Page 49 of As the Rain Falls
“I’m not,” he repeats himself, his voice almost pleading. “Listen, I don’t like this any more than you do.”
For a second I start to believe he might actually mean it. I don’t know. His voice does sound earnest. Unfortunately, it’s his actions that I can’t trust.
“I just want this to be over with so you are able to move on, man.”
“Is that so?” I ask slowly.
“Yes! And I want to stop being the asshole who keeps harassing a grieving brother, okay?”
My stomach churns.
I knew the chances of proving Lucia’s death was provoked were slim to none, but the way everyone’s in such a hurry to shut it all down, close the case, I don’t know.
It doesn’t sit right with me.
Maybe I didn’t think the possibility of foul play would be dismissed so quickly.
“I get it.” I push my hair back, the too-long strands falling at the front. I really need to get a haircut. “I’ll have to call my dad and explain everything. Just give me a few days, okay?”
He cleans up his front teeth, licking them with his tongue, before handing me the papers again. “That’s fine by me, but I need an answer soon.”
“I’ll figure something out,” I promise, starting to stand up from my seat and glancing at the door. “But I’m not giving up. I’m going to keep trying, even if it takes me a long time to figure out what happened. No matter what you and the others think of it, I won’t stop until I know what really happened to Lucia.”
Thomas just nods in a very stupid way.
“If you say so, Evans.”
His answer kind of makes me want to slam his face against the table. I won’t. I don’t. Of course not. Because that would be wrong and unreasonable, and I’ve spent a lifetime avoiding what was wrong and unreasonable. So, really, why start now?
I text my dad, hoping to get him to come back as quickly as possible. Gregory reads it. He doesn’t reply or call me back.
No surprise here, none at all.
“Great.” I slam my fist against the steering wheel, making the car honk. “Just fucking great.”
TEXT CHAINS BETWEEN FRIENDS: PART ONE
OCTOBER 2016
Kayla: Calling you in ten minutes for work
I just need to finish doing my hair <3
Cassandra: okay :D
did you manage toconvince liv to help us?
Kayla: No :(
Can you believe she is makingmom drive her around all day
When she has her own car??????
Cassandra: that’s crazy o_O
Kayla: She does the same thing to Stefan
I don’t know how he even tolerates her
