Page 37 of Guilty For You

“Did he get to the hospital?” Fox asked.

“No, he passed away in the parking lot before the ambulance could get to him.”

“The Corner Stop?” He shook his head, “That makes no sense, he was supposed to be here, hours ago.”

“We have some questions about Blaine’s whereabouts this evening if you have any information that could help us find out who did this?”

“Wait,” I unburied my face from Fox’s neck, “You don’t know who murdered my brother?”

“No,” The officer said, “He was found lying in the parking lot by another customer, and there are no security cameras on that part of it. We don’t know how long he was there before he was found.”

“He died alone?” I cried, aching even harder. “He didn’t have anyone to even hold his hand?”

“I’m sorry, Miss.” The officer said in response.

“Oh god.” I sobbed and Fox tightened his hold on me.

“I need to call Aunt Suzie,” Maddie said, pulling out of Fox’s embrace. “I feel like we need a parent here.”

I nodded to her as she got up and walked to her bedroom in a trance, but the hits kept coming.

"Delilah,” The older officer said, stepping into the house, “I’m sorry to darken this evening for you even more, but we need you to come down to the coroner’s office to identify him.”

“What?” I shook my head wildly, “You don’t know it’s him?” How the fuck was this happening?

“We do, his fingerprints were run electronically at the scene, but we need a physical ID made before we can release him to the funeral home after the autopsy.”

“No,” I shuddered and looked at Fox, “I can’t.”

He tried to sooth me and pushed my hair back, “I know baby.” He hummed and turned back to the cop, “I’ll do it.”

“I’m sorry, but it must be next of kin. It won’t be until tomorrow or the next day, so you have some time to come to terms with it.”

“Son of a bitch.” Fox cursed and hugged me tighter.

“But back to Blaine’s whereabouts tonight,” The officer said, “If we could start there it could help us find who did this.”

“Come on, baby, let’s help them find he son of bitch that did this.” Fox said and helped me stand up off the floor and got me into a chair at the table before taking the seat next to mine as the cops pulled up the others.

Last night Blaine sat in the very chair I did and ate the dinner I made before our argument.

“Okay,” The officer said and pulled out a note pad. “Let’s start with you, Delilah, when was the last time you saw your brother.”

I swallowed and forced down the bile that once again tried to burn my throat. “I left here about seven. He was on the porch when I left.”

“Do you know where he went after that?”

I shook my head, “I was mad at him, so I left to get some fresh air, and I didn’t come back until after eleven.”

“You were mad at him? Why?” The officer stared at me, and I hated the way this part of the conversation was going to sound.

“Because we got into an argument.”

“What about?”

“Does that fucking matter?” Fox bit in.

“Yes, it does,” The cop said firmly. “It helps paint the whole picture.”

---