Page 30

THIRTY

Gabriel

As we walk up to the hospital, Sgt. Michaels catches us. I think we’re both surprised about him being there.

Liam asks, “Why are you here? Did Matthew send you in his stead? We were going to fight. Or more accurately, I was going to kick his ass, and he was probably just going to cry and beg for forgiveness.”

“Do you want to keep your job?” Michaels asks.

“No one would dare fire me over this case,” Liam assures him. “This shit was going on back when you were in homicide, and yet no one did a damn thing about?—”

I pat Liam to gently remind him that criticizing our boss is probably the last thing he should do when it’s only minutes before Abby will start accusing him of killing her father and Jonah. We really need to keep the highest number of people on his side as possible.

My stomach tightens at the thought and my hand reaches out to Liam, wanting to pull him back, but I can’t. I need to trust that he has a handle on this. We have to be confident, composed, pretend we have absolutely no idea what Abby is going to try to do.

“Liam was just taking the long-winded approach to saying that he appreciates you and looks forward to many more years under your guidance,” I say with my best salesman smile.

“Under his guidance, my ass,” Liam grumbles, still incapable even after I try to save him.

“It’s a good thing you’re useful,” Michaels says to Liam. “So you’re under the assumption that Abby is involved? Can you explain your thoughts?”

The two of us give Michaels a rundown of what we’d heard from Lisa and what we believe was happening. He listens carefully before nodding. “I don’t want you making the arrest or doing the questioning, Liam. With your connection to Abby, I’d like someone else to. Nye is already here and speaking to the nurses to see if anyone attempted to see Abby that we aren’t aware of.”

“She’s a manipulator, so good luck with that,” Liam says.

“Understood.”

We follow Michaels up to Abby’s room and meet Matthew outside of it. Matthew and Michaels go in first, and I debate having Liam hang back, but she’s going to say what she has to say whether he’s there or not, and honestly, Liam is the best bullshitter of us all.

“Good evening, I’m Sergeant Michaels and this is Detective Nye. I know you met him previously, but it’s been a little bit. We’d like to speak to you.”

“I’m sorry, my head really hurts,” Abby says, doing a good job of looking miserable as she squints at them.

“I’m sorry to hear that, but we still need to ask you a few questions,” Michaels tells her.

“I can try to be as helpful as possible,” she says. “Sorry, my head is fuzzy though.”

“We have reason to believe you were involved in recording multiple victims before their deaths. The videos we’ve found have informed us that someone, likely the person targeting the victims, was tracking and recording them.”

“You’re… I’m sorry, you’re saying that you think I was involved?” she asks, sounding quite offended that anyone could think that. “Liam, tell him how there’s absolutely no way I was involved.”

“Why would I? I’m the one who told them I think you are involved,” Liam says, voice cold. “I have proof of you having in your possession videos of me that were identical to videos found in Anthony’s house. One of which was of me.” Obviously, we never got to see those videos since Lisa disposed of them, but Abby doesn’t know that.

“What are you talking about? Are you trying to manipulate me? If these people knew what you were really like, they wouldn’t listen to a damn thing you said,” she retorts.

My heart pounds but Liam is just as confident as can be. How can he not be afraid of what she’s going to say? I need to make sure I’m not going to give a single thing away as anxiety eats its way through my stomach while I watch the scene unfold before me.

“If you believe we’re wrong, I’d love to hear who gave you the videos that were in your foster home,” Matthew says.

Abby shakes her head. “I don’t even know what he’s talking about! That Lisa was always out to get me. Always trying to make me into a bad guy because I smoked some weed. My mother was a druggie; of course I didn’t make the best decisions. And my father was an abuser, but everyone worshiped the ground he walked on. Liam, I thought you said you’d help me, and now you’re stabbing me in the fucking back with these senseless accusations? Now you’re leading them to believe things that aren’t true?”

Liam is ruthless. “I know it’s you, Abby. Clearly someone has been killing for you while you’ve been in the hospital, but you are the one behind it all. They were trying to distract us from the fact that you’re involved. But you’re the one manipulating them, finding others who enjoy watching people being destroyed and ruined. You were testing everyone your entire life, looking for those who enjoyed your sick desires and who else you could manipulate.”

“You…” Her grip on the railing of her bed tightens. “I know what you did, and I kept your fucking secrets.”

“What secret did you keep? That I snuck out sometimes to fetch your ass when you were drunk or on drugs?”

“Liam, let’s have you step out of the room,” Michaels says.

“He killed my father! And he killed the person who murdered his mother,” she hisses.

Liam nearly chokes before letting out a laugh. “I did what? Excuse me, if you know who killed my mother, I would be thrilled to know.”

“I can tell you where he buried the body,” she snaps. “So whatever he’s trying to tell you is him trying to protect himself. I’ll tell you right where he buried the body.”

