Page 86 of Help Me Remember
“We all do,” I say and then lift my glass. “To Isaac.”
“To Isaac, who really was the man of every year.”
We clink glasses, and I scan the room, looking for Brielle.
So far, the town has done a great job of following the rules. People who she met within the last three years have stayed on the fringe, not doing anything to make her uncomfortable. She’s sitting with Jenna, her smile is easy, even though tonight has been anything but.
“She looks good,” Emmett says.
It appears I wasn’t doing so great hiding it. “She does.”
“You guys getting along okay?”
I turn back to him. “Why wouldn’t we?”
“Just curious.”
Emmett is never just anything. He’s smart and observant. He’s been back in town six months and has been focused on his new job, moving, and getting his life straight. It’s the only reason I was able to get away with seeing Brie under his nose too.
Isaac was easy to fool.
Which I regret now.
“Yeah, we’re fine.”
Emmett puts his glass down. “Spence, you’re like a brother to me, and I know you pretty well. There’s something going on there.”
“Let it go,” I warn.
“I would, but part of my job is making sure that we keep Isaac’s case from being thrown out.”
“And you think I don’t share in your concern?”
Emmett smiles at someone who walks by and then turns back to me. “I didn’t say that, but I live across the hall and I’m briefed every day. I can see the same logs you can and, if you remember, I can see her messages.”
I use that training from years ago to mask my emotions, but the panic is building. I force out a laugh and clap him on the shoulder. “You and I know what the truth is.”
Emmett doesn’t share in my fake laughter. “Yeah, Spence, we do, and I’m telling you that if you fuck this up, she’ll never be okay with it. Isaac was her brother, and she loved him.”
She loves me too. Whatever Emmett thinks he knows, he doesn’t. I have not done anything that would jeopardize this case. “I have never told her anything.”
“You also answer questions you shouldn’t. Look, I have a pretty strong impression that there’s a lot that I’m not aware of. If you and Brie had something going on, which I think you did, then you’re in over your head, brother.”
I don’t want to have this conversation. “We’re done talking about this now.”
“Yeah, after I say this, if you keep going down the road where you’re feeding her things, then you’re going to have to make a choice.”
My back straightens at the implied threat. “What exactly are you saying, Emmett?”
“You can’t give her memories. You can’t tell her things.”
“I’m not.”
“She told me that you are the only person who will answer the questions she asks directly.”
No lies.
“I won’t lie to her. She’s Brielle. She deserves more than this. If she weren’t the only witness in her brother’s murder, we would’ve told her everything and shown her the life she had.”
