Page 54 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

“It’s a long story,” I said to him.

“We are still investigating, Miss Simpson.”

They asked a few more questions before leaving. I left with them, trying to avoid any awkward moment with Tristan. My heart was still racing from the little contact we’d had.

***

It’d been three days since the detectives had come to question us about the attack. I had already been discharged from the hospital, but Tristan was still at the hospital. I visited Morris every day at the ICU. His family came too. Kayden had become best friends with Morris’s grandkids in an instant.

It was Tuesday, and I had come to see Tristan with Kayden. We’d been here for an hour, and Kayden was already asleep next to Tristan on the bed.

Detective Emily and Detective James came to visit in the evening. I hoped they had come with good news. I asked about Ryan, and Detective Emily told me what they had so far on him.

“Sorry, but it’s not him. We did our investigation on him and didn’t find anything to convince us he was behind the attacks.”

I buried my face in my palms. Who could it be if it wasn’t Ryan? Karen was still in jail. It couldn’t possibly be her.

“We have a lead on someone though. We are still investigating to be sure, but we have a feeling it’s him.”

I looked up at Detective James when he was done talking.

“Who is it?” I asked, holding my breath.

My body stiffened when the words left his lips. No way. There had to be a mistake somewhere.

16

______________________

Stalker

NOW

“Grey?” I mumbled to be sure I had heard Detective James correctly.

“Do you know anyone named Grey Ashton?” Detective Emily asked, her perfectly drawn brows knitted together.

I was lost for words as I took in her question. What did Grey have to do with this? He didn’t even know about Kayden.

“Miss Simpson?” Detective Emily snapped her fingers in front of me.

“He is her ex,” Tristan said before I could open my mouth to let out those words.

“Interesting. Any bad blood between you two, or did anything happen between you two that didn’t end well? Like the breakup?” Detective James asked, raising his pen and turning to a new page to take some notes.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at him even if he was just trying to do his job.

“No! We are good friends. Trust me, he is a nice guy.”

I heard Tristan scoff from beside me.

“Grey doesn’t know about Kayden,” I told them.

“Oh, really?” Detective Emily shared an amused look with her partner.

“I don’t even get it. How did Grey get into the picture?” I was still confused.

“We interrogated all your friends, and he was the only one that sparked something in us. His alibi didn’t make any sense. We don’t know what he is hiding, but I can assure you, we have something on him. He’s being detained at the moment,” Detective Emily explained.

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