This is Our Story

by Ashley Elston

  I scroll through documents.

  Finally, I find it. A claim was filed. Both items combined were worth over fifteen thousand dollars.

  Would it have been enough to pay the bookies back? Would Logan have killed him over this? It’s possible, if Logan was afraid for his life.

  It’s far-fetched, and the defense could tear it apart without trying, but it’s something.

  Something we didn’t have five minutes ago.

  • • •

  I call Shep on the way to school, since there’s little chance I’ll get to talk to him in person. I’ve thought about it all night, and I think there’s a decent chance Logan shot Grant and that the watch and ring are the reason why.

  “Hey,” Shep says when he answers.

  “Hey,” I say. “I have a weird question. Did Grant always wear his watch and class ring?”

  “His watch and ring?”

  “They were expensive, right? Did he always wear them? Do you know if he had them on when y’all went hunting?”

  “He usually wore them. He may have had them on. God, I don’t remember. Why?”

  “The watch and ring are missing. His parents filed a claim saying they believe they were on him when he died, but we have no record of it, and they weren’t on him in the photos they took of him at the scene. He and Logan were fighting that night over money. Any chance Logan killed him and took his watch and ring to pay off what he owed to the bookies?”

  Shep lets out a low whistle. “He’d have to pawn them or something—turn them to cash. He’s smart. There’s no way he would get caught with Grant’s stuff. But yeah, I think it’s a possibility. Logan isn’t scared of many people, but he would do anything not to find himself on those guys’ bad side.”

  “This is something. Every little bit matters.”

  “This is incredible. I’m going to tell Dad. He mentioned last night that we need to get our own lawyer. I’m going to ask Logan about it, too. See what his reaction is.”

  “Be careful.”

  “You be careful. This is really helpful, but I told you, I don’t want you any more mixed up in this than you already are.”

  “I know. I won’t be. Just going through what we already have.”

  We talk a few more minutes until I pull into the school parking lot.

  “Okay, I’m here. I’ll call you later,” I say.

  “You’re already at school? I’m still in bed,” he says with a quiet laugh.

  “I like to get here early and have the media arts room to myself when it’s quiet.”

  We get off of the phone, and the rest of the morning drags. Work is no better. I’m stuck back on the third floor with a huge pile of papers to be filed.

  My burner phone vibrates and I see a text from Shep.

  I called around to a few pawnshops. Told them I was looking for a nice watch. The one on 2nd st said they had a lot of them. It’s a long shot but I’m going by there this afternoon when I get out of school

  That’s only a few blocks away from here. I could go there right now and see if it’s there. While I don’t think Logan would be stupid enough to pawn it locally, it’s worth making sure.

  Mom won’t be looking for me until later, so she’ll never know I left.

  I text Shep.

  I’m going to check it out. Will let you know.

  The pawnshop on Second Street is only three blocks away from the courthouse. I push through the door just as I get a text from Shep.

  No. Don’t go there. I don’t want you to get involved with this any more than you are.

  Too late. I’m already inside. There are several glass cases showing off jewelry and watches, and I study each and every piece. I get to the last case and come up short. I knew it would be a long shot but one I had to try.

  “Are you looking for anything in particular?” a man asks me.

  “I was looking for a—” And then I stop cold. It’s the preppy guy Logan met with in the wooded area behind Pat’s. He’s in a button-down shirt and khakis, just like before. I glance around the room, and I spot the tall guy who was with him before. The one who got a look at me before I drove away.

  Preppy Guy tilts his head, waiting for me to finish my sentence, but I’m frozen. Tall Guy recognizes me, I can tell. I need to get out of here.

  “Uh…a gift for my mom. Sorry, I need to go.” And then I’m out the door, running the three blocks back to the courthouse.

  I’m out of breath, so I lean against the side of the building until I’m ready to walk inside.

  I text Shep.

  Watch was not there but those guys Logan met were. I’m back at work.

  He texts back immediately.

  Oh shit. Don’t go back there. I’ll tell Dad. Please be careful. That was crazy for you to go over there.

  I walk into Mom’s office and she says, “Oh, good! I could use a break. Catch the phones for me.”

  She grabs her cigarettes and lighter out of her purse and heads down the hall to the elevator. I wait until I hear the ding before I go into Stone’s office.

  He nods and says hello when he sees me, and I drop down in the seat next to his desk.

  I’m going to jump right in. “Do you remember when Grant’s dad asked you about where his ring and watch were, since they couldn’t find them at home and they weren’t listed as being on him when he was shot?”

  Stone tilts his head to the side. “Yes. At River Point.”

  “And then remember those pictures I showed you a couple of weeks ago, the ones of Logan with those other two guys?”

  “The guys that you say assaulted Logan?”

  “The tall guy, yes, he punched Logan in the stomach. We know from the interviews that two guys showed up at River Point looking for Logan because he owed them money.”

  “So we’re making the assumption these are the same two men?”

  “Yes. We know those guys are after Logan over money. And we know Logan was mad at Grant for not delivering it. And I don’t know if Grant blew the money or what, but it’s gone. So what if Logan shot him and then took his ring and watch to pay off the debt? But he’d have to pawn the stuff, right? So I popped inside a pawnshop not far from here, just on the off chance the watch and ring were there.”

