Page 18

Chapter Seventeen

Kinsley

Sitting cross legged in the middle of the floor of my spare room; newspaper clippings, old police reports and journal articles scatter the carpet. Gazing over the timeline I’ve put together so many times over the years, I notice something that hasn’t stood out to me before.

14 years ago - Missing girl - dad assigned to her case

14 years ago - Found man with the tattoo - tattoo linked to club

14 years ago - Dad went missing

12 years ago - Kyle died - news report - suspicious

10 years ago - Gifted Kyle’s journal for my 12th birthday

6 years ago - Mum’s suicide note

Now - GEORGE WATSON??

Kyle’s last journal entry is dated the day before his death, this I already knew, but it’s the contents of the note I’m now seeing from a different point of view. I thought the note nodded to another rebellious night out. One where he had planned on sneaking out, meeting up with Jesse and keeping a secret about a girl they were both crushing on. He was thirteen, for god’s sake, anything is possible.

Tonight is the night, I’ve already called Jesse and I’m sneaking out through my window. I won’t lie, I’m scared as fuck but there is no turning back now.

As long as she knows she is the most important thing to me.

I don’t think Jesse knows it yet but I know he loves her .

If she can’t have me here for her, she will have him and that’s more than I can ask for. After all, he promised.

What if this wasn’t some love triangle they had been playing into, what if … No, it can’t be, could it? My head falls into my hands. If I’m right, this confirms one thing for sure; Kyle’s death wasn’t accidental. Someone killed my brother.

I don’t know where he went that night, or what he was doing but I am going to find out, because the girl he wrote about – it’s me. There is only one person who can give me the answers I need. Picking up my phone, I attempt to call Jesse … It goes straight to message bank.

Me - Hey, call me back when you get a chance.

Plan B. I flick back in the journal to when Dad went missing, focusing on the two years between his disappearance and Kyle’s death. Maybe there is something else I have missed.

I’m lost in the past when the sound of the front door opening startles me, pulling me back into the here and now. I immediately jump up and rush out of the spare room, closing the door behind me. This will have to wait.

“Kins, you home?”

Tanner. I hate keeping this from him, but it’s for the best. If he gets involved, I risk losing him too and that is not a risk I am willing to take.

“Coming,” I call out, making my way towards the front of the apartment. I feel like I need to shake all the information I’m still trying to process out of my brain and pick it all back up later. I exhale a long deep breath and slide on a mask I’ve learnt to wear so well.

“Hey, you.” He kisses me briefly before bundling me up in his arms. “I was thinking we could see if Jesse and Soph wanted to do pizza and a movie tonight?”

“Sounds good. I tried to call Jesse earlier but his phone went straight to voicemail.” Pulling my phone out of my back pocket, I bring up the group chat the four of us have and send off a text. Tanner’s phone buzzes in time from his pocket as the message is sent.

Me - Pizza I know exactly what he’s thinking without him even saying it.

“Jesse isn’t odd . Goofy maybe, but not odd.” I correct his thoughts.

“You can ask him tonight. Take some time to chat with him, see what’s going on in that brain of his.”

“Mmm, okay.” I wriggle, still trapped underneath him.

Tanner taps my temple with his finger. “You know how I get when I’m not the sole focus up here.”

“Such a moody man,” I laugh. “Maybe you can help me with that then.”

“I plan on it. But first get your ass upstairs and pack a bag for tonight. I have plans for you after they leave”

Tanner kisses me briefly on the head before releasing my arms and rising to stand.