Page 142 of See You Again

Cami: Mission accomplished. Leaving soon.

Her purse was suddenly yanked out of her hands, causing her to drop the coats.

“Do you think I didn’t realize what you were doing?” Matt snarled at her as he pulled the plastic bag out of her purse. Cami could see Trey, his eyes wide with shock, as he approached behind his brother. “Ridiculous little bitch. Just like every other woman.” He laughed as he hurled the plastic bag to the ground and stomped on it, shattering the glass before he grabbed her wrist, yanking her toward him. “You think you’re so much smarter than I am, but I saw through you from the start.”

Cami tried to wrench back, but he was stronger than she’d expected, his breath hot on her face as he leaned forward. She almost gagged when he licked his lips. “If you wanted a DNA sample, all you had to do was ask. I’m happy to give you one?—”

“Matt!” Cami heard Trey yell.

James’s voice sounded in her head.

Pull him toward you, strike down with your other elbow.

The thought had barely formed before she was in motion. There was a flash of surprise on Matt’s face, just before her elbow connected with his arm and she pulled her wrist free, jumping backward.

Everything seemed to happen at once. Trey was standing in front of Matt, his hands pressing against his brother’s chest. “Stop, Matt.”

She heard a gasp followed by, “Cami!”

Dahlia rushed past Matt and Trey to her side. “Are you okay? What happened?”

Cami’s throat tightened as her gaze went to the shattered glass in the bag in front of them. Matt’s eyes narrowed, and he bent quickly, grabbing it. Trey’s confused eyes went from the bag to Cami, and then back to his brother.

Despair weighed on her. She failed, and now that Matt knew she was trying to get a DNA sample, he would be more careful. Cami wanted to howl with frustration. Without the DNA…

“Trey,” Cami's voice trembled, and she swallowed hard to compose herself. “Amy Hawthorne was your friend.” Trey’s eyes flickered, but he didn’t look away. “The police know Matt killed her. I understand he’s your brother, and you don’t want to believe that about him. But you also know that he wasn’t with you that night. The police know it, too.”

“How?”

Matt grabbed his arm, but Trey shook him off. “She’s lying. She’s just trying to get in your head.”

“I’m not, Trey. The police know Amy was in Matt’s SUV that night. Vincent Menardi found her necklace with her hair still caught in the broken clasp. It was under the seat when he detailed the car after you returned to Rhode Island. He came forward,” Cami said gently. Trey had gone deathly white, his lips parted. She was a little afraid he might pass out.

“No.” The word came out on a breath.

“Yes. They know she called him that night. The necklace proves she was in the car. All they need is a DNA sample to match against the vape they found in her pocket.”

Trey blanched. “A vape?” His eyes sought his brother’s, who stared intently at him.

“I’m your brother, Trey. We’re family. We were together that night. With Mom!” The muscle next to Matt’s eye was twitching. He grabbed his brother’s elbow, and this time Trey let him.

Cami could feel her moment slipping away. “He asked her out, Trey. He had to know you liked her. Everyone did. And he still asked her out and tried to have sex with her. He wasn’t loyal to you. Why are you lying for him?”

Red blotches were forming on Trey’s cheeks as Matt dragged him away.

“Trey! It’s only a matter of time until the police arrest Matt. You could still get in front of this. Do the right thing!”

When they were gone, Cami slumped against the wall, feeling defeated.

“You had to try,” Dahlia said quietly. “I thought you had him there for a minute.”

“I did, too. Without Trey recanting Matt’s alibi, the police can’t get a warrant for Matt’s DNA. There’s no chance he’ll drop something now.” Her lips trembled. “I didn’t realize he saw me.”

“It’s okay,” Dahlia said, opening her purse. “Because I’ve got a backup.” She dangled a plastic bag with one of the black cocktail napkins in it. “Just watch out for the cocktail sauce on it.”

“Dahlia!” Cami squealed. “I could kiss you!”

The redheaded beauty was grinning. “I was pretty impressed with myself. I snatched it right before the server cleared his plate.”

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