think about it for a few seconds then decide it’s not worth it. “No, I’m not playing by their rules anymore. If they want me, they can come find me. I’m going to call Anna back and get the number from that letter. See who else is in on their little plan.”
“Hey, this is Anna, you know what to do. Mwah!”
“Shit, it went to her voicemail.”
“She’ll call back. Do you want to head back to my house? We’ll need to stop by the store first so I can pick up some stuff if you want me to make spaghetti.” Jake puts the truck in gear, and I stare at him, dumbstruck. How can he be so calm? Now is not the time to be thinking about food, not when I’m finally getting somewhere with all this.
I continue to glare at him, and I know he can feel the intensity of it.
“What? You said you didn’t want to follow them, so what else is there to do?” he asks, seemingly unconcerned with my recent revelation.
“Just forget it, Jake.” I swear, he can be such an inconsiderate ass sometimes. I can’t believe I forgot that about him. I guess, with our recent makeup, I hoped he would be more concerned about me and what has been going on in my life. I should have known better than to let myself think he would have changed that much. Maybe Anna was right about him.
“I’m gonna try Anna one more time. I need to know who sent that letter.”
“Hey, Alex,” Anna says. “Sorry. I was helping Mom paint the garage since Zack is nowhere to be found. I swear that boy will never grow up! So, what’s up? Any breakthroughs?”
“Not really. Do you have that letter on you? I need to get that number,” I say impatiently.
“It’s up in our room. Hang on and I’ll run up there and grab it. Did you call Luke? What did he say? Did he tell you why he was at Tyler’s—I mean Jeffrey’s—house?”
“Gosh, Anna, slow down! Yeah, I called, but of course he lied. I finally just busted him on it and hung up. Do you have the letter yet?” I really don’t have time for small talk right now, but I don’t want to be rude either.
“Yeah, I just got it. So, he didn’t tell you anything helpful?”
“Anna, I really don’t have time for this right now. Can you please just give me the number?”
“Okay, God.” Anna reads the number off to me and I jot it down on a stray napkin I find on the floor of Jake’s truck.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll call you back when I know more.” I hang up before she can ask another question. I start dialing the numb
er, but Jake places his hot, sweaty hand on mine, stopping me, and takes the phone from my grasp.
“Here, use mine,” he says, handing his phone to me and placing mine in my lap. “I don’t want whoever it is to have any way of contacting you.”
Obviously, this person knows where I live, so contacting me wouldn’t be too difficult for them, I think, but I don’t point that out to Jake. I know he feels helpless and probably bad for the way he acted earlier, and wants to protect me. Maybe I was wrong, maybe he has changed. I smile up at him, my heart swelling with love for this guy that I thought I had lost forever.
“Thanks,” I say, my voice barely a whisper, but still distinguishable in the small confines of his truck. I take his phone and dial the number with shaky hands. I become hypnotized listening to the ringing and imagining who may be on the other end.
“Hello,” a strong male voice says, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Um….” My words get caught in my throat. I try again. “This is Alex Spurlock. You left a note for me to call,” I say as calmly as I can, though, what I want to do is scream at this person to tell me what the hell is going on.
“Yeah, I’m glad you called. I wasn’t sure if you would,” he responds, his voice sounding vaguely familiar.
“Well, I did. So, do you want to tell me who you are and what the letter was all about?” Nervous sweat starts to gather up on my forehead and my stomach feels as if it is now home to a million fluttering butterflies. I take a deep breath and count to ten before slowly letting it out. Unfortunately, It doesn’t seem to help.
“I will, but first I need you to promise me that you won’t hang up until you hear everything I have to say. You won’t like some of what I’m going to tell you, but I’m asking you to please hear me out.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes. “Fine, I promise,” I tell him, annoyance evident in my voice. I will listen to what he has to say, but that doesn’t mean I’ll believe him.
“This is Jeffrey Banks.”
I take in a sharp breath, rage engulfing my insides like a raging inferno. This guy has some freaking nerve. My anger builds and is becoming too much to contain. I have to let it out or I’m afraid I will literally combust into flames.
“Are you freaking kidding me?” I scream at him. An ache forms in my hand and I realize I have the phone in a death grip.
“Just listen, please. I’m not the one sending you all those threats, but I know who it is.”
“Yeah, right, like I’m going to believe anything you say. I know you know the truth, and I don’t blame you for being mad, but hiding behind a fake identity and sending me threats is not the way to handle it. After all you’ve done, you expect me to listen to what you have to say? And I know Luke is your little cohort in this whole thing. So whatever lie you’re thinking of telling me, it isn’t going to work. I will not believe anything you say to me.”
“Please, Alex. I swear, it’s not what you think. Luke and I are trying to help you. I promise. Please let me explain.” His words come out coated in urgency, and for some odd reason I find myself wanting to hear what he has to say. I’m sure I’m going to regret this, but I decide to let him have his fun. Let him weave his web of lies. I will just come back and tear it all down, leaving him dangling by one short thread, seconds from plummeting to the ground and destroying everything he had planned.
