Page 57 of Carnival
Aria straightens up, grabbing a pillow and hugging it on her lap. “Any ideas what you want to tell him?”
“Just to convince him that I didn’t betray him and that he will be out.’’
“Hudson will find a way to get him out of prison,’’ Blair says. “He may not like him, but he does love you, so he won’t let you fall apart.’’
“Well,’’ Aria glances between the two of us. “James won’t have a fair trial, or a trial at all, so what if we just find him a good lawyer and try to give him one?”
“That will just prove that the law enforcement’s been bribed into sending him straight to prison, but the evidence of his crimes will still be there. He’ll be in prison regardless.’’
“Not if we find out who Vivian is and then pin it all on one of her men.’’
“I’m listening.’’
“James is no fool,’’ Aria starts, and Blair leans in closer, listening carefully. “We need to know what evidence they used to send him to prison. If they don’t have his DNA or any solid evidence of his killings, Arlo can easily plant some and pin it on someone else.’’
“The videos I’ve received on the iPad didn’t show James’ face,’’ I take a seat on the carpeted floor. “I know it was him because of his mask, but not once did he remove it.’’
“Alright then,’’ Blair gets to her feet, grabbing the dirty tea mug and heading toward the door. “I’ll see Arlo and help him track down Vivian. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.’’
Aria puts the pillow away and follows Blair out the door. “And I may or may not have used your bedroom as storage. I’ll go clean it for you, because there’s no chance I’m letting you out my sight until this is all resolved.’’
I snort, watching them leave and close the door.
The silence that follows is deafening. I sprawl on the floor, staring at the ceiling. I can barely move, breathe, or blink. It’s getting increasingly difficult to keep James out of my thoughts.
I can’t even begin to imagine how he must be feeling. He’s a master at concealing his true feelings and pretending he isn’t hurt, but something like this must hurt even his cold heart. If it were me, I’d be losing my mind.
I’m surprised he hasn’t tried to run away.
My phone buzzes, and I whip it out of my pocket. A small frown is on my lips as I see a text message from an unknownnumber. I don’t have a lot of friends, but those that I do have all have their numbers saved in my phone.
I sit up immediately, my eyes reading the text over and over again.
Luckily for me, I know this house like the back of my palm. Every nook and cranny, every single part that I could use to silently leave. And four minutes later, I’m out the door with the keys to Aria’s car.
???
I started second-guessing my decision the moment the car hit the road, but now it’s too late to turn around and drive back. I take a shuddering breath, my hand wrapping on the doorhandle of the small coffee shop. It’s fairly close to Noelle’s home, and the drive wasn’t too long, just long enough for me to start figuring out whether or not this is a bad idea.
The small doorbell above the door echoes when I step inside, my eyes darting around, trying to figure out who the fuck I’m meeting. Then, they fall on a young man. He’s sitting alone, with a cup of coffee in his hands, in the darkest corner of the establishment.
The interior is rather cozy, with dimmed lights and that peaceful vibe all around, and it’s not the only secluded spot. I make my way toward him, heart pounding in my chest. Immediately, his eyes land on me, and he motions with his head for me to sit.
“Who are you?’’
There’s no time to waste. The question leaves my mouth before I’m even sitting properly. The man silently observes mefor a moment, and I glare right back at him. I grip the car keys in my hand, folding my arms in front of my chest.
“Casper Di Angelo,’’ the man introduces himself. “I’m a friend of James.’’
My eyes perk up immediately, and I straighten up. What’s odd about the man is that he is a police officer — very clearly in his uniform. Why would James be friends with a cop?
“Really?” I ask, uncertainty lacing my tongue. “And why did you ask to meet me, Casper?”
He glances around the shop, then leans in slightly. “James managed to get a cell phone from one of the inmates, and he called me.’’
My heart skips a beat. “What did he say? Is he okay?”
“He is very angry. But overall, he’s hanging in there.’’
