Ava jumped to her feet. “Are you crazy?”
“Brandon is too smart to leave incriminating evidence lying around. Scott can help us find the truth.”
“If we tell him, he’ll side with Brandon. They are best friends, and as a fellow officer he’ll find a way to protect him.”
Tess shook her head in disagreement. “You’re wrong. Scott knows better than any of us how bad off Brandon is. It’s your call, but I think he’s our best bet.”
Ava nervously paced back and forth as she thought of her options. She didn’t want to put Justin’s freedom in jeopardy by placing trust in the wrong person. “I don’t know what to do.”
Tess moved closer to Ava. “You know you can trust Scott. I promise he won’t throw Justin under the bus to save Brandon. He’s not that guy.”
“And you’ll tell him everything?”
“Promise. I won’t let it go until I’ve fully convinced him. There’s one thing that might help.”
“What?”
“Pictures of where Brandon kept Justin.”
“The hidden bunker?”
“Scott can’t deny photo evidence.”
Ava released a heavy breath. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Thirty-four
“This is it,” said Ava. She and Tess stood outside the door to the underground bunker. On the drive from the house, Ava described nothing about it. She thought it was best if she saw it firsthand for herself.
“How long has it been here?”
Ava shrugged. “Don’t know. I came into the barn once when I lived here before. This place creeps me out.”
“So, it could’ve been here before Brandon inherited the house.”
“Possibly, I recall him mentioning his uncle was one of those end-of-the-world fanatics. You know the people who have a stockpile of food, survival kits, and guns for just in case.”
Tess moved forward and place her hand on the door handle. “Let’s get the pictures and get out of here.”
Ava unlocked the door, and Tess followed down the first flight of stairs. “This had to cost a fortune to build. It had to be his uncle’s doing.”
“You’ve seen nothing yet. Open the next door.”
Tess opened the metal door and descended the five stairs into the bunker. An audible gasp filled the silence when she entered the room. Ava’s eyes bounced around as memories of her finding Justin dirty and bruised crouched in a corner flooded her mind. She wiped a tear falling from her eye, upset with herself for not seeing through Brandon’s lies sooner. Tess turned around with her eyes bugged and mouth opened. She wore a mixed expression of confusion and shock all in one. “To hear about this place is one thing, but to see it in person…”
“I know. Before that day, I never stepped foot into the barn. Brandon calls it a shed, but it was originally a barn. Anyway, that night the power had gone out, and I didn’t want to sit in a cold house. I knew he stored firewood in here, so I faced my fear and ventured into the unknown. I’d told myself I would run in, get the wood, and run out. But the door caught my attention. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was as if I was pulled towards it.”
“This is unbelievable.” Tess lifted her camera and snapped a picture of the four shelves of can food, and cot against the wall. There was a door that led to a bathroom Ava hadn’t noticed before. The ladies rounded the corner by the back wall. “That’s where I found him,” said Ava. “He was sitting in the corner with his head down. It was dark, and I had only a lantern. It was later when the lights came on, I assume from a backup generator.”
Tess continued to snap pictures when she suddenly lowered her camera and moved towards the back wall. “What the hell?”
Ava didn’t warn her about the monitors, she wanted her to see them for herself.
“He has hidden cameras in his house?”
“Every room except for the bedrooms and bathrooms. Brandon wanted Justin to watch us become closer.”
“This is insane. How was he able to pull this off underneath your nose?”
“Easy. He knew I would never step foot in this place.”
“But you did.”
“I assumed Brandon wanted to keep Justin close. Somewhere that wouldn’t be suspicious.”
“You can never really know someone.” She frowned and lifted her camera. “Just a few more pictures and then we can get out of here.”
Tess took five additional pictures, and they made their way back to the house. “The moment Scott gets home I’ll talk to him. Once I know how he’ll proceed, I’ll call you.”
“Send a coded text instead. It’ll be hard to talk with Brandon around.”
“How are you going to get through the next few days? I mean, you have to pretend to be in a relationship with him.”
“I don’t know, Tess.” She shrugged. “I keep telling myself I have to do this for Justin. I have no choice.”
“Be strong and know that Scott and I have your back.”
“Thanks.” The women hugged and said goodbye. Ava re-entered Brandon’s house to pack a bag of clothes for him. She had to keep him at her place as long as possible, even if that meant pretending she was falling back in love with him. She would do anything to prove Justin’s innocence.
∞∞∞
Ava drained the boiling pot of pasta and popped open a jar of chunky spaghetti sauce. She stood stoic, watching the pot of sauce splash against the glass lid. She reached into the bottom cabinet where she kept her few bottles of alcohol and placed a half-empty bottle of tequila on the counter. The night called for something strong to numb her emotions. She poured herself a swallow of tequila and gulped it down. Any feelings she had developed for Brandon dissolved the moment she realized he masterminded Justin’s kidnapping and Phillip Ramsey’s murder.
The knock she’d dreaded invaded her solitude. She’d secretly hoped he would’ve called stating he had to work longer. No such luck! She placed her empty glass on the counter, turned off the flame beneath the spaghetti sauce, and walked towards the front door. She took a deep breath as she turned the deadbolt lock.
