Page 81 of Not Quite Dead Yet

Detective Ecker was the one to step forward. ‘We need to talk to you. Can we come inside?’

‘The spare key’s not under the mat anymore,’ Jack said over Jet’s head, looking at Billy.

‘Jet’s got it.’ Billy fished his keys out of his pocket, winding his way through everyone to the door of 1B.

He unlocked it and held the door open, guiding everyone through.

His dad hesitated, rested a hand on Billy’s shoulder as he passed.

‘Patriots game on Sunday,’ Jack said stiffly, hand still there. ‘It’s supposed to rain, though. You gonna watch it?’

‘I don’t know, Dad,’ Billy said, voice quiet, finding Jet’s eyes in the hall. Because Billy didn’t really like watching football, only pretended for his dad, so he had someone to watch it with after Billy’s mom left. Or because that Patriots game was scheduled for the day Jet would die.

But Jack must not have gotten all of that from Billy’s eyes, couldn’t read them like Jet. He cleared his throat, dropped his hand, and walked on through.

Jet’s mom fussed over her as they crossed the threshold, touching the limp arm on purpose, like she was checking, waiting for a reaction.

Too many people inside this small apartment, boxed in, nudging shoulders.

‘Sit down, Jet,’ Mom said, guiding Jet to the couch, settling in beside her, almost on top of her. Dad took the other end, leaving her a bit more breathing space.

‘Does anyone want a coffee or …’ Billy offered, hovering by the kitchen.

‘Not now, Billy,’ Dianne hushed him. ‘The detective has important news.’

Ecker had taken the seat opposite, the chief and Jack arranged behind him, a tableau of cop, their mouths set, eyes serious.

‘Who died?’ Jet said, trying to lighten the mood. Didn’t work, only got heavier, pressing down on her chest.

Ecker steepled his fingers, two pointing up, pressed them to his lips, like a gun made of flesh and bone.

‘Jet,’ he said, voice too loud, echoing between her ears. ‘We’ve arrested JJ Lim for your assault.’

Jet sat forward, Mom clinging to her, rubbing her back.

‘JJ?’ she said. ‘You found him?’

‘He came back to town a few hours ago.’ Ecker dismantled his finger gun, hands dropping to his lap. ‘He says his brother texted him, explained about your situation. That’s why he came back.’

‘You’ve spoken to him? JJ?’

‘We’ve interviewed him once already, after his arrest, yes.’

‘And?’ Jet lowered her voice. ‘What’s he saying?’

Ecker swallowed. ‘Well, he’s denying everything at the moment. But we had enough evidence for an arrest warrant.’

‘Evidence?’ Jet asked.

Ecker nodded. ‘The red synthetic hair at the scene was a match for the wig JJ wore at Halloween.’

‘Right, but you said it could have transferred?’

‘There’s hisSorrytext to you, after the time of the attack. And that he has no alibi and left town in a hurry that night.’

‘But why would JJ want to kill me? You don’t know him like I do.’

‘There’s more,’ Ecker said. ‘We have a theory on motive. We are told you turned down his proposal a few months ago.’