Page 28 of The One I Love

“Not only do DMV records indicate otherwise, but I saw that Impala a couple of weeks ago when we met to talk about the case.” June’s eyes never left his face. “Did you sell it? Did you think that by the time you finally got around to running the report for me, your name would no longer show up on the list?”

Time seemed to stretch and extend.

Cameron cast her a questioning glance.

June gave her head a barely perceptible shake. The next move was Gary’s.

Gary began to pace. “You have to believe me, June. Until Anson Hawkins remembered seeing the car fleeing the scene, I didn’t even consider that mine could have been the one that hit Aubrey.”

“Perhaps we should sit down,” Cameron suggested, speaking for the first time since they’d entered the home.

Once they were seated at the kitchen table, June met Gary’s gaze. “Explain to me how that is even possible.”

“I purchased the Impala right after high school graduation. I loved that car. It needed a lot of work, but I like to tinker. My dad was a body man and a passable mechanic, and he passed those skills on to me.”

“I’m not interested in your hobbies, Gary. Tell me about that night. Now.”

Gary cleared his throat. “The night… The night Aubrey died, I’d loaned my car to my cousin. You know Dennis. He’s a bit of a screw-up, but a good guy. He loved the Impala as much as I did.”

“You expect us to believe you loaned your prized possession to your screw-up cousin?” Disbelief filled Cameron’s voice.

“Like I said, Dennis might be a screw-up, but he’s a good guy, and he’s family. He told me his car was in the shop, and he just needed wheels for the weekend. I found out later he’d not only wrecked his previous car, but had lost his license.”

“Go on,” June urged, fighting to keep her face expressionless.

“Well, when Dennis brought the car back to me, I was furious. The right front was smashed in.” Gary raked a hand through his hair. “He apologized profusely, told me he’d hit a deer, and when I mentioned filing an insurance claim, he told me he didn’t have a license.”

“You repaired it yourself,” June said. “That’s why, when the police checked body shops in the area for vehicles brought in with front-end damage, they didn’t find out about yours.”

“When did you figure out that Dennis was the one who hit Aubrey?” Cameron asked.

“When Anson mentioned the shape of the taillights.”

“Yet you still didn’t say anything.” Disappointment rang heavy in June’s voice, and she didn’t bother to hide her disgust. “Instead, you continued to protect your cousin.”

“It was ten years ago. Dennis has cleaned up his act. He has a wife, a baby on the way and a steady job.” Gary met her gaze. “What good would be served by—?”

June pushed up from her seat, nearly upending the table. “That man hit my sister on a dark stretch of road and then fled the scene. He left her there in the dark. He struck aperson, Gary, not a deer, an eighteen-year-old girl who never had a chance to build a life of her own. You want to know what good is served by knowing it was him? My mother will now know exactly what happened, and maybe, just maybe, she can find some peace.”

The sound of a car pulling into the driveway had Gary turning his head.

“The police.” Cameron now stood beside June. “We told them about the car when we stopped by the station. Appears you aren’t done answering questions.”

“C’mon, Cameron.” June touched his arm. “We’re done here.”

“I’m sorry, June, I—” Gary began, but she was already at the door, holding it open for two of Gary’s fellow officers.

* * *

Though Eve knew Anson would stay longer if she asked him to, her excuse about having a lot of loose ends to tie up now that the launch was on hold made sense.

She also knew he wanted to discuss her belief that they needed to keep their distance, at least for a little while, but when they reached the door, he enfolded her in his arms instead.

“You look so tired.” Brushing his lips across her hair, he simply held her, letting her know she had his full support.

Tears stung the backs of Eve’s eyes. She rested her cheek against Anson’s chest and let herself lean, just a little.

Finally, she gave him a squeeze and stepped back. She smiled. “Thanks for coming over.”

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