Page 79 of Under His Control

“Thanks, Lewis. I hope he listens.”

He nods and runs his hand over his beard. “You said ‘no’ last time but I’m gonna ask again. Come to the party tomorrow. Bring your lady friend.”

I hesitate. “I’ll see how she feels.”

At least it doesn’t seem like that nosy fuck dug too deep, or he would’ve told Lewis who Penelope really is to me. It’s a good thing the media wasn’t allowed to disclose her name because of her age.

Lewis opens his mouth to say something else. He pauses and jerks his chin. I turn to look. Wayne lumbers down the parking lot carrying three cases of beer.

“He’s coming to the party,” Lewis says. “Think he’s bringing one of those my way tomorrow?”

“Doubt it. Guys like him don’t hand out freebies.”

“He’s always loved his booze, but I heard he’s been hitting it harder than usual lately. I’ll have to keep an eye on him so he doesn’t clean me out.”

We say our goodbyes and I head to my car. In my seat, I clutch the wheel as simultaneous anticipation and dread course through me.

I’m heading home to be alone with Penelope again.

For the entire day.

No-one to interrupt and save me from bad decisions.

My phone vibrates in my jacket pocket. I hope that’s Elizabeth. I take out my phone and frown at the call display.

I don’t like taking calls from private numbers. It’s usually irritation or bad news waiting on the other end. I’m tempted to let it go to voicemail but I answer.

“Hello, is this Jacob Shaw?” asks a male voice.

“Who’s asking?”

“I’m Detective Angus Norton.” He rattles off his badge number in a bored tone. I’m stuck on the word detective and don’t pay attention. “Are you Jacob Shaw, sir?”

I grip my phone harder. “Yes. Why are you calling me?”

“It’s in regards to an ongoing investigation. We would like you to come to the station and answer some questions.”

18

Penny

Perched on my toes on a chair, I wipe the top of one of the living room’s windows like I’m being graded.

Vigorous cleaning isn’t calming me like I hoped. My mind is playing Wheel-of-Misfortune, and the shitty prizes on each turn is a thought that makes me ashamed or afraid.

I let Jacob go down on me.

His sister thinks I’m a whore.

Cedric might hurt my family.

Round and round the wheel spins.

If Elizabeth hadn’t turned up when she did, Jacob and I might’ve gone all the way. The way we were dry-humping each other after he licked me…

Then Elizabeth stormed in and tossed down her awful accusation like she did the candy. Red licorice twists are my favourite yet I chucked them in the trash this morning. Eating them would be literally consuming someone’s terrible opinion of me.

You’re just like your mother, a whore.