Lies Come True

by Emerald O'Brien

“We didn’t have anything to hold him.”

  “But he’s your number one suspect, right?” Avery asked.

  “We’ve got to have evidence, and when he came to us…”

  Noah heard the door open behind him and turned as Ethan entered the room.

  “Listen ladies, our suspects are our focus. You don’t need to worry about your safety. It’s our priority.” Ethan pulled his chair out, and motioned for Noah to sit down with them. “We’ve got people who are ready to work around the clock to make sure you’re both protected.”

  “And what about the girls of Birch Falls, or Crown River, or where ever else he’s going next?” Fiona grabbed her crutches. “Who’s going to watch out for them?”

  “The public is already on high alert. We have announced that Arnold Henderson is a suspect, and between our unit and the media, he won’t be able to get a moment alone. Like I said, it isn’t your concern.”

  “Like hell it isn’t.” Fiona pulled herself to her feet.

  “So we are just supposed to go home? Go about life as usual?” Avery crossed her arms. “I—I can’t do that.”

  “I sure as hell can’t.” Fiona began to hobble towards the door.

  “Hold on a minute.” Ethan stood in front of her. “We are doing everything we can to catch the killer. You’ve got to trust us.”

  Noah saw Fiona roll her eyes, and then looked at Avery. She seemed to be deep in thought, lost in whatever place she went to.

  “Avery?” Ethan asked, and she looked up at him, “Can you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “They want us to trust that they’ve got everything under control.” Fiona looked back at her.

  Avery stared at Noah, and his heart raced as he waited for an answer.

  “Hey, she can do what she wants,” Fiona turned back to Ethan, “but I’m not counting on anyone to save me.”

  Ethan put his hand on the door knob.

  “Am I free to go?”

  Ethan stepped away, and let her struggle past him, leaving the door ajar behind her.

  “Avery, where do you want to stay? Your place? Sadie’s?” Ethan looked quizzically at Noah. “Her friend’s place.”

  “I’d rather stay with Sadie for now.”

  Noah nodded and stood. “We will have a unit at her place at all times. If you want to go somewhere, let them know, and they’ll go with you. If you see anything suspicious, or are worried about anything at all, call us. You’ve got my number.”

  Avery nodded, and followed them out. Fiona had limped just down the hall, and was sitting on a chair outside one of the rooms.

  “Where’s Owen?” She called to them.

  Ethan started down the hallway toward her, but stopped. “You need a ride back home Avery?”

  “No, I’ll just call Sadie.”

  Ethan hurried back down the hall to Fiona. “Ralph will be here to take you.”

  “So how are you feeling? Your stomach?” Noah asked.

  “I was hurting a while ago. Doesn’t hurt much now, but I feel sick.” Avery took a step closer to him, “I know you tried to get him to confess. I know you did your best.”

  “My priority is the safety of everyone involved. You believe me right?”

  “You’re going to get whoever did this… just a matter of when.”

  “Thank you for trusting me.”

  Avery looked down at her hands as she fiddled with her purse strap.

  “I better call Sadie.”

  Noah nodded, and gave her a tight lipped smile, before she turned for the door.

  He wondered how long it would take Sadie to get there, and started to speak before he realized the words were coming out of his mouth.

  “Hey, why don’t I just take you? I need to get out of here for a while.”

  She seemed to teeter, then nodded, and continued walking toward the parking lot exit.

  Avery didn’t know their plan, and she didn’t know that Noah refused to extort the women, but she seemed to trust him.

  That was enough for Noah to keep going, he thought, as he followed her out.

  Chapter 52

  Fiona

  The ride home was quiet, and after Ralph helped her upstairs, Fiona used the last of her energy to run a bath. As she soaked in the warm water, she regretted the fit she threw earlier. She knew the police were doing all they could, and probably wanted to catch the killer more than she thought, but it wasn’t personal to them.

  She couldn’t get past that.

