Oblivion (19 page)

“Anything happens to me or Marnie and it all points to you, Cameron,” she snarled and laughed at him with courage she was far from feeling.

He shrugged. “Like I said; they got nothing on me. They can’t convict me, Lindsay. Your little detective mission failed.”

Lindsay watched him walk away, heart beating frantically in fear as she watched him get in his car and peel out of the parking lot. She bit her lip and tears filled her gaze, blinding her to hear him practically brag about how he would get away with killing Jace.

Lindsay trembled as she got back into the car. She was going to Sheriff Wilson with what was captured from the wire. She wanted this over. She did it for Jace, but she was scared witless now.

His threats to come after her were very real. Marnie telling him they went to the police was stupid, but she reasoned Cam scared her too, enough to tell everything. She felt anger to know Marnie was so weak when it came to Cam.

She still thought he would come through for her, after everything. She pulled into the Sheriff’s department and nearly ran inside. Bob was behind the counter. He looked at her in concern.

“You ok, Lindsay?” the cop asked in concern, seeing her panicked expression.

“I need to talk to Sheriff Wilson,” she said in a rush.

“Hold on, let me see if he’s off the phone,” the deputy said and left her to stand in the lobby.

Sheriff Wilson arrived and looked grave as he ushered her to his office. She waited until the door was shut to yank the wire from under her tank top and hoodie.

“Get this off of me!” she cried and tears coursed down her cheeks. “Cam just came to my apartment and threatened me and Marnie. He knows we told. It’s all on the recorder.”

“Did he confess, Lindsay?” the Sheriff asked urgently as he came forward to help her remove the wire.

“More or less,” she said and grimaced as the tape was removed from her back. “He didn’t deny it. He made threats against me and Marnie too. It’s all on there.”

Sheriff Wilson looked relieved. “Alright, let’s see what you got.”

Lindsay and the Sheriff listened to the conversation three times before he shut off the recorder, frowning.

“He didn’t confess to it, Lindsay,” he said wearily and rubbed his eyebrows. “He’s smart. He knows unless he states quite clearly he killed Jace; we can’t use this. He made serious threats to you; that’s all. I can charge him for that and get Dan to patrol the lot, but I can’t get the prosecutor to admit this as evidence in the case.”

“He said he put Jace out of his misery! How can that not be a confession?”

“He implied someone did, but he didn’t admit to it.”

“I don’t believe this!” she snapped angrily as she stood up from her seat. “I put myself out on the line for you so you could get Cameron, and now you tell me it was all for nothing? He’s after me now! Thanks a lot! When he kills me I hope he uses the right wording when he confesses to it!”

“Lindsay, he’s guilty as sin and we both know it, but I can’t use that tape unless he says the words! It’s the law! I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is,” he said angrily and stood, his grey eyes meeting hers with a solemn look in them. “We’ll do everything we can to protect you until you leave for school, Lindsay. He’s going to be tied up in court. He can’t go anywhere for a while.”    

“Yeah, but he’s planning on making every minute I’m here miserable and we both know he can. You can’t protect me!”

“Lindsay, you need to keep wearing the wire. Sooner or later he’ll come back to taunt you more. He came close to admitting it. Had you pushed him harder; he would have snapped.”

“No way! I’m all done with this! I did what you asked and nearly got raped and now he’s threatening to kill me!” she stormed angrily. “I’m out of this!”

“Lindsay, he’s got months before this goes to court. A lot can and will happen. Do you want him to get away with this?”

“I want him dead!” she seethed, her eyes filled with fury. “I want him as dead as Jace! I’m sorry, but I can’t do this, even for Jace. I’m too close to this. I can’t do it.”

“Lindsay, unless we have a confession he’ll walk,” the Sheriff said wearily and regarded her sadly. “Think about that. Do you think Jace will be the last person he kills? I’ve seen it before. He’ll kill again, Lindsay. He has a taste for it now. Don’t let Jace die in vain. Think about what I said.”

She did consider every word but her terror was such she couldn’t imagine getting close enough to Cameron again to get the confession they needed.

“He won’t approach me again. He said what he came to say. I’m a target now for every one of his friends. He won’t dare dirty his hands, not while he’s under the microscope.”

