The cabin.
It'd been searched, extensively, by the police, and Blake and I had looked too, but maybe I could search again. My head knew it was pointless, but my heart needed to help Blake.
Curling up on my bed, I tried to formulate a plan, and somewhere between considering my escape options and sleuthing methods, I realized I was a joke. I was one of those people in films who did everything wrong.
I was a disaster and I was exhausted. So I decided that, for once, I would do nothing and leave it to the police. Whatever I tried just backfired anyway, so I wasn't going to interfere in case I made it worse. Blake didn't need that right now. It wasn't fair that he was in the police station being questioned when the murderer was drinking and celebrating, but what could I do?
Burying my head in my pillow, I shut my eyes and fell into a restless sleep.
Someone woke me hours later, shaking my arm. I groaned and looked at my phone beside me. 9:55 p.m. Groaning again, I rolled over to grumble at Mum or Dad for waking me up, but Blake's gorgeous blue eyes stared back at me, gleaming with amusement.
I threw myself at him, unashamed. It took a second for him to hug me back, but when he did, he almost crushed my bones. "You're OK," I said, closing my eyes and clinging to him like a limpet. "What happened? Did my parents let you in?"
"They did, and nothing much really happened. Wright made me sit and wait for him for a good hour before we even started, but my phone was taken until they'd finished with me. They'd already searched my room and taken pictures, so they know that earring and chain weren't there before. Hopefully, they're convinced it's a setup. I'm not being charged, but I'm definitely not off the hook. I could be called back in at any time, and I probably will be, but for now they've let me go."
"So Wright knows you're innocent."
"He asked if I planted that stuff myself to make it look like someone was framing me."
"Oh..."
He raised his eyebrows. "Yeah."
"I don't understand why someone would put it there."
"Come on. If items from victims are found after the police searched, they're going to think I hid it and then they're going to ask why."
"I hate this. Whoever the killer is, they're getting desperate," I whispered.
"Yeah." He pulled back and looked at me with a stern gaze. "That means they're even more dangerous. I don't want you hanging out with your friends alone anymore. I know I sound like a dad, but we have no idea what they could do next."
I rolled my eyes. "I've already been banned from leaving this house."
"Good." He sat on my bed, pulling me by the hand until I was tucked into his lap. "My mum came to the station," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
"She did?" Maybe what I'd said got through to her then.
"Yeah. She was a real mum too, doing the hysterical-shouting shit I imagined she'd do if Josh were in my shoes, even though she was the one who called the police to begin with."
"That's good."
"Yeah... It was weird."
"Good weird?"
"Good weird," he confirmed and laid his chin on top of my head.
"Where's your dad?"
"Home with Mum at the minute. He wanted to make sure she's OK until I get back. They seem to be getting on. Well, they've not screamed at each other, so it's going better than it has been for the last twelve years."
"I'm glad. What happens now?"
"With?" he asked.
"The investigation and you."
"It is still ongoing, which seemed to annoy Wright, so it's not all bad. And I have to pack up my room at home and move all my stuff to my mum's."
"Really?" I said, trying not to sound as excited as I felt. Obviously I did a rubbish job because Blake's chest rattled with silent laughter.
"Yeah. My dad's away more and more, so it makes sense for me to be around family. Family...and you."
Don't happy dance.
"You want to be around me?"
He moved his head back and I tilted mine so I could see him. "That shouldn't surprise you. Apparently it's painfully obvious to everyone else that I like you. I want to be with you, Mackenzie." He admitted that so easily I wondered if this guy was really "my" Blake.
All I could do was stare at him like a moron.
"Speechless is unlike you," he teased, grazing my bottom lip with his own. I think I actually died for a second. Chuckling, he shook his head and then gave in, pressing his mouth to mine. I was done. I couldn't form words and I was struggling to keep my pulse under check.
Blake's fingers knotted in my hair as he kissed me, and I thought I was going to faint. Kissing him was a million times better than anything I'd ever experienced before. When he let me up for air, he looked as elated as I was that out of all this huge mess, we'd found something great.
