Page 79 of All Your Tomorrows

“They said there’s no indication that anything criminal happened that night,” Mr. Fletcher said.

“They claim mist from the river and low temperatures would’ve contributed to the icy road,” Mrs. Fletcher added.

“What about fingerprints on the steering wheel?” Kyler asked.

“Did they fingerprint the car?” I asked.

“There would have been no reason to at the time,” Mr. Fletcher said.

“And since then, the car’s been totaled,” Mrs. Fletcher said. “It’s not around even if they wanted to.”

“So, they’re not going to reopen the investigation?” I asked.

“They said they’ll go over everything they have again to see if there’s something they missed,” Mr. Fletcher said.

“Did you tell them to question Melanie?” I asked.

“They understand our concerns,” Mrs. Fletcher said. “And they’re planning to follow up on it when she returns from Boston.”

“It isn’t fair,” I said.

“I hate her,” Kyler said.

“She’ll get what she has coming to her,” Mrs. Fletcher said before standing up and gathering some dishes. “Karma always prevails.”

“Let me help you,” I said as I grabbed some dishes.

Once we finished cleaning, Mrs. Fletcher brewed a pot of coffee. “Will you bring these into the living room?” she asked, handing me my platter of cookies. “They look delicious.”

I carried the tray to the living room where the Christmas tree stood. There were only a few gifts beneath the tree.

“Where are all the gifts?” Kyler asked, trailing me into the room.

I knew better than to repeat his question to Mr. Fletcher who sat on the sofa. They were trying to survive while their only child lay in the other room. They really had no reason to celebrate. I placed the cookies down on the coffee table and looked to Mr. Fletcher. “Do you mind if I check out the basement?”

Laughter burst out of Kyler.

“The basement?” Mr. Fletcher asked with furrowed brows.

I shrugged. “I’ve heard some stories about it.”

He chuckled. “I bet you have. Sure. Go ahead.”

Kyler led the way to a door in the hallway. “You sure about this?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I don’t want you getting all jealous.”

I laughed and opened the door, flipping on the light switch before descending the stairs. I stood at the base of the steps impressed by the total man cave surrounding me. My eyes moved from the black leather sectional to the huge wall flat screen to the pool table then the bar. I walked the perimeter of the room looking at all the framed football photos of Kyler filling the walls.

He said nothing as I moved from photo to photo. They spanned his football career, from the time he played in elementary school until he played in college. In some, he caught passes; in others, he was posed with his helmet under his arm.

“I wish you got to see me play,” he said.

I spun around to find him leaning against the pool table. “I don’t understand it,” I admitted.

“I would’ve explained it to you.”

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