“It’s about time you made it here,” she said with a huge smile on her face.
He kissed her cheek and brushed past her. “Is there beer in the fridge?”
“Sorry. I haven’t been to the store, but I had enough food to make dinner. Hungry?”
“Starving.” He rubbed his stomach. “Do you mind if I jump in the shower first?”
“No, go ahead. I placed your bag in my bedroom.”
She watched as he trotted up the stairs. Once he was out of sight, Ava checked her phone for any messages from Tess. Nothing! It’s been hours since they parted ways. Maybe Scott needed more convincing than either of them thought. Ava placed two plates on the counter and a serving of pasta on each plate. Tears stung her eyes as she scooped sauce from the pot. Pull yourself together! She had to be strong and resist becoming emotional. She moved both plates to the dining room table when she felt a pair of arms from behind wrap around her waist. Ava peered over her shoulder and Brandon placed a kiss on her neck. “That was fast,” she said.
“I wanted to hurry, so we can enjoy the rest of the night together.”
“Oh.” She turned to face him with his arms still around her waist. Her disgust wouldn’t allow her to look him in the eyes, instead, her gaze settled on the hardwood floors.
Brandon placed his hand beneath her chin and lifted it. He eyed her intently. “What’s on your mind?”
“Just tired.” She shrugged.
“Ava, I can tell something is bothering you.”
“Let’s sit.” She gestured towards the table. “We can talk over dinner.”
She had the plates on opposite sides of the table, but Brandon moved to the chair closest to her.
“I saw Tess today.”
“When?” He twirled spaghetti onto his fork.
“She called after you left the bar. She isn’t doing well.”
“Your mood has something to do with Tess?”<
br />
“Yeah, she’s having problems with her sister. It’s really upsetting her and there isn’t anything I can do to help,” she said before taking a sip of her water.
“I’m sure you helped just by listening.”
“Maybe. Anyway, that’s been on my mind, so if I seem distant that’s all it is.”
“Nothing else is bothering you?” He wolfed down the last of his food.
She shook her head. “No, nothing else.”
He stroked her arm before standing with his empty plate in hand. He placed it in the kitchen and returned to the table. He grabbed her hand. “Let’s go upstairs.”
She swallowed hard. “I’m not finished eating.”
“You don’t seem too hungry. You barely touched your food.”
Ava didn’t protest, she allowed him to lead her upstairs into her bedroom. As soon as they entered, he pulled her closer and kissed her lips. She didn’t resist.
“I want nothing on your mind but me,” he said and kissed her harder on the mouth. He backed her up against the wall and trailed his tongue down her neck. She opened her eyes and stared at the blank white wall across the room. A tear rolled down her cheek as he began unbuttoning her shirt. Because of timing and circumstances, they’ve avoided having sex. Tonight, she may not be so lucky. He’s fully awake and pretty determined. At this point, she felt like she had no choice. Justin would understand, but it still felt like a betrayal.
Brandon moved her to the edge of the bed. She sat with her shirt open with her bra exposed. He towered over her as he stripped down to his underwear. She removed her shirt and jeans before lying across the bed.
“I love you,” he whispered as he laid on top of her. He stroked and kissed her body causing her to squirm from his touch. Ava could no longer do this. To allow him to take pleasure from her body felt like a violation. She placed her hands on his chest. “Can you give me a minute, Brandon?”
He rolled over with confusion in his eyes. She grabbed her phone from off the nightstand and ran into the bathroom. She called Tess, and she answered on the third ring. “Hey, Scott is having a hard time believing what I’ve told him.”
“Tess, I can’t do this,” she whispered. She turned on the faucet to drown out her voice.
“Do what?”
“He wants to have sex, but every time he touches me, I feel nothing but disgust.”
Knock! Knock! “Ava, are you okay?” asked Brandon.
“Yeah, just give me a second,” she yelled at the door. “Tess still there?”
“Listen, give me more time to work on Scott, and we’ll get you out of this mess as soon as possible. But we need you to do your part. If being with him like that makes you feel uncomfortable, just tell him you want to take a step back in your relationship.”
Tess was right. She was in the driver’s seat, and Brandon would do anything to remain a part of her life. She thanked her for the pep talk and told her to text her with Scott’s answer. Ava unlocked the door and opened it enough so Brandon could hear her flush the toilet. Moments later, he stepped into the bathroom while she washed her hands. “What’s going on with you?” he asked.
“We need to talk.” She exited the bathroom, and he was right on her heels. She slipped on her robe and sat on the bed.
“Did I do something wrong?” he asked, sitting beside her.
She turned towards him. With Tess’ words in her head, she felt more confident to handle Brandon without causing suspicion. “We are moving much too fast.”
“What do you mean? I thought you were ready for us to be intimate.”
“I do, I mean I did.”
“Okay, Ava you need to explain what’s happening here.”
“I understand I’m confusing you. I thought I was ready, but then I realize I was reacting to what I thought you needed from me. When we were together before, I stayed in the relationship, although I didn’t want to. I did it because I didn’t want to hurt you. I put your needs before what I wanted.”
