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Chapter Fifty-Five

PRESENT DAY

SYDNEY

I take a quick shower after Jake leaves, but I can’t focus on much. I really should be working, but that would be an impossible task. I mostly just pace across the living room.

A few hours after Jake left, my phone starts ringing. His name appears on the screen and I snatch it up.

“Well?” I say.

“It’s a match.”

For a second, it feels like the walls are closing in around me. I just barely make it over to my sofa, where I sit down just before my legs give out under me. “What did he match with?”

“His prints matched with some unidentified ones that we found at Bonnie’s apartment and also at the apartment of the other girl who was killed before her. He was definitely in both of their apartments.”

“I can’t believe it…”

“You can’t? You’re the one who brought me the water bottle.”

He’s right. I was the one who was suspicious of Tom. But in my heart, I was thinking it was nothing but paranoia. After all, how could my boyfriend have killed all those girls?

And if I hadn’t discovered that scrunchie, would I have been next?

“So what now?” I ask. “Are you going to arrest him?”

Jake snorts. “Based on a water bottle that you handed me? I don’t think so. But we’re going to try to bring him in for questioning. Hopefully, he will cooperate. Once we actually fingerprint him and match that up, then we’re in business. Although, it still might be tricky to get an arrest warrant. We’ll see.”

Of course, I was hoping Jake would tell me that he was going to bring Tom in and throw him in jail immediately, but that obviously isn’t how things work. The thought of Tom being set free after they’ve questioned him is terrifying. I have to believe that if there’s enough evidence, they’re not going to let him leave.

But if there isn’t enough evidence, if he does get released, then what? Will he know I was the one who turned him in? Will he want to get revenge?

“Is the police car outside my building?” I ask.

“It is,” he confirms. “And if the department doesn’t want to allow it anymore, I’ll get in my car and sit out there myself. Don’t worry—I’m not going to let him hurt you.”

“Yeah…”

“Syd? You okay?”

“I just…” I squeeze my eyes shut. “I can’t believe I was so stupid. I thought he was a great guy. I mean, yes, he wasn’t perfect. But I had no idea…”

“Please don’t beat yourself up,” Jake says. “I told you—I met Brewer myself. And honestly, I’m shocked. I liked the guy. It just shows, you never know. These guys who are really charming and smart and good looking can fool everyone.”

“I still feel stupid.”

“Would it make you feel better to know that it’s because of you that we might be putting Bonnie’s killer behind bars?”

He’s right. If I hadn’t dated him, he would have just gotten away with it all. And now, because of me, Bonnie will finally have justice.

“Call me if you have any updates,” I tell him.

“I will if I can.”

And now all that’s left to do is wait.