What Lies in the Darkness (Shadow Cove Book 1) (16 page)

I want to ask her a thousand questions, but I doubt she’ll divulge the truth and would likely get pissed off that I followed her around. I opt to keep my lips shut while she stares at me silently, and I do the exact same thing to her.

Look at us, mother and daughter, two little liars.

“I need to get going,” I finally say, breaking the tension. “We’re already running late.”

“Hold on just a second,” she says as I’m reaching for the front door. “I need to talk to you about Bria Brookenrose. Have you heard anything around school about her?”

My hand falls to my side as I slowly face her. “I heard that she died.”

She chews nervously on her bottom lip. “Is that all you heard?”

I hesitate. “A couple of assholes were saying something about how she and Sawyer made a suicide pact, but I don’t believe it.”

“I heard that, too,” she utters with wide eyes.

“Do you believe it?” I hold my breath, fearing her answer.

“I don’t really know what to believe anymore.” Her eyes begin to water, but she inhales deeply, sucking the tears back. “I spoke to Bria’s mom when she came into the hospital to … identify the body.” She sucks in a tremulous breath, dabbing her tears away with her fingertips.

Worried she’s about to lose it, I reach out and take her hand, and she holds on tightly.

“But, anyway, I really think we should go to the funeral to pay our respects.”

“Okay,” I say. “But, Mom, with the rumors going around … are you sure the Brookenroses even want us there?”

She releases my hand. “No one believes those rumors, Mak. And the police already declared her death as an accidental drowning.”

“Did they do a toxicology report on her?”

“Yes, but what does that matter?”

“Was there morphine in her system?” Like there was in Sawyer’s system when he died.

“I have no idea.” Her forehead furrows into a scowl. “I don’t know what you’re getting at, but I know your brother, and while he may have been struggling with his own personal demons, he would never talk another human being into taking their own life.”

If she really did know him, why didn’t she know about what was hidden underneath his closet floor?

“That’s not what I’m getting at,” I say. But the truth is, after what I found in my brother’s bedroom last night, I feel like I have no clue who Sawyer is, and maybe I never did. Still, I can’t help thinking about my dad’s theory that Sawyer was murdered. What if he was and the killer killed Bria, too? What if they kill again? What if they’re behind a lot of the deaths in Shadow Cove?

She folds her arms, her eyes remaining narrowed. “Then what are you getting at? Because you’re really starting to sound like your dad.”

“So what if I am? Maybe Dad was on to something.”

“Like what? That the town is involved in some sort of murder conspiracy?” The ridicule in her tone makes my jaw tick.

No, Mom, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying that, if someone killed Sawyer like Dad believed, then maybe they killed Bria, too. And the coroner’s report could prove that.

“Nothing. Never mind. Forget I said anything.” I yank open the door to leave.

“The funeral’s on Saturday,” she tells me as I step over the threshold. “We’ll ride over together.”

“Okay.” I shut the door then trot down the front porch, breathing in the crisp morning air.

One of the main reasons my father believed Sawyer’s death was not a suicide was because of the morphine in his system. Not only is morphine a pain in the ass to get ahold of, at least according to my dad’s research notes, but he also mentioned it didn’t make sense that Sawyer would go through all the trouble to get the morphine when he could’ve just raided my mom’s stash of sleeping pills in the medicine cabinet. Plus, there were these strange scratches on his arms and legs, like tree branches clawed him.

I want to know if Bria had morphine in her system and what her cause of death was listed as, if she had the scratches, too. I want to get my hands on the coroner’s report.

And I might know a way to do it.

LOCATION: MAK’S CAR

TIME: 7:49 AM

DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 23
^RD

Kennedy decides to ride with me to school and leave her car parked at my house. We pick up Embry and Ev on the way. During the ten-minute drive from Embry’s house to the school, I tell them about the madness that happened yesterday, starting from when Kennedy and I tailed Liam all the way up to when I had an idea of how to get ahold of Bria’s coroner’s report. By the time I’m finished, we’ve made it to school, and Ev looks on the verge of yacking up her breakfast.

“Mak, I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea,” Ev says, as pale as a vampire. “I mean, it’s one thing to sneak in and look at the security footage of a school—which, just so you know, I had nightmares about—but tricking a coroner into giving us Bria’s report …” She shakes her head. “That’s too illegal. I just can’t do it.”

