Page 67 of Vain
Officer Reeves thinks over his next question before opening his mouth, which makes a nice change. “And what state were the flowers in when they arrived?”
“Exactly like they are now, minus the vase.”
“You didn’t tell the driver?”
“The driver had eyes and could see their state for himself. Aiden even questioned what I would do with dead flowers, but the guy said it wasn’t his problem.”
“And what did you do with the flowers?”
“I threw them in the trash and forgot all about them until I saw them again over there.”
“Who on set has access to your trailer, Miss Carson?”
“Just myself and Aiden.”
“And neither of you entered the trailer before lunchtime?”
“No, sir,” I answer, and Aiden confirms his answer with a nod.
“Do you always lock it?”
“Yes, after what happened before, I always lock it or watch Aiden do it.”
“How can you be sure you didn’t forget?”
“Because I check it three times, always, without fail.”
When he seems about to say something else that will annoy me, I hold my hand up to stop him. “The door was locked, officer. I’m one hundred percent sure.”
“What can you tell me about the notes?”
“Nothing. I’ve looked at them less than you have. We found them, then called the police.”
“You both found them?”
“Well, I did. Aiden was getting food.”
“So you were here alone for a while then?”
“Briefly, yes.”
He makes ahmmsound that grates on my nerves.
“It says Mr. Church here called the police. I have to ask, Miss Carson, if you found all this, why didn’t you call them immediately?”
I shake my head. “I was in shock. It took Aiden to snap me out of it.”
“What were you doing when he walked in and saw all this?”
“I don’t know…standing, staring, trying to process that this is happening all over again.”
“Would you be willing to submit a handwriting sample for analysis, along with a few drawings?”
“You didn’t ask me for those.” Aiden’s pissed-off voice rumbles out of his chest.
“Yes, well, the incident with the notes predates your arrival here.”
“I’m sorry, officer. Am I a suspect in my own stalking? And if so, do I need to call my lawyer? I was under the impression I was reporting a crime. But yet again, I’m sitting here feeling more like a suspect.”