“Is that what you’re doing now?”
“If we’re honest, we both know we’re not on the same page with our feelings.”
“So, you’re leaving me again.” He jumped to his feet and reached for his pants.
She followed him and grabbed his arm. Forcing him to face her. “I’m not going anywhere. Just listen to me.”
He buttoned his pants and rested his backside against the dresser. “None of this is making sense, Ava.”
“You and I reconciling happened so fast I haven’t had the time to process my feelings. If we want to make it work a second time, I must be honest. You tell me all the time how much you love me, correct?”
“Yes, because I do.”
“I can’t return the sentiment.”
“You will. I’m sure of it.”
“Until then, we shouldn’t be intimate. Not until I can utter those same words to you.”
He frowned with his arms crossed against his chest. “I’ll do whatever you feel is necessary.”
She reached for his hands. “I realize it feels as if we’re taking a step back, but we’re not. When we have sex again, I want my feelings to be just as strong as yours. I want nothing to prevent me from holding back.”
“I’ll wait however long you need.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”
“Sure, I’ll be down in a minute.” Relief filled Ava’s body as she watched him exit the room. She sat on the edge of the bed proud of herself. Just as she was about to go downstairs, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and a notification stating she received a text appeared on her screen. She opened the full message from Tess. It simply said: Scott is on board. He’ll begin his investigation in the morning.
Chapter Thirty-five
The next morning Ava rose early to make sure she walked out right after Brandon left for work. She told him nothing about her plans for the day. At this point, the less he knew the better. She would make something up if he asked. She called Meghan to inform her she would stop by. When Ava arrived, she was sitting on the front porch, something she’s never done. As Ava approached, she could see her narrowed eyes and her pouted lips. “What’s wrong?”
“He just told me everything,” spat Meghan.
“Told you what?”
“Ava, stop! I know what happened to him.”
She gritted her teeth and twisted her lips into a frown. Pissed that Justin would get her more involved. But the more she thought about it, she realized Meghan had risked everything to help them without asking a single question. “I’m sorry for not filling you in. You’ve gone above and beyond for us. You deserve the truth.”
Meghan rose to her feet. “Thank you for saying that. Just so you know, I badgered the truth out of him.”
“I figured as much.”
“Since you now know every detail. I have an update for you both,” said Ava.
Meghan led her inside. From the hall, Ava saw Justin seated on the living room sofa. He appeared to be in deep thought with his palms clasped together. He jumped to his feet when she entered the room. He moved closer and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “How are you?” he asked.
“I’ve been better.” She placed a thin smile on her face as she sat on a chair. “I have news, and I feel we should include Meghan since she’s now in the loop.”
“It’s only fair she knew,” said Justin.
“It’s fine.” Her eyes darted between him and Meghan who sat beside each other. “I haven’t done the greatest job of keeping my emotions intact. Needing someone to confide in, I told Tess what Brandon has done.” Ava noticed the hurt in Meghan’s eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said to Meghan.
“I get it.” She shrugged. “She’s your best friend.”
“You said you had news. Was that it?” asked Justin.
“Partly. She and I tried to find evidence of Brandon’s guilt by searching his house.”
“Any luck?” he asked.
> “He’s a cop and a smart one. That’s why Tess suggested bringing Scott on board. He can investigate this in ways we can’t. After much convincing, he agreed. He has the pictures of your bruises and the bunker Brandon held you in.”
Justin didn’t say a word. He instead lowered his head as if he was contemplating another thought. He then turned to Meghan. “Do you mind if I speak to Ava alone?”
“No, I have errands to run, anyhow.” She grabbed her wallet and keys from the sofa table. “See you guys in a few hours.”
Once they heard the slam of the front door Justin moved into a chair closer to Ava. “I can tell there’s something on your mind. What is it?” she asked.
“I understand you and your friends want to help, but I have a life I need to return to. It’s time I contact my attorney, and he can facilitate a surrender into police custody. The sooner I clear my name, the better.”
She shot him a mystified look. “Did you miss the part where Brandon is a cop, and they have enough evidence to send you to prison for life.”
“This is bullshit!” He slammed his fist into the table startling Ava. “Your psycho ex-boyfriend is the one who should be behind bars!”
“And he will. You agreed to give me time. We’re so close, Justin.”
He stroked his chin. “I don’t like any of this.”
“I don’t either, but the police are not searching for another suspect. They believe you are their guy. Between your connection to Phillip, your prints on the gun, and the fact they believe you have disappeared, in their eyes, you are guilty. I’m sure they’re watching your family members and business partners expecting you to reach out to them. The police had my house under surveillance but stopped after weeks of no activity.”
“That bastard covered all angles, didn’t he?”
“Now that Scott’s involved, this will all be over soon.”
They both fell silent. Ava was engaged in her own thoughts, anxious to know if Scott had found anything.
“I’m sorry,” said Justin, reaching for her hand. “I’ve gone on about myself I haven’t ask how you were.”
“Hey, don’t apologize. Brandon has taken a sledgehammer to your life.”
Betrayed by You Page 20