“You’re not going to do it. Embry and I are later today.” I rotate around in my seat and stick out my fist to Embry. “Right, Em?”

She flips her newly dyed, pale purple hair off her shoulder and gives me a fist bump with zero hesitation. “I’m always down for a little rebellion. My parents have been on a real I-forgot-I-have-kids kick, anyway, so it’s about time I remind them that they’re completely wrong.”

“But we’re not going to get caught”—I check the time on the dashboard, noting that Liam should be here any minute—“so they probably won’t ever find out.”

“You can’t be so sure you won’t get caught. And if you do, you could go to jail.” Ev blows out an exasperated breath. “Maybe you could just ask Bria’s mom about whatever it is you need to know.”

I get her point—I really do—but I can’t let this go. I need to find out how Bria died, if her death was like Sawyer’s, if there was anything suspicious about her death other than the fact that she died in the same place as my brother did. And asking Bria’s parents will only cause drama and more than likely upset everyone. I’m nervous enough that we’re even attending the funeral with the rumors floating around town about the suicide pact.

“We won’t get caught. And even if we did, my dad was like this”—I hold up my crossed fingers—“with Legend.”

Ev’s brows dip. “Who’s Legend?”

“The coroner,” I say like
duh
.

“You say that like it’s so obvious.” Kennedy flips down the visor and leans close to the mirror as she applies yet another layer of face powder over her injured cheek. “Sorry, Mak. Love you to death and beyond, but you’re the only one in this car twisted enough to know a guy who examines dead bodies for a living.”

“That’s not true. After today, Embry will, too.”

“It’ll be pretty interesting to meet him so I can see how my future’s going to turn out,” Embry says, digging out a stick of gum from her bag. She offers a piece to Ev, and Ev accepts, popping the gum in her mouth. “Because, according to everyone here”—she gestures around at the people loitering around the school parking lot—“that’s what my career is going to be. Well, either that or a serial killer.”

“People suck, Em; you should know that by now.” Kennedy’s hand drifts to her cheek. She may have caked on enough makeup to hide the mark, but it doesn’t hide the anger in her voice as she says, “Just remember, one day, we’re going to get out of Shadow Cove, and all this shit will be behind us. No one will hurt us anymore.”

Embry and Ev look from Kennedy to me. I shrug, wanting to tell them about the mark on her cheek, but knowing Kennedy, she will lose her shit if I do.

“Are you okay?” Ev asks Kennedy worriedly. “Your hand’s shaking.”

Kennedy jerks her hand away and puts on a plastic smile. “Yeah. Sorry. I was just thinking about some stuff.”

Embry places a hand on Kennedy’s shoulder. “You want to talk about it?”

Kennedy shakes her head then shoves open the door. “There’s Liam. He looks lost.” She escapes the car and shuts the door before any of us can say anything else.

Embry stares at Kennedy through the window, watching her weave through the parked cars toward Liam. “What was that about?”

I shrug, fiddling with the air conditioner knob, though the car isn’t on. “She spent the night at my house because her dad was being an ass again.”
And her stepmom hit her.

God, I want to tell them just so they can give me some advice on what to do, if nothing else. But last night when we were going to bed, Kennedy made me promise I wouldn’t tell anyone. I don’t feel right about making that promise. I really don’t.

Maybe I should tell Embry and Ev and just deal with Kennedy’s wrath that will follow.

I open my mouth to spill the beans, but the back door opens up, and Kennedy pokes her head in. “All right, Em, hop out. Liam wants to sit between you and Ev.”

“I never said that,” Liam gripes from behind her. “You told me I had to.”

“I know.” Kennedy smiles sweetly at him. “To keep you from trying to bail out.”

Liam snorts a laugh. “I could get out if I wanted to.”

“Oh, really?” Kennedy’s gaze glides to Embry, who grins and cracks her knuckles.

Liam stuffs his hands in the pockets of his khakis, carrying Embry’s gaze. “I’m not afraid of you, Embry. You may have the entire school believing you’re a badass, but deep down, I know who you really are. You’re a nice girl, and all that heavy eyeliner, dyed hair, and I’ll-kick-your-ass attitude is just a façade.”

