by Tijan
“Oh.” Then I laughed. “You do know me.”
“Very well, Sheldon.” His tone turned soft, and he gazed back out over the pool.
We were alone in the backyard. I couldn’t say we were alone in privacy, I had a feeling someone was watching us from the house, but for right now, it was just the two of us by the pool. Speaking of that, I murmured, leaning back in the lounger and getting comfortable with the bottle, “What is your sister doing back here?”
I didn’t want to talk about the ankle monitor, or anything else regarding my current legal predicament. As I said that, a shiver went down my spine. I had a feeling one of those prying eyes was hers, watching from some window above us.
Denton let out a loud sigh. “I have no idea.” He looked down into the bottle, frowning. “She wants to start new, and she’s doing well. What kind of brother am I to turn her away?”
I straightened in my seat, sitting forward. This was a different Denton. Years earlier, he would’ve barked at me for asking that question. He was protective, too protective at times, but there’d been a reason. Mena was mental. True blue crazy. She needed meds. She needed supervision. She’d been in a residential program for a long time.
“Do I need to worry about Corrigan and Bryce?” He glanced up to me. Still frowning. I had a feeling Denton would be frowning from here on out. Mena had that effect on people.
“You know they don’t like her. I don’t think they ever will, and now that we’re all under the same roof . . .” I let that sentence hang between us for a minute. Truth be told, I had no idea what either of them would do. Bryce hated Mena with a passion in high school, and Corrigan seemed to feel the same now. I lifted a shoulder up, but I didn’t let it drop. I didn’t know if I should shrug this off or not. “I think they’re just protective of me.” And after a moment’s consideration, I added, “Really protective of me. If Mena doesn’t do anything, things will be fine.”
Denton grunted, stretching out his leg on the lounger. “Then I have no clue what to do. My sister’s asked about you a lot over the years. I know things ended weirdly with you two, but you reached out to her in high school. That’s stayed with her. I think over the years you became some kind of hero to her. She wants a friendship with you.”
I let out a deep sigh. “I liked Mena. Bryce and Corrigan didn’t, but I did. Then she turned crazy and . . .” I had to stop for a moment as the history crashed down on me. The last time I saw her had been at my party. She had screamed at Denton that night, “You didn’t want me to be friends with her because she was yours! You just didn’t want to share her.”
“Grace visited her.”
Denton looked over to me. He nodded. “She did. Mena always asked how you were doing through Grace.”
Another friend turned enemy. No, that’s not right either. She apologized. She’d been remorseful, but I refused to accept her apology. I had turned my back on her, then she was murdered. My eyes were becoming itchy so I wiped at them, saying, “Grace didn’t deserve what happened to her, whoever did kill her.”
“I know Grace got caught up in being accepted at college, but before that and even during that, she kept visiting Mena.”
“She did?” I knew she had gone before that. “She kept going? During the year?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Mena’s staff told me that they noticed my sister did better after those visits, too.”
“That’s good. Grace would’ve been happy hearing that.”
“She’s here for school.” His tone dipped down to a serious undertone. “I told her you were staying here when she asked to live with me, and she was okay with it. I told her about the whole group too, and she never hesitated so I really think she’ll be fine this time. She’s reassured me that she’s here for school and no drama.” There was a hesitation in his voice. “I hope that’s true.”
Remembering how it had hurt him the last time when he needed to send her away, I reached over and squeezed his hand. “She stood up to Bryce and Corrigan. We’re not the complete assholes we were in high school, but they were still harsh there. She held her ground. If she could handle them, I have no doubt she’ll be just fine at college.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, and he gave me a shaky grin. “That’s what I’m hoping for. I hope everything will be fine. Our parents are a joke. My dad’s always hated her. Our mom’s never had the time for her. She’s only got me.”
Feeling moved by what he was saying I squeezed his hand again. “And me.” On second thought. “If she wants me. She might not want me, being that I’m a hated murderer and everything.”