“Fine, tell me who it is, then,” I say forcefully, loosening my grip on the phone and allowing the blood to flow back into my tingling fingers. I’m already beyond irritated and confused, and I’m not sure how long I can tolerate listening to this lying, condescending asshole without losing it.
“I’ll get to that, but I want to explain everything first. I want you to understand that I’m not the bad guy here.”
I let out an exasperated breath and put the phone on speaker so Jake can listen in. I lean against his side, thankful he is here with me, and mentally prepare myself to hear whatever lies I’m about to be subjected to.
“Fine. Go ahead. I’m listening.”
JEFFREY CLEARS HIS THROAT, THE sound travels through the phone and grates at my ears. “About a month ago, I got a phone call from a guy claiming he had some valuable information about the car wreck my father and I were in, and he believed I should know about it. He said that it wasn’t something he felt comfortable discussing over the phone, so he suggested we meet in person. I didn’t have a clue who this person was or if he really knew anything, but I decided to hear him out.”
He pauses, I hear muffled voices, then a car door being slammed closed.
“Sorry, where was I? Oh, yeah. Anyway, he said he lived in New Hope but that he would be willing to meet me halfway if I could travel in my condition. He assumed I was still paralyzed and I didn’t tell him any differently. Surprisingly enough, I have a cousin who lives in New Hope, so I told him I would just go to him. I took down his name and number and told him I’d be in touch as soon as I arrived.”
“What was his name?” I butt in as Jake stirs beside me, the sounds of his fast breathing filling the truck.
“He told me his name was Lee Ramsey, but that wasn’t true. I showed up in New Hope three days later and gave him a call.” Another pause.
“We met later that same day at Nelly’s Coffee House. He told me that everything I thought I knew about the accident was a lie. He kept saying over and over that he knew the truth and something needed to be done about it. He claimed you were the one responsible, but that you left and let your father take the blame. For someone who had no personal relationship with anyone involved, he seemed really angry, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. He swore that it should be you behind bars, and not your father. He was adamant about making you pay for what you did and he was going to be the one to bring you down. He wanted to make things right, and he wanted my help. I knew as soon as he asked me that I wanted no part in it. I had forgiven your father long ago when I’d thought it was him. I made my peace with the whole situation, and I didn’t want to go down that road again.”
Another pause.
“For months, I lived with all this pent-up anger inside of me. It ate away at me and every day it destroyed me bit by bit. I was a completely different person back then. I was mad all the time and didn’t care about anyone or anything. My mom sent me to a therapist who taught me how to deal with the anger and suggested I try to forgive the person who took my father and left me permanently damaged. Eventually, I did, and I refuse to go back to that dark place ever again. Do I think you deserve punishment? Of course, I do. But after doing some research and talking to some people around town, I believe you’ve punished yourself probably more than the prison system would have. I wanted no revenge against you, but I knew I had to stay close to make sure you were okay. I don’t know why, I guess knowing this secret made me feel obligated to protect you. I just didn’t want to be a witness to any more pain and tragedy.”
The tears come unbidden and are slowly making tracks down my face. Jake finds another stray napkin and hands it to me, his hands trembling slightly, but I’m too consumed with my own grief to care right now. I sniffle a few times into the receiver, but Jeffrey either doesn’t notice or chooses to ignore it. He continues his story despite my emotional state.
“I agreed to help him, and he said he would be in touch once he came up with a solid plan. He gave me one of those disposable cell phones that already had his contact information programmed into it and I was only to contact him if there was an emergency, otherwise, I was supposed to wait for him to reach out to me. He had downloaded a couple pictures of you so I would know who to look for. I studied those photos for what felt like days and began keeping tabs on you, or trying to, but you never left your house. Eventually, I gave up and started following your sister, hoping it would lead me to you, and as luck would have it, you showed up at the pool with her the other day. You probably didn’t even notice I was there.”
>
“Oh, I noticed you,” I tell him in between silent sobs. “You were kind of giving me the creeps.”
He lets out a soft laugh at my remark, but he doesn’t let that get him off track. “Lee was there also, but only for a few minutes. He said he had other things to do, but gave me specific instructions to watch you and to give him hourly updates on where you were, who you were with, and what you were doing. He also gave me an envelope and told me to deliver it to your house that evening.”
I knew it, I think to myself. I’m not crazy. He was following me that day.
“I trailed you the rest of the day, and when I saw you with Luke I figured you two were a couple. I decided I would pull him aside and tell him everything, but I never got the chance to until earlier today.”
I feel Jake tense up beside me at the mention of Luke, but thankfully he doesn’t say anything.
“Lee showed up at Tacks just as I was getting ready to leave to deliver the note. I wanted to stay and keep an eye on you, but he said I had to get to your house before you left. You were with your friends, so I figured you would be okay. I didn’t think he would risk doing anything in such a public place. He told me that he approached you when you were alone, but that he had to leave before he could really do anything because he saw your sister coming. Later that night, he had me go purchase two disposable cell phones, and he met me at my cousin’s house. He transferred some pictures onto one of the phones from his laptop and packaged it. He told me to drop it off at your house as soon as possible. So, I took it and left it on your porch around six the next morning.”
Grave Little Secrets Page 12