“And you know this because we were so close I told you the location?” Liam asks. “Sounds like I was an idiot. Then again, I was sixteen, sooo…”

“Liam, out, please,” Michaels says, and when I go to follow him, Liam gives me a soft shake of his head and motions to me with his hand, telling me he wants me to stay and listen.

“He knows and he’s protecting him too,” she accuses as she points at me. “He knows.”

I shake my head sadly. “Abby… what we know is that we tried really hard to figure this stuff out to help you, but the deeper we went, the more we realized that you were just manipulating us with your stories.”

“You go dig up that body and then come back here and we’ll talk,” Abby says.

“Gabriel, out with Liam,” Michaels orders.

I step out into the hallway where Liam is leaning against the wall. “So… you murdered her father?”

Liam laughs. “Right? I never even met the man. She’s the one who rejoiced the day she learned he died. I mean… I don’t blame her; from what she said about him, he seemed quite abusive, but hell… maybe that was a lie too.”

“I just find the whole thing weird. What does she want them to find if she’s adamant about having them dig up a body that you supposedly buried?”

“I think she’s bluffing. I don’t think she’s actually going to send them somewhere,” he responds. “Or maybe she’s going to send us to one of her first victims or something and try to pin it on me somehow.”

“She’s not bluffing, she gave us a location,” Michaels says, overhearing us just like I’d assumed he would as he exits the room with Matthew behind him.

“But if it’s one of her victims… why would she give us more fuel?” I ask. “I guess unless she’s trying to find some wild way to blame it on Liam.”

“She was in quite the state at the time… what if she really believes I was involved?” Liam suggests. “She kept trying new drugs. It started off with just weed, but I know she later got involved with heavier drugs. I feel like her decisions were questionable at best. But there’s only one way to find out what was buried there.”

“Just what I needed was someone declaring a detective of mine was involved. This is why you’re not supposed to be within a mile of this case,” Michaels says.

“It’s not my fault I’m ridiculously useful and figure everything out so you let me do whatever I want,” Liam says.

Michaels grunts. “You’re not going to the site.”

“Uh-huh… and if I didn’t go to that site, what would the address be so I can make sure I can avoid it?” Liam asks.

“You’re the one over there burying the bodies, you should know,” Matthew teases until he gets a look at Michaels’ face. Then he quickly clears his throat. “I mean… uh… I will… wait here to uhh… keep an eye on her.”

Michaels seems at least a little more agreeable to that. “Paige, go home. Hyde, you too. You’re both off the case.”

“Yes, sir,” Liam says as he turns around and heads out the door.

Michaels growls some about that, clearly displeased even when Liam listens.

“Oh, he’s totally going to find a way to show up,” Matthew comments. “There’s absolutely no way he would have willingly left if he didn’t already know he was going to show up there.”

“Hyde, I’m relying on you to keep him away.”

“Of course, sir,” I say.

“And Gabriel is already prepared to do whatever Liam wants,” Matthew mutters.

I grin at Matthew before starting to walk away. “Shhh, Matthew, I’m being good. We’re both being good.”

“Good, my ass,” Michaels grumbles.

I hesitate and turn back to them. “Let me give you Lisa’s information. She’s the one who saw the videos of Liam, but they do seem to be similar to the one that Liam saw back at the department. She disposed of the tapes, but they obviously made her uncomfortable enough that she got a new placement for both of them in the hope of keeping Abby away from Liam.”

“Thank you,” Michaels says as I send him Lisa’s contact.

I hurry out to the car where I find Liam in the driver’s seat holding a phone against his ear, but the moment he sees Michaels come out behind me, he ducks down, like Michaels might not have seen it.

“Who is answering his call? Dammit,” he grumbles as he rushes up to the car. The closer he gets, the more Liam sinks until I can’t even see him through the front windshield.

“Liam! I know you’re in the car!” Michaels shouts. People are looking at us while Michaels beats on Liam’s window.

We’re close enough now that I can hear Liam talking. “Hi, is this the police? There’s a bald man outside of my car who is threatening my life. Please send help as soon as possible,” Liam says as Michaels gives him an exasperated look. “I repeat, bald and angry. My life is at risk. The love of my life is outside of the vehicle with the man. Please advise.”

I’m trying my hardest not to grin as I question how Liam is able to keep his job.

Michaels is jabbing his finger into the window now, which can’t be pleasant. “Hang up! You better hang up that phone!”

“You won’t help me because you’re afraid of being fired? You would let me die just so you could keep your job? See if I ever let my Gabriel share a pie with you again,” Liam says.

I look in to where the man of my dreams has crammed himself on the floor as he eyes a glowering Michaels who is peering through the window. I grab for the door handle, but it’s clearly locked.

“Liam, let me in so we can go home,” I say. “Like good boys, just as Michaels asked.”

He timidly reaches up to unlock the door so I can get in.

“Gabriel, get in the car quickly. Don’t look at him. He can’t hurt you if you don’t look at him,” Liam tells me as I get in.