Denton chuckled, lifting the wine bottle for a sip. “For some reason, Mena’s always unfazed by the media stuff. Even with me, there’s a new girl at my side in the magazines every other week, but she’ll still ask about my love life like she’s got no clue.”
“Maybe she doesn’t?”
“No.” He shook his head. “I pay for her subscriptions. She got all of the magazines. She wanted them. At first, I wasn’t sure if I should let her have them. I didn’t know if it would add to her stress, but the staff told me she seemed fine. Her psychologist explained it seemed to be an added connection she had to me. Even if she was home with them, and I was across the country, it still made her feel like she saw me every day. So I let her have them, but she’s never once mentioned them to me or asked any questions about anything the magazines have said. To her, I’m just Denton as usual.”
“You’re her brother. She knows you’ll never leave her, and you never have.”
He whispered, closing his eyes, “But I wanted to once.”
I stopped, shocked at his admission. Denton had only been protective, loving toward Mena’s stability. That’s all I had ever seen from him.
He added, his throat full of choked emotion, “There was a time when I thought about walking, and I feel horrible saying that now. She’s my sister. I have to be at her side for the rest of her life.”
“Denton.” I reached for his leg and rested my hand there. “You’re not a brother to her. You’re her parent. Wanting a vacation from that responsibility is normal, I think. Hell,” I grunted. “I don’t think I would’ve been half as nice as you. With the bitch that I can be, I would’ve kicked her to the streets and had her learn that lesson to grow up.”
Denton laughed. “Something tells me that Mena would’ve been just as fine out there.”
“Yeah.” A grin escaped me. “Your sister is tough. That’s for sure.”
“She is.” Then he shook his head and lifted a hand in a helpless gesture. “What am I doing? Worrying about my sister when I know she’s tough. She can handle anything. You’re right. Even if she goes off the rails a little, she has a spine of steel. She always has, as far back as I can remember.”
I nodded. “If you think about it, she must be doing something right. Even if the guys bark loud, I know she’s got Bryce and Corrigan scared. That must say something.”
He laughed, then tipped his head back and finished the rest of his wine. I assumed he would stop after a few sips. I didn’t think there was much left, but as he kept drinking and kept holding that bottle up, my eyebrows lifted. He drank almost half the bottle at once.
I whistled in appreciation. “Where were you when I learned to chug beer for the first time? That would’ve gotten us in trouble.”
He closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth lifted in a slight laugh. “I was here, Sheldon. Always here.” One of his eyes opened, and he peeked at me. “Besides, I’m pretty sure you were hardcore with Bryce at that moment.”
I barked out a laugh. “You’re right. That was in the beginning when we were too scared to be together. We screwed, then fought, and screwed someone else, then fought again before screwing each other. Shit. We were messed up back then.”
“No.” Denton’s eyes were still closed as his head moved from side to side, resting back against the lounger. “You were messed up. I remember it in detail. Bryce loved you and wanted
you. You were the scared one.”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t hold back a grimace. “I was really dumb sometimes.”
“You were lost,” he noted, almost to himself. “Your mom’s a piece of shit, and your dad, well…” His arm lifted, gesturing to the house. Then it landed back down with a thud. “He basically abandoned you back then. Kinda nice to have him back, though, huh?”
I shrugged, turning so I was facing forward. My gaze lingered on the pool, being drawn in by the depths of it. “We’ll see on that count. The jury’s still out for now.”
“No, no.” He was shaking his head. I caught the movement from the corner of my eye. “No jury. No court talk. None of that. Your dad is here, that’s something. Our dad won’t have anything to do with us, well, with Mena. He’ll talk to me as long as I don’t bring her up. How’s that for father of the year, huh? Now that’s screwed up too. It’s no wonder my sister’s had some problems. She’s had to deal with him as a parent.”
“Yeah,” I echoed, softly. “You’re right.” And because I couldn’t help myself, the feeling of being watched was too much, I glanced up to the house.