  The hot water turned lukewarm as she stewed in her thoughts. Just as she went to fill the tub with more water, she heard Ralph’s voice from below in the kitchen.

  “Ice?”

  She gripped the sides of the tub, and sat still.

  He was speaking to someone, but his voice sounded different somehow.

  She heard mumbles, and the clicking of glass.”… come around.”

  Fiona pushed herself up, out of the tub, and used the towel rack for support. She draped her robe over her shoulders, and opened the door a crack.

  “That’s the thing. She hasn’t had anyone over.”

  Ralph was definitely in the kitchen and his tone was light.

  “Not even Jill?”

  Sam.

  His voice was rough; hard to mistake, and she knew he was at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Like I said, no one’s been by in weeks. I think it’d do her good to see a few friendly faces. She’s so…” Ralph stopped talking, and she heard his footsteps coming toward the stairs, “Fixated on what happened. That’s not the right word, but…”

  “I’m not so sure I’d help with that right now. Fee’s stubborn.” Fiona’s heart pounded in her ears, and she knew her face was red. She tried to put her arm through the sleeve of her robe, but she fumbled and gave up to listen. “If she doesn’t want to see me, or anyone else, she won’t.”

  “Hey, you don’t know for sure. Family and friends could really help at a time like this.”

  Fiona struggled to get the rest of the robe on and opened the door.

  “Her family’s in Ireland and no offence, but you don’t know her very well yet.”

  She grabbed her crutches, and fiddled with them quietly, hoping to have the element of surprise when she stormed in on them.

  Sam’s tone made her pause. “I just came by to make sure she was doing alright. You better tell her I came by. She’ll know anyway, somehow,” she could tell he was smiling, “she always does. I just wanted to make sure she’s safe. Here’s my number. It’s my cell, so you’ll always be able to reach me. Call me for anything alright?”

  “Buddy, we’ve got everything taken care of. Trust me. She couldn’t be in better hands.”

  Fiona wished she were in Sam’s hands, and when she peeked around the corner, she saw the back of his head. She wanted to see his face, but he moved and she ducked back around the corner. She heard them heading for the door and looked out again. Sam put his hand on the door knob, and Ralph’s back was toward her. Sam turned back to him, and his face looked gray.

  “You’ll know if you need to use it or not. I just feel better, you having it.”

  Ralph clapped his hand on Sam’s back as he turned for the door.

  “Appreciate it. Take care.”

  She watched him until the door closed, and let her body rest against the wall. She didn’t understand how he did that to her. How every time he left, she wanted to go after him.

  Wanted him back with her.

  It was only in his absence that she remembered what happened, and the reason she kept him away.

  Chapter 53

  As they pulled out of the lot, Noah turned the radio on. Avery noticed something pink on his key chain and cupped it in her palm.

  “Are you aware you have a ballerina on your keychain?” She grinned at him.

  “Yeah, it’s my step-niece’s.”

  “Oh.”

  “She gave it to me to remember her by, she said. I moved here from Toronto just last month.
”

  “That’s cute.” Avery smiled, and leaned back in her seat.

  “I thought, what am I gunna do with that thing? But I can’t lose it, right?”

  Avery laughed. “Yeah, I guess so.”

  “So I’m hoping she’ll see it next time I visit, and she’ll know I care.”

  His grin was contagious.

  “That’s sweet. You must be close.”

  “No actually, she’s only been my step-niece for a little over a year. My dad remarried, and his new wife has a daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter.” He turned the radio station, and slipped his sunglasses on. “So we aren’t close, but I’m trying to be for my dad. He hates that I’m out here.”

  Avery shrugged. “Well, it’s nice that he cares.”

  She thought about her own parents, and while she hoped they were still waiting to pick her up, she knew she’d have already slipped their minds.

  “What about your mom?”

  “She passed away a while ago. Cancer.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  She looked out the window and tried to think of something to say to change the subject.