“Aw, thanks for the psych analysis, Liam. And here’s a little advice in return: don’t become a psychology major because you seriously suck at it.” She climbs out of the car, the chains on her boots jiggling. Then she steps aside and motions for Liam to get in. “Now, get in, or I’ll make you get in.”

Liam rolls his eyes, but he slips into the backseat beside Ev. Ev offers him a sheepish smile as Embry hops in, sitting unnecessarily close to Liam who, strangely enough, doesn’t seem bothered by this. If anything, he inches closer.

Well, well, well, does Shadow Cove’s golden boy have a crush on my little social outcast, Embry?

I dropkick the thought from my head. That’s so beyond the point right now, especially when Liam may have ratted me out to Lispy Larry.

“Tell me something, Liam.” I tap my fingers against the console, staring him down. “After you left that store last night, you didn’t by chance call the owner and inform him that I was asking you questions about the place, did you?”

“No … Why?” He pales. “Oh, God, do they know I’m talking to you?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe. But not because we told them.” I study him, deliberating whether his pale, shocked reaction is legit. “Are you sure you didn’t do anything stupid last night when you got home? Like, say … make a call to Lispy Larry?”

A pucker forms at his brows. “Who’s Lispy Larry?”

“Larry Motaling, the mayor’s son.” I watch him like a hawk, searching for any tells that give away if he’s lying. “That is who’s blackmailing you, right?”

His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows hard. “How did you find that out?”

“I’m perceptive.” I tap my temple. “Nothing gets by me, so think about that while we’re having this conversation ’cause, if you try to lie, I’ll know. And remember the consequences for lying.” I gesture at the people hanging out in the parking lot and in the quad. “They’ll all find out that perfect, little Liam isn’t so perfect after all.”

“Maybe I don’t want them to think I’m perfect anymore,” he mumbles with a sour look on his face.

“Well, that’s quite a change of heart from yesterday, but whatever.” I turn all the way around in my seat then rest my hands on the headrest and my chin on my hands. “If you need some more motivation, then consider this: what will all your friends think when they find out you were the one who took their laptops?”

“I really don’t care what they think. They were the ones stupid enough to take that video in the first place, all because of some stupid, ridiculous club.” He slumps back in the seat and crosses his arms with his jaw set tight. “I’m so sick of paying for their stupid mistakes and so fucking sick of that goddamn club.”

Kennedy and I trade an amused look, and Kennedy gets a wicked glint in her eyes, which means trouble is coming.

“Now, Liam, when you say club, just what kind of club are we talking about?” Kennedy wraps a tendril of hair around her finger. “Are we talking, like, tree houses, secret handshakes, and let’s promises to be BFFs forever kind of club? Or is it something else?”

If looks could kill, Liam would’ve murdered Kennedy by now with his fuck-you gaze.

“No, Kennedy,” he says flatly. “I don’t mean a club like that. We’re not children.”

Kennedy shrugs innocently. “It sounds like kid stuff to me.”

“Well, it’s not.” His loud, clipped tone causes all four of us to flinch. “Do you have any idea what kind of shit you’re getting into by just talking to me about this? When they find out, they’ll come after you.”

“Who’s
they
?” I ask. “Lispy Larry? Or your club?”

“No, I’m not talking about that house or stupid Lispy Larry or my club. All of those are separate from this,” he explains with frustration. “I’m talking about the people who got me into this mess.”

“You mean the people who took the video?” I ask. “Your friends from this club?”

“My friends from my club will be pissed off, but I can handle them.” He swiftly shakes his head, his frustration escalating. “I’m talking about the people who found out my friends took the video.”

“Okay.” We’re so getting off track here, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t piqued my interest. “So, what was the video of? And who are these people who found out you took the video? And which one of your friends are in your little club.”

“Will you quit saying club like that?” He pounds his trembling fist against his thigh. “This isn’t a joke.”

“Hey, you need to chill out,” Embry warns, staring Liam straight in the eye. “No more hitting things, including yourself.”

His chest rises and crashes with each breath he takes. “Sorry. I’m just a little freaked out that I’m having this conversation with you.” He aims a finger at me. “Particularly her.”