Blake left my house at half past ten. When my parents were going to bed, they'd dropped their not-so-subtle hint about us not being left alone together--until I was at least twenty. Instead of getting annoyed that he was being kicked out, Blake simply smirked, kissed me, and told me he'd be back in the morning.
I got back into bed, feeling whiplashed from worrying myself sick about Blake, then being ecstatic that he'd finally opened up and we were together. Needless to say, I slept like a baby.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Thursday, August 27
In the morning, I woke up smiling. Blake and I had agreed to get together later in the day, but before that I had something to do. I wanted to visit Tilly's, Gigi's, Courtney's, and Josh's graves at the churchyard.
Mum was in the kitchen when I dragged myself down. "Hey, what're you still doing here?" I asked. It was half past nine, so she should've been at work by then. I don't even know how I was going to cope when uni started and I had to be up at seven.
"I'm going in a little late. I thought we could have breakfast."
My mind immediately skipped to a dark place. "What's happened?" I asked.
"Nothing new, love. I'm concerned about you. Things are so stressful right now, and I want you to know that you don't have to worry yourself to death, like I know you do."
If she could have told me how to achieve that, I'd have done it. "I'm doing OK. I just wish the investigation were over."
"It will be soon, I'm sure. No one really believes you're responsible for what happened."
My mum wasn't a very good liar. The whole village thought there was more to it than what we were saying. They'd pegged one of us five or all of us. As horrible as it felt to have people think I was capable of killing another person, when all of this was done, I would know exactly who I could count on.
"You're being very brave, Mackenzie, but you don't have to put on a confident front for me and your dad."
"I'm not. There will be plenty of time to process everything, but right now I have to get through each day until it's over."
She made two cups of tea and some toast.
"So...I think me and Blake are a thing," I said.
"It was only a matter of time."
"I'm worried about him. Megan, Kyle, and Aaron think he's guilty."
"It doesn't matter what others think, Mackenzie. It only matters what you think. The truth will out in the end."
"Right, but until then, people are crossing the road like he may give them the plague."
"People make snap judgments without gathering one single fact. You'll never change that."
Great, so it was just something we'd have to live with until the police found out who'd done it--if they ever found out.
"Yeah, I know you're right."
"It's hard, darling, but hold your head high and cling to what you know. Your father and I will try to speak with Wright today and see if we can get any more information. I don't think you'll be a person of interest for much longer."
I hoped so.
"What are your plans for the day?"
"I was thinking about going to see Megan. We keep missing each other and I think she's only been spending time with Aaron because Ky
le's busy being angry at Courtney on his own."
Mum shook her head. "You think you know people..." Tell me about it. "Well, OK, but I want you to drive there and straight back afterward. No pit stops, Mackenzie Lauren, I mean it."
She'd dropped in my middle name, so she definitely meant it. That was only pulled out when there was absolutely no room for discussion at all.
"I promise," I said, and she smiled.
Mum left for work and I headed out at the same time. She wanted to make sure I left the house safely and then I was to text when I arrived, when I was leaving Megan's, and when I was home. I didn't begrudge doing it.
I drove to Megan's house, blasting the Killers from the speakers. We'd lost touch a little, and the guilt of that weighed heavily on my shoulders. Blake shouldn't come between us, but he had.
Turning the corner, I saw something flash in my rearview mirror, but when I glanced again, there was nothing but an empty street. I immediately went into high alert. Pushing my foot to the pedal a little harder, I sped down the road, looking in the mirror every few seconds. I definitely saw something. A person crossing the road was the most likely explanation, as it moved quickly and then disappeared. Whoever it was could've easily hidden behind the row of trees beside the path.
Megan only lived a few minutes away, so I usually walked. But since Court's and Josh's deaths, my parents insisted I drive everywhere, and right then, I was so thankful they had, because I would have felt ten times more nervous if I were walking.