  “Were they there? The watch and ring?”

  “No, but I saw those guys. They were working there.”

  Stone leans back in his chair, his eyes going to the ceiling, and I know I’ve got his full attention. “We have testimony that puts Shep there with a gun at the exact moment of death.”

  “But…”

  He sits up, holding his hand up. “But I think this is interesting. Something to think about.”

  He’ll look into it. I let out a deep breath and get up to head back out to Mom’s desk just as he says, “Good work, Kate.”

  The girl with the camera? Still a problem.

  NOVEMBER 21, 6:51 A.M.

  PRIVATE NUMBER: Are you coming to school today?

  SHEP: Yes. But I’m coming as me, not one of the River Point Boys.

  The second I turn the corner to the hall leading to the media arts room, I spot him. Shep is leaning against the wall and I can’t help but sprint across the room.

  Throwing my arms around him, I ask, “What are you doing in here?” We both scan the hall, but there’s no one here. Classes don’t start for at least a half hour.

  “Seeing you before class starts. You said yesterday you love to get in here before everyone else, and I thought maybe we’d get a few minutes together.”

  One more quick glance up and down the hall and then I turn the knob and pull him inside. He backs me against the closed door and his lips find mine immediately. Without breaking contact, he lifts me up and carries me to the closest chair, sitting down with me in his lap.

  “I can’t believe you’re here. I would have been here an hour ago if I’d known,” I say between kisses.

  “How early can you get here tomorrow? I may only have a few more days before the scho
ol board kicks me out. Someone started a petition to remove me. You know, because of the murderer thing.”

  I bury my head against his neck. “Don’t say that. Don’t talk like that.”

  He pulls me back, framing my face with his hands. “Sorry. Bad joke. I told Dad about the guys at the pawnshop. It’s a good lead. I’m getting a new lawyer today—we’re going to fill him in on everything this afternoon.”

  “Good. I mentioned it to Stone, too. He’s looking into it. It’s good he’s still open to someone else being the shooter…not just you. So don’t give up. It’s not over yet.”

  “I won’t. I’m not going down for something I didn’t do.”

  And then I notice what’s he’s wearing. Gone are the button-down and dress pants, and in their place are a faded pair of jeans and a T-shirt that must be one of his favorites, given how worn in it is.

  “What are you wearing?” I ask.

  Shep looks down. “Umm…clothes,” he says with a laugh. “I can always take them off if they offend you.” His hand goes for the hem of his shirt and I burst out laughing as a blush stains my cheeks.

  “No, I mean, why are you in regular clothes?”

  He shrugs and throws me a smirk. “I’ve decided it’s time to be myself, for better or worse.”

  “This is definitely better.” I pull him back close. We kiss and talk and kiss a little more. Glancing at the clock, I give him a quick kiss and say, “You better go. This room will be packed soon.”

  Shep opens the door and peeks out before launching himself into the hall. I sit there with a ridiculous grin until people start filing through the door.

  “You look happy this morning,” Alexis says as she drops down in the chair next to me. “What’s going on?”

  I shrug and give her a confused look.

  “Spill it,” she says.

  “What? I can’t be in a good mood without something going on?”

  She looks at me a few more seconds, then scoots her chair across the room. “I’m watching you.”

  • • •

  I get started on the dreaded filing pile. Mom’s out to lunch and Mr. Stone is listening to one of the recordings, so for now it’s just me versus the pile of papers on Mom’s desk. A knock on Mom’s door startles me. It’s a guy from the mailroom.

  “I’ve got something for Mr. Stone that needs to be hand-delivered.”

  I show him into Stone’s office. “There’s a package for you,” I say.

  Stone takes the package and I go back to Mom’s desk.

  “Kate, I need your help,” Mr. Stone hollers from his office.

  “Yes, sir,” I say, when I stop in front of his desk.

  “Tell me what this is. It’s hard for me to make out the details.” He passes me the manila envelope that was just delivered to him, and there is a single item inside. I pull it out and it feels like the world falls out from around me.

  It’s a picture of Shep and me. It was taken from outside the media arts room this morning. I’m all but straddling him, and we’re lip-locked.

  The picture shakes in my hand as Stone waits patiently for me to describe what it shows.

  “I can tell there are two people in it, and they seem to be in an embrace, but I can’t make out who it is,” he says.

  I open my mouth, but no words come out. Do I tell him the truth or lie? Before I can even make a decision, Mom sticks her head inside his office.

  “I’m back if you need me,” she says; then her smile falls away when she sees the shock on my face. “What’s wrong, Kate?”

  She moves across the room and her eyes go to the picture. I can tell the instant she recognizes Shep and me.

  Mr. Stone leans forward in his chair.

  “I was just asking Kate to help me out. Apparently, there is something of great interest in the photograph that I’m missing. Please enlighten me.”

  Mom’s expression changes to one of disappointment. “Kate, please tell Mr. Stone who is in this picture.”