There she was. Standing in her window on the second floor, right above where Denton had me sleeping, stood Mena. Our eyes caught and held for a second, then her hands went to the curtains, and she pulled them shut in front of her.
I had a feeling she still stood there, able to see through them, though.
I waited, holding my breath, and a moment later, a shadow moved away from the window. I’d been right. She had been watching us the whole time, but her window was shut. She couldn’t have heard us. I didn’t think so.
*
“No way in hell!”
Corrigan’s voice woke me the next morning. As I dragged myself out of bed, quickly dressing and brushing my teeth, I continued to hear his raised voice. There were others, but I couldn’t make out what was being said. When I got to the kitchen, Corrigan was standing against the wall. He was shaking his head, his jaw was clenched shut, and his arms were folded over his chest. He said again as I stopped in the doorway, “No. No way. I’m not leaving.”
“Who said you had to go?” I asked, combing my fingers through my hair. I’d thrown a shirt on and sweats, but I grimaced now as I looked down at what I was really wearing. The shirt was almost see-through so my bra was noticeable, and my pants stuck like glue to me. Then I stopped caring. I was hiding from the public. Who cares what I looked like behind these walls? I shrugged to myself and went to take a seat at the table.
Mena was at one end, eating a piece of toast with a glass of orange juice. Bryce was at the coffee pot and Denton was standing in between. He turned to me. “I did. Mena’s going to college today. I asked if Corrigan would take her—”
I sucked in my breath and grimaced. “Do you have a death wish?” I shook my head. We’d talked about Corrigan and Bryce hating Mena last night. He wants to put them in a car with her now? “You’re nutso, Denton.”
“Thank you.” Corrigan threw his hands in the air. “See? I’m not taking her to college. I’m not riding in a car with her. I’ve covered myself. All my professors know I’m doing online learning this semester. Why would I go back to campus now?”
“Because my sister’s going, and I need someone to watch her!” Denton’s voice rose to equal Corrigan’s. The two were involved in a standoff, both glaring at each other.
I held a hand up. “Wait. Hold on. Why does Mena need someone to watch her?”
“Exactly. Thank you again,” Corrigan huffed.
Bryce was keeping quiet, but he was watching the exchange intently.
“I need someone to watch her and make sure everything is fine.” Denton rubbed at his forehead. “I need to know everything is okay with her. I just… I can’t go. I would’ve asked Sheldon, but obviously she can’t go either and Bryce,” he lifted a hand to him, “he doesn’t go to college. That leaves you, Corrigan. Please. One day. That’s all I’m asking for.”
If Corrigan could’ve killed him with a look, Denton would’ve been dead three times over by now. Corrigan’s eyes were almost bulging out, his lips pressed tight together. Then he muttered, “I can’t fucking believe this.”
“Maybe it’s not such a bad idea.”
All eyes went straight to Bryce, who held his hands up in a surrendering motion. “Don’t kill me. Just hear me out, but maybe it’s not a bad idea.” His gaze fell to me, lingering for a moment. “You can ask around to see if there are any new rumors about who killed Grace. I have a hard time imagining her sorority has kept quiet. I bet they might know something.”
“Oh my god,” Corrigan mumbled to himself. “You were my ally, Bryce.”
“I still am, but think about it.” Bryce stepped away from the counter. He glanced to me again. “I’m thinking about Sheldon. I mean, that’s why we came back to town. We wanted to find something out. After our stint at the hotel, maybe something’s come up. We can’t find out holed up in this house.” His tone was soft, so soft. “You can be our eyes and ears now.”
“Do you know how awkward it will be, just showing up on campus? The media’s going to be called. The only ones I know who won’t betray me are my frat brothers.”
“So go to them,” I spoke up. I couldn’t believe I was agreeing with sending Corrigan along with Mena, but—
“Bryce is right. Go there. Have them ask around for you, that’s considering they agree with you and think I’ve been framed.”
“They do. They told me right away when you were taken in. They said if I needed anything, not to hesitate.”