  “Back then it was just the three of us, so I was trying to get used to a bigger family, and then I had to leave.”

  “Had to?”

  “Well, I was going to be an officer, but I got a promotion, so I took the opportunity and moved out here.”

  “Good for you.” Avery smiled. “How old are you, if you don’t mine me asking?”

  “Twenty-seven.”

  “Are you supposed to be telling me all this?”

  “It’s not a rule, but I probably shouldn’t.”

  “Then why are you?”

  “I’ll try not to be blunt, but we don’t have a lot of other common ground besides what’s going on, and none of it’s good. I wanted to talk about something good I guess.”

  Avery stared out the window, and held her purse in her lap.

  “It’s just weird to think of you as a real person I guess. I didn’t really before…”

  “I get that a lot. I think most cops do.”

  “Why did you offer to drive me home?”

  “I wanted to.”

  “Yeah, but why? After everything I’ve done. Going to the media. I’ve been rude to you. You don’t have to be nice.”

  “I wanted to make sure you got back to Sadie’s alright. I meant what I said. Your safety is my top priority.”

  She nodded and stared out the window again. “Thanks.”

  Is that the only reason?

  “I guess I wanted some time to decompress a little.”

  She looked at him and raised her brows.

  Nothing more?

  “Things have gotten pretty serious, and dark, and they are, but I didn’t want to leave things off like that. With you.”

  She knew he was looking at her, but she avoided eye contact. She could hide her face from him, but she couldn’t hide her smile.

  The sun started to set, and as they drove down the road, the clouds began to cover the sky.

  “So someone will be by?” Avery cleared her throat, but she still couldn’t look at him. “Watching?”

  “Yeah, we’ll have an officer by at night, and just make sure you’re not by yourself. We’ve got an eye on Arnold Henderson.”

  Avery nodded. “What if it’s not him?”

  Noah pointed to the street sign ahead and Avery turned and nodded.

  “Right, that’s the one. Thanks for the drive.”

  “No problem. You’ll hear from Ethan or I soon, alright? We’ll advise on the next steps.”

  They pulled into the driveway, and when the car stopped, she gathered her purse.

  “Thanks again.”

  “Avery?” She looked at him and a grave expression fell over his face. “Remember you can call me. Anytime.” He took out one of his business cards and wrote on the back.

  “Here.”

  “Is this your personal phone?”

  He nodded.

  “Thanks Noah.” They exchanged somber glances, and she slipped out of the car.

  She turned back and saw him watching her as she walked up the driveway.

  When she reached the side door to Sadie’s basement apartment, she was already waiting there with open arms.

  “What happened Avery? Did they get him?” She let Sadie’s arms wrap around her, and pull her inside. “Is that why they called you down there?”

  “He got away.”

  Sadie pulled her close with one arm and led her down the basement steps.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Arnold Henderson, Charla’s uncle, he came in. They didn’t have any evidence, so they had to let him go.”

  “Okay, you have to fill me in, but this calls for drinks, and pizza, and ice cream.” She squeezed her arm. “Lots of ice cream.”

  They reached the bottom of the basement stairs, and Sadie went to her dinette.

  “Hey Sadie?” She turned back to her. “You’re not supposed to leave me alone alright? They’re calling me tomorrow.”

  “You think I’d leave you alone?” Sadie shook her head, and grabbed a flyer from her drawer. “Pizza or Chinese?”

  “I don’t really feel like eating.”

  “You will.”

  Avery shrugged, slumped down on the couch, and set her purse beside her.

  “Chocolate chip pancakes?”

  Avery feigned a smile. “You know me too well. Honestly though, I can’t eat right now.”

  “You wanna tell me about it? I don’t want to bug you, just tell me if you don’t.”

  “Which part?”

  “Whatever you’re ready to talk about.”

  Avery tucked her legs up under her, and rested her head on the couch.

