Page 74 of Wildling

Yeah…we talked. We chatted for a few minutes at the café, and I instructed her not to contact me again. She knew what she had to do.

A rush of adrenaline hits me…This was me. I did this.

My eyes glaze over as she watches my reaction, like she is investigating murder. Except logic doesn’t make sense. I pinch my nose and push myself up. “No. That’s impossible.”

“Not according to the dead body we found this morning. The girl froze to death. No sign of foul play or injury. At least that we could initially see. The story, at least on the surface, checks out.”

I shift in my bed. “It’s not what you think it is, it can’t be. Her birthday is in July.”

“It’s exactly what I think it is,” she hisses with an intensity that pins me silent. “The pattern is spot on. I’m dealing with a serial killer, someone who is smart and patient. Someone who doesn’t get their hands dirty.”

This is what Sarah was waiting for. It’s also proof I am not the one behind it, even if my scattered memories tell me something else. It doesn’t match the pattern.

I give her a deadpan stare. “If you’re here to arrest me, you can chat with my nurse about my whereabouts. She can tell you all about it. I’ve been locked up in this hospital without means of communication. Hardly in any state to plan a murder.”

Sarah clenches her jaw. “You’re not my prime suspect.”

I blink at her a few times. “Then why are you here?”

“Your friend Gabriella is lying,” she says with deadly calm.

“What do you mean she’s lying?”

“I’ve been a detective for years. I know when someone isn’t telling the full truth. Her timing is all off. I won’t be able to prove it until the body is inspected, but I’d bet my badge that girl is lying about what happened to her friend.”

My heart skips a beat. Something went wrong…The wrong girl died.

I pause for a moment, playing along. “You think Gabriella killed Keely?”

She crosses her arms. “No. I think Keely tried to kill Gabriella. Do you remember when your friend Gabriella’s birthday is?”

An icy shiver runs down my spine. Mid-December…Gabriella’s birthday was yesterday, but I knew that.

Sarah’s eyes turn to ice. “Have you had any contact with him?” She doesn’t have to say his name for me to know who she is talking about.

I tilt my head. “How would I?”

“They are looking for him. His picture is all over the internet from your painting. The police have traced it back to him. They think he might be alive.”

Fuck.

I shut my eyes, and she grabs my shoulder, causing me to flinch. “Layla, I need to know if you’ve seen Nick Cross in the last few days.”

I open my eyes to face her. “Yes,” I whisper, “I saw him.”

“When?”

“The night I attacked Gabe. He was at my house, at least…I think he was. Beth has a secret camera in our kitchen, and he was in our backyard. If you can get your hands on the footage from that night, you should see him.”

Unless that comes up inconclusive as well. I need to know if he is real, and if there is anyone who can hack into the camera system, it’s Sarah.

Knock. Knock. Knock. “Layla, are you up?” Beth and Regina burst in, freezing the moment they see Sarah. Sarah, however, keeps her gaze fixed on me, like she can see my demon hiding just beneath the surface.

“What are you doing here?” Beth demands. “I said no visitors.”

Sarah flashes her badge in Beth’s face, keeping her eyes on me. “I’m not visiting. I’m investigating the active murder case of Keely Wilson.”

I gape at all three of them, and Beth walks up to me. “My daughter isn’t coherent. And that’s utterly ridiculous. No one was murdered. There was a tragic accident. Don’t bring Layla into this.” She studies the situation, darting her gaze between the two of us. “Has Layla spoken to you?”