Page 106 of Ruthless Intent

“I … I spoke to Heather about it. I’m so sorry. I know you probably won’t believe me, but I really am. If I could go back and change what happened, I would. You have to believe that. But I can’t. And I am going to have to live with that for the rest of my life.”

“Here you are.” Heather’s voice is bright when she returns to the room. “There’s a restroom just along the hallway. Second door on your left. Go and change into this.” She holds out a black T-shirt.

I eye it. It’s obviously not hers. And Zain’s dad is wearing a button-down shirt. Which means …

“Is that Zain’s?”

She gives a little laugh. “Well, yes. But as you two appear to be getting close, I don’t think he’ll mind you wearing his clothes.”

I’m not so sure about that, but I can’t see any way to argue about it without raising questions that I can’t answer truthfully.

I take it from her, and turn away.

“When you come back, I’d like to ask about that ring on your finger, if that’s okay?”

My heart stops beating.

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

ZAIN

When I arrive at the station, I expect to be treated like an ex-con, but I am greeted with a smile from the girl on the desk. Less than five minutes after arriving, I’m whisked through to Sheriff McFadden’s office. He asks me about how I’m adjusting, before telling me that he’s read through all the paperwork about my case.

While our talk answers a lot of questions I had about the initial investigation, it’s also left me with new ones, and from the troubled expression on his face, he feels the same way.

When I leave, it’s with a promise to check in again toward the end of the week, when hopefully some of the things we discussed have had the chance to fall into place. I have a lot to think about, and changes to make to my initial plan, based on the things we discussed. I’m not sure how I’m going to achieve what I need to do, but I’m sure I can think of something.

I don’t go straight back to my parents’ house, instead taking a detour down to the beach front, where I park the car, and get out.

The tide is going out, but it’s still close enough to the rocks that there’s only a very small path along the beach. There’s no one else around, so I walk down the steps, and onto the sand. There’s a gentle breeze, which cools the summer heat a little, and I stroll along the shoreline, memories playing out in front of me.

Of Jason, Louisa and myself fooling around in the sea. Of the two of us surfing while Louisa sunbathed. Of exploring the caves.

If I close my eyes, I can hear their laughter, their voices as they call to each other, and I have to swallow against the lump in my throat.

It’s been so long, and yet it feels like it happened yesterday.

When I finally return to the car, I have my emotions under control once more, and I’m ready to go back to the house and face my family … and Ashley.

I sit in the driver’s seat, but don’t start the car.

Ashley Trumont. The girl has had a starring role in my nightmares for years. Somewhere along the way, I forgot the child she was when she made her accusation and turned her into a soulless monster deadset on ruining my life.

Her words of earlier have been echoing around my head ever since she uttered them.

If no one knew, then why did Detective Holson ask you who the father of her baby was?

Why hadn’t I ever questioned that? Why did I never wonder how he knew?

But I know why. Until she watched my interrogation video, I’d blanked the entire thing out of my head. I couldn’t tell anyone what was said in that room. All I remember is the terror, the sickness, the heartbreak, and the confusion.

But now it’s a question that needs an answer.

And it’s one Sheriff McFadden couldn’t give me.

He wasn’t the town’s sheriff at the time of the murders. He’s only been in town for a couple of years. In some ways, that makes it easier to talk to him and get his thoughts on how the case should be dealt with now. In others, he didn’t know Jason and Louisa, or the relationship dynamic we had back then.

Not that it matters.

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