My eyes flicked to the mirror again and I wasn't sure if it was because I was on edge or if there was really someone there, but I could've sworn I saw something move behind a tree. Just two more turns to Megan's.
I took both corners a little too fast and when I arrived, there were no cars outside her house. Sometimes her mum borrowed hers if her dad took the one they shared, so Megan could be home. Part of me didn't want to get out of the car.
I did a thorough scan of the surrounding area and gripped the door handle. It was OK. No one was going to jump out at me. I was being stupid. I glanced around and then got out.
But I didn't get far, not even to her driveway.
Something hard slammed down on my head and pain sliced through my skull. I fell forward and landed on my knees. I'd been hit! I held my head and braced for another attack. My heart beat out of my chest. Over the ringing in my ears, I heard someone's deep breathing. Was it my attacker's or mine?
My head hurt, but it wasn't unbearable. Adrenaline swamped my system until I barely felt a thing. I wanted to get up and run, but fear rooted me to the spot.
I wasn't sure what it was that I'd been hit with, but it was thick and hard, like a bat. My mind immediately went to Pete. It had to be the same person.
The person behind me didn't move. I could feel their presence. It made my hair stand on end and my heart sprint. Clenching my trembling hands, I stared ahead, too scared to look around even though I knew if I did, I'd see Courtney and Josh's killer. I was a coward. I wanted to know more than anything, but I couldn't force myself to turn around. Self-preservation was stronger than I'd ever imagined it would be.
My breath shallowed until my lungs burned and screamed for air.
Neither of us moved and time stretched on. Someone had to come by soon. Where were Megan and her family? Their house was pretty secluded but not this secluded. I just wanted someone to come by and scare away my attacker.
Whoever it was took a step back...or a step closer, I couldn't quite tell. The noise was loud and clunky, like the solid wooden heel of a shoe. Maybe a boot or dress shoes. That didn't help tell me if this person was male or female.
I gulped, and my stomach bottomed out. All I could think about was my parents getting a visit from the police to tell them I'd been killed. The pain I could see them going through had my eyes filling with tears.
Not being able to turn around and look at the person made the whole ordeal ten times more terrifying. I didn't know what they were doing back there, if they had a hand raised and were ready to strike me again.
I heard another footstep and then another. My heart hammered louder than their shoes on the concrete. Slowly, the thuds got quieter until I couldn't hear them anymore. It still took me the longest time to be able to move. There were half-moons dented into the palms of my hands, where I'd been clutching them tightly, and my head throbbed.
More minutes passed on my knees, and I knew whoever had hit me was long gone. Fumbling in my jeans pocket, I managed to slide my phone out and call Blake.
"Miss me?" he said smoothly.
I couldn't speak. My lungs punched out air too quickly for me to be able to form words. Blake recognized something wasn't right straightaway.
"Mackenzie, what's wrong? Where are you?"
"I," I huffed, taking a deep breath to try to calm down.
"Mackenzie!" he shouted. "Did you go to Megan's?"
I sob broke from my throat, and I clutched the phone. Please hurry.
"I'm on my way. Stay on the phone." I heard a clattering and banging as he grabbed keys and opened and closed doors. Then his engine roared to life, and I sobbed again. He was on his way. "I need you to breathe slowly, Mackenzie. Can you do that?"
No.
"I'm on my way, I promise. You're OK now. Just listen to my voice and try to slow your breathing. Whatever's happened, you're OK."
I closed my eyes and listened to his voice. He was worried about me and desperate to get here as soon as he could, but he was doing everything he could to make me feel calm.
"I'm OK," I gasped out.
"Shh," he hushed. "Don't talk, baby. Just take deep breaths."
I did what he said, but it didn't help. Nothing would help until he got here. Whoever had attacked me could come back. I was still outside Megan's house on my knees. I didn't dare turn around.
Seconds rolled into minutes and the sound of Blake's car screeching down the road allowed my shoulders to sag. He's here, thank God.