The Sheriff sighed and sat back down and lit a cigarette.

“Then you have to step it up and confront him every time you see him until you get him to break, Lindsay. I never said this would be easy. This will be the hardest thing you ever have to do in your life, but if you don’t, he’ll walk.”

“When is the hearing?” she asked tightly.

“He was arraigned this morning and made bail. His first court appearance is in June.”

Her eyes widened. “Why so far off? This is a murder.”

Sheriff Wilson looked grim. “His attorney will likely drag this out, Lindsay. That can be to our advantage. It buys us time to work him over. He thought he scared you today. Come back right at him and let him know you aren’t running away. He won’t expect it and he’ll make mistakes.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted in a small voice. “You didn’t see his face or his eyes. He killed Jace and he feels absolutely nothing.”

“Lindsay, I’ve put animals like him away for thirty years. You don’t need to tell me what a ruthless creep the kid is. Just get him on tape confessing to the murder and we have him.”

“I want protection!” she demanded and pointed to the door. “Out there I’m on my own. He didn’t make idle threats, Sheriff. He thinks he can get away with murder and he has up until now. What guarantee do I have your department will be there when he comes for me?”

“Lindsay, if I have to sit in your lot and guard you every night myself, I will. He won’t get to you. He’s got enough problems of his own right now. When they arrested him this morning they confiscated quite a bit of illegal drugs from his room. He’s up on drug charges too. Either way, he lost the scholarship. His parents might pay for an attorney, but they’ve had it with him. I don’t think I ever saw Dick Chase so mad when he dragged his son out of here.”

Lindsay had some satisfaction knowing the drug charge would stick and he would lose the LBH scholarship. Even if he walked for killing Jace; his entry into any top-rated school for football was slim and none. For that, he would be out for blood. Hers, she thought with a chill down her spine.  

“Let’s hope he starts losing it real quick then. I can’t take much more of this,” she lamented and sighed. “Jace hasn’t been dead a month. Instead of grieving him I’m chasing his killer around.”

“Don’t you have girlfriends, Lindsay?” he asked curiously.

She laughed bitterly and shook her head. “That’s the price of dating the cutest, most popular boy in school, Sheriff. No, Jace was my only friend.”

She could see the Sheriff felt sorry for her. It was an old argument with her mother too. She hated the fact Lindsay wrapped her world around Jason Turner and didn’t run with a pack of girlfriends. When he was alive she didn’t need friends. Now that he was gone, she never felt so alone.

“It’s a shame kids have to be so spiteful. You’re going to have to make the best of it. You got four months and you’re out of here.”

“Yeah, it’s too bad Jace isn’t going with me.”

“Lindsay, the best thing you can do for Jace is to do this. It’ll help you find some sense of justice if anything. You have your whole life ahead of you now. Don’t look back when you leave here. Just keep going and know you did the right thing.”

She thought about that conversation on her way to Reddy’s to meet her dad, dwelled upon it when she arrived to see him texting Margene and ignoring her while she nibbled at her burger and fries.

He was so wrapped up in his own life, he hardly touched on what happened to Jace, just mumbling how tragic it was and telling her he was sorry.

She despised him for that as she watched him communicate with his girlfriend and not her. For the first time in years, she could understand what made her mother so miserable to live with. Bill Morgan didn’t have a thoughtful bone in his body.

She finished and pushed her plate away. “Dad, I’m going home.”

No response as he typed into his phone, nodding absently. She got up and walked out of the diner, knowing next week she wouldn’t come back to meet him. He made his choice when he chose Margene over his family. In his mind, he did his job and his role of a parent ended when she turned eighteen. Now she could understand why Lance left.

Thinking about her brother made her tense. Jace’s murder was broadcast all over the country. She suspected he was at Aunt Billie’s in Savannah and heard about Jace. Her brother adored Jace and called him his little brother when he was at home. Knowing he was Jace’s half brother had to come as a shock to him.

She missed him badly and wished he’d come home. Her older brother wouldn’t let any of Cam’s friends torment her. Lance Morgan was about as tough as they came. No one ever messed with Lance. He got his size from Everett obviously and his orneriness.