“There you go then. Ask them now. Have them scout around campus for you.”
“I could just call to do that,” Corrigan grumbled, shooting Mena a dark look. “I don’t have to drive to campus to get that done.”
“Just go.”
Corrigan sent Bryce a withering look. “You go.”
Bryce sighed, rolling his eyes before he turned back to the coffee pot. Filling his cup, he came over to the table and slid into a chair beside mine. “It doesn’t hurt to have eyes and ears on campus. You know we’re right.”
“Screw all of you,” Corrigan burst out.
He was going. We all saw it then, and Bryce relaxed next to me. I said, “Just ask questions. Don’t do anything stupid when you’re there.”
Corrigan rolled his eyes. “I will probably have an hour before someone calls the press. People are going to be taking pictures of me, just to sell them to those tabloids.” His gaze locked with mine. “You know I’m going to be harassed like crazy when word gets out I’m on campus.”
“So go in disguise.”
Corrigan froze. Denton whipped around. Bryce sucked in a breath, and I lifted my own eyes. All four of us turned at the same time to Mena, who had just spoken. She bit her lip at the sudden attention, but shrugged one of her dainty shoulders. She said again, “Go in disguise. Isn’t that what you guys did for the hotel? You snuck in just fine. No one knew you were there, at first.”
Denton looked around. “You could, you know. I could do a different disguise, or I could call in my makeup girl. She could change your ethnicity if you wanted.”
“That is an option,” Bryce added. “Even if we already used disguises, that’s the thing with them. You can change them, and people won’t know.”
Corrigan grumbled, knowing he had lost. When he finally agreed, I was still watching Mena. She flushed, ducking her head down as she continued eating her toast, but she was right. Denton had a makeup girl. If she could make Corrigan a different ethnicity, she could do the same to me. Then my ankle monitor suddenly felt like it gained thirty pounds. It was weighing me down.
But if I could get it off, if I needed to for some reason, I could disguise myself. That thought was tucked to the back of my mind.
If I could get it off, if I ever had to get it off.
I didn’t want to think about that time, for what reason that could be, and I took Bryce’s coffee from his hand and gulped hal
f of it down.
“Sheldon! That’s hot.”
I didn’t feel it and pushed it back over to him. “Thanks.” Then I left and went back to my room. Denton was in the hallway on the phone. As I passed him, I heard him say, “Hi, Monica? Yeah, can you come over with your makeup kit? I have a favor to ask.”
I shut my bedroom door and leaned against it, closing my eyes. Sliding down to the floor, I sat there. My elbows rested on my knees, and I rested my head in my hands.
I needed a moment, just a moment.
A sense of dread like I had never experienced stirred in me. It was filling me up and somehow, someway, I knew there’d be a time when I would have to get the ankle monitor off.
That was when I knew—the killer was coming to me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THE KILLER
“Sheldon Jeneve, dubbed The Queen Bee Killer, was at the Palloy Hotel earlier today where it looked like she had her own impromptu press conference.” The newscaster on the news glanced to her co-anchor. Folding her hands together on the desk, she asked, “Is that what you thought, Derek? It seemed like a spontaneous idea of hers.”
Her co-anchor, his hair combed neatly back, wearing a tailored grey suit and purple tie, gave her a polite smile in return. He shrugged, tapping one finger against his chin. “You know, if it was planned or not, it worked. Sheldon Jeneve is all over the news reports today and not in a bad way. She had some interesting points, and if they’re true, the police may need to look further into her case.”
“That’s very true.”
No, no, no.
This was all wrong. All wrong. I shook my head, slow at first as I listened to the news report, then faster at the end. I couldn’t stop.
“We’ve kept our viewers up-to-date with any new developments in the murder of Grace Barton. Sheldon Jeneve has been the first and most pivotal suspect for her murder. The police have seemed very confident in their case against her, but she made a plea for the public today, and I have to admit, I think the public heard her.”