He'd barely thrown his car into park when his door opened and he jumped out. "Damn it, Mackenzie, what happened?" he asked, dropping to the ground in front of me. His hands held my face and I finally felt safe.
Collapsing into his lap, I clung to him. I wasn't going to cry. There was no point. It'd get me nowhere.
Blake held me and kissed the top of my head until I'd calmed down enough that my breathing didn't sound like Darth Vader. "I'm OK," I whispered. "Someone attacked me."
Gripping the tops of my arms, he looked at me. "What happened?" Now that I'd calmed down, I realized how much I was shaking. My muscles screamed. "I thought someone was following me. When I got here, I was hit from behind, enough to knock me over, but that was it. They were behind me, Blake."
He was the maddest I'd ever seen him. "Where did they hit you?"
I let go of him to touch the back of my head, and as soon as I did, he was all over it. A doctor wouldn't have checked me over any more thoroughly. He scanned every inch of my head and face until I started to feel like a zoo animal.
"Blake, I'm OK. I wasn't hit that hard. It was more the shock."
"I should've come with you."
"Don't do that. Don't blame yourself."
"Let's get you home. I don't want you out here anymore."
"OK, but I need to find Megan."
"She's not in?"
I shook my head as my phone beeped. "I don't think so." Blake helped me up, and I looked at my phone and shuddered. "I have to drive my car."
"I can come back for it."
"No, I can't leave my car here. If Megan sees it here, she'll ask questions, and this can't get back to my parents."
He stilled. "You want to keep this between us?"
"I don't have a choice," I mumbled, handing him my phone.
"Mackenzie, we have to go to the police." Then he looked down and his knuckles turned white.
The message read, Tell anyone and I'll finish the job. Stop looking, Mackenzie.
"What the hell," he brea
thed.
We were in so far over our heads. We needed help. But how could we go to the police when I was being threatened? This proved those threats weren't hollow.
"We can't tell anyone."
He looked at me, as he considered our options. We didn't have many and none of them were good. "I don't know how to keep you safe," he said.
"No one is safe, Blake. Not anymore. Not until the killer is locked up. We can't go to the police, and if we keep looking, I'm going to get hurt...or worse."
"OK, so we do nothing."
I shook my head. "No, we just need to be a lot more careful about how we investigate."
"You can't be serious! Not only do you want to keep these threats from the police, but you also want to keep digging? Mackenzie, you've lost it. Do you have a death wish?"
I rolled my eyes and folded my arms. "I don't give up when I care about something or someone."
"You really need to work on that."
"It's not a bad quality, Blake."
"It is if it gets you killed."
"You're impossible."
Smirking, he lifted his eyebrow. "You love that about me."
"Don't know if I do."
"What's the next step, Detective Keaton?" he asked with mock humor.
"I don't know. I wanted to talk to Megan, Kyle, and Aaron, but right now the only person I trust is you."
He grinned, but it wasn't cocky or carefree. "Careful, Kenzie, sounds like you're falling for me."
Fallen, actually. There was no doubt about that one.
"Follow me back to mine, will ya?" I said, brushing off his comment.
Blake didn't leave me alone until my parents were due home. I'd texted my mum, telling her Megan wasn't in, so I went straight home--but I failed to mention what'd happened and that Blake was with me. Megan replied to my text, letting me know that she was out with her parents and grandparents for the day.
I turned in early because I hated lying to my parents. The day's events had left me feeling like I was going to collapse with exhaustion. Thankfully, Mum and Dad decided to have an early one too, so we were all in bed by ten.
Closing my eyes, I pictured myself the night before we'd left for the cabin. We'd all dropped off our food and alcohol to be packed in his designated food-and-drink suitcases. Control freak. Josh had demanded that all the beer, bottles of vodka, and fizzy drinks were delivered to his, so we didn't have to worry about getting it all packed into the car the following day. Any other drink we wanted to bring was to be brought in our own bags.