Lance had to come home some time and deal with knowing Everett was his father. He’d been gone for months and her mother was worried sick. She privately thought her mother knew Lance was at her sister’s place and didn’t push to know how he was. If she knew Aunt Billie; she was working him over but good. He would come home eventually.

Eventually came sooner than she thought when she arrived home and saw a strange car in the lot with Georgia plates. She was tense as she went up the stairs. Her mom was packing for her and Sara and a moving truck was backed into the stairs. They moved in with Jack today and she was scared to death to be alone in the apartment after her run-in with Cameron.

She opened the door and stepped over boxes and around bins to get to the living room. She froze when she saw Lance sitting with her mother. He looked the same, but had a more mature look in his dark eyes she’d never seen. He had a tan and looked fit in the jeans and a sport shirt. With a squeal of surprise she ran and launched herself into his arms, hugging him with joy.

“Oh God, we were so worried about you, Lance,” she breathed as she drew back, looking up at him reproachfully. “You could have called me.”

Now that she knew he was Everett Turner’s son she could see the resemblance. He was tall like Jace and had the same dark hair and eyes. He was handsome and had the same brooding look Jace often wore in repose. She knew he wasn’t aware she knew why he left. She would wait for him to confide in her. They’d always been close.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t here for you, Linds,” he said gruffly and smiled sadly down at her. “It’s been rough for you.”

She felt tears form and wiped them away. “Yeah, it’s been pretty bad, Lance.”

“They catch the guy yet?” he asked coldly. She shivered from the look. Obviously Lance didn’t hold it against Jace they were brothers. She could see his pain and anger to know his brother was dead.

“They arrested Cameron Chase.”

Lance looked at their mother and a look passed between them. “Mom, can I talk to Lindsay alone for a minute.”

“Yeah, I got a lot of packing to do. You two catch up,” Deborah said and looked relieved her son was home. She looked like she had been crying too.

When Deborah left the room, Lance looked down at her and his expression was stern. “Mom and I talked about it and you’re going back to Savannah with me until school starts, Lindsay.”

She looked confused and then angry. “Nobody discussed anything with me. I’m not going anywhere until Jace’s murderer is behind bars.”

Lance sighed and shook his head. “Mom told me what Jack knows and this could get ugly real fast, Lindsay. You can’t stay here by yourself now. Every kid in town buys dope from Cam. You think they aren’t going to make your life miserable now?”

“I see news travels fast,” she commented, disgusted to know everyone in town knew she informed on Cameron.

Lance looked outraged. “Lindsay, I mean it. You’re the only sister I got. If anything happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do.”

“Nothing is going to happen!”

“Lindsay, he’s a drug dealer. Do you think he doesn’t have friends that could make your life Hell?”

“Losing Jace was Hell! I can stand this for a couple more months,” she argued, determined to stay.

“No, you’re not. When I leave; you leave with me. Mom agreed. It’s not safe for you here anymore.”    

“When are you leaving?” she asked curiously, not that she planned to go with him.

“A couple months, no more,” he replied and glared down at her. “I’m staying to see you walk across that stage to get your diploma and we’re out of here.”

“I’m helping the police. I can’t leave,” she protested and saw his face fill with disapproval at her words.

“You keep that to yourself, Lindsay. It was bad enough that Mom called Aunt Billie in the middle of the night freaking out because she heard things from Jack. What were you thinking?” he demanded and shook his head. “You can’t bring him back.”

“I know that,” she replied hollowly and looked down. “I can’t let a murderer get away with it either. That’s not who I am. Jace deserves his justice.”

“Let the police get it for him, Lindsay! Jace would never want you doing this snitching for the cops!”

“I have to do it,” she insisted and looked at her brother with a forlorn look. “I owe it to Jace. I don’t expect you to understand, but I can’t move on with my life unless I do this.”

 “Lindsay, these kids in this town are going to make your life miserable,” he predicted with a fierce expression. “Cam is the drug king pin around here.”

“I didn’t realize Cam had so much pull.”

“You were too wrapped up in Jace to see it,” he told her grimly. “And right now, everybody is talking about how you and Marnie turned him in. Think about her, Lindsay. She’s even more of a sitting duck than you.”