  With my eyes never leaving hers, I answer, “It’s me. And Shepherd Moore.”

  His gasp tears my gaze from Mom as I spin to face him. He’s horrified. Snatching the picture from my hand, he tries hard to make out the details for himself.

  “How could you do this? You are jeopardizing this entire case! I trusted you and you’re kissing this…this…killer behind my back. Are you telling him what goes on in here? Does he know everything we have against him?”

  Before I can answer, Mr. Stone turns on Mom. “Did you know about this?”

  “She didn’t know anything. It’s all me. Just me,” I say through the tears that are rolling down my face. Mr. Stone is looking at me with pure disgust and it’s killing me.

  “Why did someone send this to me? What do you think it means?”

  I shake my head. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s Logan. Maybe he knows we’re onto him about the watch and ring?”

  “I sent someone over to that pawnshop with a copy of that picture you took of Logan and the two other men, and the owner has no idea who they were. Said he had never seen them before.”

  “He’s lying! I saw them there yesterday.”

  “Get out!” he yells, making me jump. “Get your things and get out of here. You’ll say anything to wreck this case and get your boyfriend out of trouble.”

  Mom is torn between standing up for me and not losing the job that keeps us afloat. I squeeze her hand to let her know I’m okay. There’s no way I’m letting her get fired over me. I grab my bag on the way out and run down the stairs.

  It’s only once I’m almost to the parking lot that I realize I don’t have the keys to Mom’s car. I drop my bag and sit on the curb, my head buried in my hands.

  No matter what I find to help out Shep now, there’s no way Stone will ever listen to me.

  Grabbing my phone out of my bag, I call Shep.

  He answers on the first ring.

  “Hey! What’s wrong?”

  I check my watch, forgetting he doesn’t get out of school for another hour.

  “God, I’m sorry. I should have waited until you were out of school. Hope I’m not getting you in trouble.”

  He’s quiet on the other end for a few tense seconds. “No. It’s fine. I’m not at school. My parents checked me out. We’re about to go into a meeting with my new lawyer. We moved the appointment up. Henry, Logan, and John Michael were offered a deal. If they testify against me, the charges against them will be dropped.”

  The weight of his words settle over me, choking me. Suffocating me.

  Hopefully, this is one of the last times we have to meet in private like this. By the end of the week, things could be back to the way they were.

  “This feels wrong,” one of us says.

  By now, we all know about Lindsey and the phone call, but even though they think Shep killed Grant, no one really wants to see him go down for it. Though none of us would ever say it out loud, Grant got what he deserved.

  “They’re going to convict him. There’s no sense in all of us going down,” I say.

  “What about the girl?” the other one asks. There are lots of things that we want to stay buried, and that girl is scratching a little too close to all of them. She works for that prosecutor, and now we’re all going to be on her shit list.

  “I don’t think we need to worry about her anymore,” I say. Kate’s days in the DA’s office should be finished once that prosecutor sees the picture I took of them this morning.

  The other two nod in agreement with me.

  One more nudge…

  I look at the one on my left. “Did you shoot Grant?” I turn to my right. “Did you?”

  They’re both shaking their heads.

  “I didn’t either. That leaves Shep. If it’s not him, it’s one of us. And he’s the one who’s been hiding stuff from us. I don’t know…it just feels like he’s changed,” I add.

  There it is. They’re with me. I can see it in their eyes.

  “So we’re taking t
he deal.”

  “Yes, we’re taking it.”

  And as soon as the ink dries, I’ll visit Lindsey.

  No more loose threads.

  NOVEMBER 21, 2:32 P.M.

  REAGAN: Did I just hear you got fired??????

  KATE: Damn, that news traveled fast.

  REAGAN: KATE WHAT HAPPENED???

  KATE: The River Point Boys. That’s what happened.

  Before I have a chance to scream or cry or say anything at all to Shep, he’s got to go. I want to fling my phone to the ground. Or to kick the car next me or tear something apart.

  I’m furious.

  Beyond furious.

  And then I really think about what he said. The other boys are cutting a deal.

  But Stone didn’t make any mention of this. The deal would have had to come through him.

  Gaines.

  The DA is handling this for his “good ol’ boy” friends. And I’m back to wanting to smash things.

  “Kate,” Mom says from just outside the courthouse doors, keys dangling from her fingers. I jog back up the steps to meet her. “I figured you needed a way home.”

  I hug her tight and she doesn’t hesitate returning it.

  “When I get home tonight, we will talk about this,” she whispers in my ear.

  And then she’s gone.

  I can’t go to Shep, and I can’t stay here, and I don’t want to go home, so I head to the only place I’ve ever been able to really think.

  The park.

  There are a few small kids there with their moms, but for the most part, it’s deserted. I sit on a secluded bench on the far side of the park and stretch out, my legs dangling over the edge and my eyes staring at the big blue sky overhead. It’s cold enough that my breath makes those tiny little puffs of smoke when I exhale. I wrap my arms around my body and let my mind go.

  I don’t think about Logan. Or Henry. Or John Michael.

  I don’t think about losing my job or what this means for Mom.