He quickly climbs off the floor and gets in his seat. “Michaels, it was a true pleasure. Let me know what you find because I will be at home in my bed, most likely naked because I sleep in the nude. Gabriel will be wrapped around me like a koala bear in a tree. Preferably also naked. Michaels, where are you going? I was getting to the good part! And he’s gone. Do you think he fell for it?”

“Do I think he believes you’re not going to show up somewhere he explicitly told you not to? No… no I don’t,” I say.

“Damn. Well, I tried.”

He grins at me before he stares at his phone. “Now I just have to find someone willing to cough up the location. We’ll give them a little bit and try again.”

Liam waits long enough that Michaels should have alerted others of the location before giving Robinson a call. “Robinson, my friend. My buddy, my pal who wants to keep his job and not go to prison for assaulting my dearly beloved Gabriel.”

“It’s off in Wester Swamp. They’re parking at the east exit near the butterfly trail,” Robinson blurts out.

“You really are the best man ever to blackmail,” Liam says with a pleased look before hanging up. “Gabriel, when we get to the scene, you’re going to put the idea in someone’s head that the rock near the tree looks odd. There are some markings in the tree—scratches. Don’t find it yourself; get someone else to identify it so no one questions whether I directed you to it. Got it?”

“Okay,” I say. “What’s there?”

“A box that will destroy Abby’s story. We’ll give them a little time to get digging. Are you hungry?”

“Not in the slightest. I’m in a state of anxious turmoil,” I whine.

“You know what will fix that? Ice cream,” Liam says as he reaches over and takes my hand. He gives it such a gentle squeeze. “It’s all going to be fine. I promise.”

I’m not so certain. “If it’s not… what do we do? Will you run? Please run.”

“They’re not going to find anything that points to me, so you don’t even have to worry. Let’s get you some ice cream that will wash away allllll of your worries. And then I’ll take you to show you my beautiful masterpiece.”

When we arrive at the swamp, the area is bustling with police activity… just as Robinson had informed us. The only issue is that Michaels is there with his arms folded. He’s already pointing at Liam and cursing him before we even put the car in park. I pop out of the car, and since he’s so fixated on pinning Liam down with a stare, he seems okay to let me go even if he won’t let Liam out. Leaving Liam to Michaels’ torture, I follow the path to the scene and find the crew already hard at work excavating the spot. We had waited until we were confident they were well underway to even make an appearance, aware we wouldn’t be allowed to hang around for long before Michaels shooed Liam off.

I walk over as someone alerts the rest that they’ve found something in the hole they’ve dug in the spot Abby had directed them to.

I hesitate because didn’t Liam say he moved the body? What could be there to find?

Walking closer, I see them documenting some fabric they dug up. It wasn’t buried very deep, but deep enough that erosion hadn’t disturbed it. Liam hadn’t warned me about that, but maybe he forgot because he’d been so fixated on the box?

I look around the scene, but there are a lot of rocks, aren’t there? How the hell am I supposed to decipher which one? I look for the tree with markings, but there are also a lot of trees.

No, no, this is Liam. If he set this up, he’d want to make it easy enough to identify, but not too easy. So what’s different about the rocks?

I look at each of them until I find that the wear on one is not quite right.

This area is known for having water cut through it for farming purposes many years ago. But once the farmland was converted to residential and industrial, this part ended up turning into a swamp. Some conservationists turned it back into a wooded area in the hope of bringing native wildlife back to the area. This was around thirty years ago, and the only reason I know that is because this part is still named after the swamp that once sat here.

But with the flow of water, wouldn’t this rock’s edges have smoothed out? Unless it was brought here from a different location, that is.

“This area used to be flooded, right?” I ask Penny.

“It definitely did. It’s interesting how quickly things can grow after such a shift. You can still see signs of the water that was here, but every year it seems to get less and less. Huh… yeah, like these rocks here show the wear from the water, but that one doesn’t,” Penny says. “That’s odd. It’s definitely a rock that would wear quickly with even slight current. Rocks this large don’t just pick up and move, you know? Can I get someone to move this rock for me?”

Penny hurries over to see if it’s something of interest, and I stand back and let them work. It isn’t long at all before they find the box as well as the knife inside of it. Penny looks like she’s struck gold as she quickly documents the knife, eager to take it back to the lab.

While that happens, I sink back into the trees and make my escape back to the car. “Let’s go home.”

“Did they find the knife?”

“They did, as well as some clothing.”

“Good. Good. Now if Penny doesn’t find the hint of blood I left behind and the small smudge of a fingerprint under the lid, I’m going to kick her ass.”

“You can’t kick your coworker’s ass,” I say.

“I will gently take my foot and even more gently kick her in the ass.”

“Still a no.”

“I will take her pens out of her office every day, so every time she goes to reach for a pen there will be none there, and I will snip the cords to her computer mouse every time she gets a new one.”

“That’s acceptable and evil,” I decide.

He nods approvingly.