  “Can I get a drink first?”

  Sadie tossed her a can and Avery cracked it open.

  “Besides Arnold Henderson claiming he’s innocent, I met Fiona Wolfe, Noah Cotter drove me home, and the killer, whoever he is, is still on the loose.”

  Chapter 54

  Noah stayed in his car long after he turned the ignition off, and stared at his cell phone. The clouds rolled in and all light was drained from the sky.

  When he opened his phone, he went through his contacts and stopped on the one that had been on his mind since he dropped Avery off.

  “Hey Darrel, it’s Noah Cotter. I was wondering if we could have another talk?”

  “I told you and your partners everything I know, alright?”

  “Has Arnold Henderson threatened you at all?”

  “What? No.”

  “Do you believe Arnold killed Grant?”

  “I don’t know what to believe at this point. I don’t want no part of it.”

  “I need a favour.”

  “Sure you do. You wanna be buddy buddy with me one minute and then arrest me the next. I only do favours for friends.”

  “I need you to take me to Bob’s hunting cottage.”

  “What? Now?”

  “Yeah. Listen, I know you don’t wanna get wrapped up in this shit. I don’t blame you, so this is the last thing I’ll ask for.”

  “I don’t trust you.”

  “I’m not even on duty. This is important to me. If you care at all about Jennifer Hornby, you’ll take me. You want to keep her safe, right?”

  Darrel agreed, and Noah started on his way to pick him up.

  Bob Pope’s cottage was the one place the men had in common. Although the map January produced indicated the place where Arnold cut up the bodies was likely south of Cedar’s Ridge, in Birch Falls, Bob’s was the last location left to check, and Darrel was the only person he could get to talk.

  He hoped he could find Bob or evidence of the murders there. Either would be enough, he thought, as he plugged the address into his GPS.

  Chapter 55

  Fiona

  Fiona woke to the sound of the door slamming downstairs.

  It was dark outside, and a light from downsta
irs glowed under her door. She realized she hoped it was Sam, and that he’d come to stay with her. She sat up on her bed, grabbed her crutches, and pulled herself up. She heard footsteps coming up the stairs and hobbled to the door.

  She took a deep breath, and waited for a knock.

  Still nothing.

  She leaned her ear to the door, and heard breathing.

  A man’s.

  A knock came, that made her jump away from the door, and drove her crutch into her armpit.

  “Ow.”

  “Fiona, its Owen. You alright in there? I just took over for Ralph.”

  “Oh hey, you can come in.”

  Owen opened the door. “How’s it going?”

  She rubbed her armpit with her hand. “I was sleeping.”

  “Sorry to wake you. I just thought…”

  “What?”

  “Nothing, I don’t want to get in trouble. I just wanted to let you know I was here.”

  “Owen, come on. What did you really wake me for?”

  “I thought it might be nice to take a drive.” He shrugged, and leaned against the wall. “Unless you’re too tired.”

  “To where?”

  “You’re always complaining about not getting out. I just thought, between you and me, we could go for a drive. We’ve got cars on our suspect. It’ll be safe.”

  “I guess that sounds like a nice idea.”

  “Want to change, and meet me at the stairs?”

  When Owen left the room, Fiona pulled on a pair of jogging pants, a t-shirt.

  When she grabbed her crutches, she hesitated.

  She didn’t want to get caught, and get Owen in trouble. If she did, he might not come back, and he was her favourite officer. He left her alone most of the time, and never asked many questions. He was the only one who let her know what was happening, and if he was taken off the case, she’d blame herself.

  She looked out the window, and smelled the fresh night air through the screen. She could use a drive to clear her thoughts, and get out of her head for a while. She opened the door, and Owen was waiting down the hall for her.

  “Where are we going?” She hobbled toward him.

  “Maybe just take some back roads?”

  “Yeah that sounds good.” He held his arms out to her.

  “I want to try the stairs on my own this time.”