Aurina reeled. It couldn’t be. “Which campus?” she asked.
“Longhearst University, right here in Toronto” said Pinstripe.
Although Aurina felt cold, as she rubbed the back of her neck, she realized she had been sweating. It had to be a coincidence.
“You think David murdered… three people?” Aurina choked on the words. She was envisioning the school clearly in her mind—the beautiful campus with its stone paths and ivied brick walls.
“We can tie him to one murder with the DNA we found recently, and for the time he has spent in our custody, he has given alibi after alibi, but he hasn’t been giving us straight answers about anything. His lawyer was here less than an hour after he arrived and he hasn’t spoken to us since.” Pinstripe and Daniels shared a look, and Aurina shook her head with tears forming in her eyes. David would have told them he was innocent. But, Aurina knew when you lawyered up, you looked guilty. David knew it too. Why couldn’t he have just told them the truth?
“We needed to confirm his statements, and your stories don’t match up.” Daniels finally spoke as he put his pen down.
“I don’t understand.” Aurina said shaking her head, wrapping her arms around her purse in her lap. David was in some girl’s home, and she turned up dead. A single tear fell down her cheek before she took a deep breath. “Who was the girl?”
“Her name was Ellie Cane.” Pinstripe seemed to be looking for a reaction, but Aurina only vaguely recognized the name. Details of her murder had been on the news, but Aurina had been so disgusted she tuned out quickly each time it came on.
“If David knew her, he would have said.”
“David’s a liar.” Daniels said, “That’s what we are trying to tell you.” Aurina recoiled at the bold statement.
“David told us he was with you on the dates in question. He was lying obviously.” Pinstripe tilted his head, maybe looking for validation Aurina thought—and then she saw it; it was pity.
“Why?” Aurina asked. This was all becoming unfathomable.
“As far as we can tell, you are one of the only people really close to him. He needed an alibi quick, and he used you.” Daniels shoved his notepad under his arm.
David had no relatives in Canada, and hardly any friends, but through their short relationship Aurina had never felt used in any way. David had been there for her more often than she had for him, and her mind drifted back to the previous September around the time she first met David when he had helped her family move her Sister into her first year of University.
“My sister, Ryanne, she goes to Longhearst. David helped us, my family, move her into student residence this year.” Pinstripe shot Daniels a quick look.
“I’ll go talk to Peter,” Daniels told Pinstripe. “We’ll be in touch.” He waddled quickly out of the room, and the door slammed behind him.
“I know you must be confused right now. But, you’ve been with David, known David for less than a year now. How well do you think you know him?” Pinstripe sat down across from her and folded his hands together on the table.
“Are you sure? That David lied?” Aurina felt her face grow hot, and tears pooled again in her lower lids. Pinstripe nodded, took his seat and brought it around to her side of the table, sitting down beside her. The smell of his cologne overpowered the dirty cigarette odour that loomed in the room. Aurina let her tears fall steadily.
David had been her boyfriend for roughly six months, they had known each other for almost ten and yet in that time she felt she had really come to know him as a caring and sensitive man who shared his life with her, his only real confidant. That David could have murdered these girls was beyond her comprehension.
“I just don’t know how I wouldn’t have known, or how I could have missed it.” Aurina cleared her throat, forcing her tears to stay in, and was doing a good job of keeping control over them. She thought about all their most intimate times together, and put her hand over her mouth shaking her head.
“Ms. Patrick,” Pinstripe tried to make eye contact with her, and waited until she was looking at him, “is there anything else you can tell us about David. Anything we should know that could help us?” His eyes were kind but searching.
“I um…I don’t think I really know as much as I thought,” a tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly. Pinstripe put his hand on hers, and leaned in closer. She felt like pushing him away, but his smell was soothing.
“Please don’t blame yourself, alright? I know you’re in shock right now. Here is my card.” He kept one hand over hers and reached into his pocket with the other, pulling out his business card. “You call me when you are feeling calmer, okay? If you have any information that could help us, help the families, it would be appreciated. You may know more than you think.” He squeezed her hand and then replaced it with his card.
Aurina nodded, and stood as he did, placing the card in her purse without looking at it. The fact that David had used her as his alibi was sinking in, and Aurina tucked her hair behind her ear again.
“Where is David now?” she whispered. Her legs felt shaky and she wasn’t sure she felt steady on her feet. She held the back of the chair for support, and fumbled to put her glasses back on.
“He’s here in the building, but he is in lockup. He won’t be able to get to you, Ms. Patrick, not to worry. I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to contact you though. His lawyer isn’t letting him say too much.” Pinstripe handed her a tissue from his pocket. She slowed her breathing, and gained her composure as he started for the door. “Maybe he realizes that it’s all over for him. We will see. Thank you for your time—and again, don’t hesitate to call if anything comes up.” Pinstripe opened the door for her.
She knew she had to get back home to her apartment, and call Ryanne. She didn’t want to be alone, and her head was swimming with so many missing pieces and unexplained things to figure out. She wondered if David had been seeing this girl, this Ellie Cane, behind her back. She allowed herself to consider this, but she couldn’t accept the fact that he may have killed her, or anyone else. Her head pounded as she rushed out of the small, cold room, wiping the tears from her face once more.
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Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank everyone who helped with the making of this book. My Editor, Lindsay Miller, for helping me with all my works, past and present. I truly appreciate your time, effort, and kindness. My formatter, Jade Eby, for making the book look better than I ever could. You’ve been a great help to me on many levels and a great friend. My cover designer, Najla Qamber Designs. I love this cover and the tone it sets. You are a true professional and have created something better than I ever imagined.
Thank you to my Beta Readers: My original, Ashley McNown, for sticking with me, and holding my story up to both our standards. Your comments still make me laugh, think, and improve. Author Jade Eby, for helping me improve my craft, and coming at this story with a writer’s perspective. Your comments were thorough, challenging, and encouraging. My sister, Shyla O’Brien, who I can’t believe I didn’t ask earlier. Your comments were priceless.
Thank you to my family: parents, sister, grandparents, and extended. Your support and encouragement has been overwhelming. You truly allow me to feel like you’ve got my back no matter what. To my dear friends, you’ve been there for me in every way, and I’m forever grateful.
To my husband, who has supported me, and who I share my deepest hopes and dreams with. You’ve read each of my books, given me your opinions, and helped to make me a better writer. You’ve made this possible in so many ways and I’m always excited to see what’s next with you by my side.
To my true-blue readers (which also includes the previous groups mentioned): You’ve spent your time and hard earned money reading something I’ve created. You are the people who make my dreams come true.
Forever grateful.
About the Author
Emerald O’Brien is the author of new adult mystery Darkness Follows, and its sequel, Shadows Remain. Expect mystery, Suspect everyone.
Emerald is a Canadian writer, who grew up just east of Toronto, Ontario. She studied Television Broadcasting and Communications Media at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.
When she is not reading or writing, Emerald can be found with family and friends. Watching movies with her husband and their two beagles is one of her favourite ways to spend an evening at home.
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Lies Come True Page 23