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Aldric laughed and laughed until he cried. “Did we wake up in a parallel universe?” He wiped at his tears. “Clary left. Holly’s back and trying to manipulate us. Oliver is a murderer.” He patted Oliver’s leg. “And Elton is on Clary’s side and giving us a motivational speech.”
No one else joined him, though.
“Oh, come on.” Aldric gave Oliver another slap on the leg. “You didn’t kill Winnie. There’s no way you did.”
“I used to get terrible night terrors, and I’ve hit and bitten you guys. You guys said it sometimes took two or three of you to pin me down.” Oliver slumped back on the couch. “And Holly always released me like a zombie to roam around the house and create terror.”
“In the house.” Aldric looked at Zane, then at Seth and Elton. “You guys never noticed? Oliver hates the cold—even when he’s sleeping. It was cold. He never would’ve stepped outside that night.”
Zane blew out a breath. “Seth and I found Oliver wandering around outside. Half his face was stained with blood, and he was holding Winnie’s jacket.”
Aldric stopped laughing, and all hint of amusement disappeared. “You guys found Oliver outside?” He shrugged a shoulder. “Oliver probably just snatched the jacket from Winnie.”
“And I might’ve pushed her down the well when she refused to give it to me.” Oliver turned to Aldric. “Since when did Winnie ever share anything with us? The fact that I had her jacket …”
Elton licked his lips. “Maybe she gave it to you because she was going to run away. She didn’t want you to delay her, so she just—for once—gave you what you wanted.”
“Maybe.” Oliver dropped his face into his hands. “Or maybe I killed her.”
“There must be a way to prove she’s lying,” Elton said.
Aldric nodded. “We call her bluff.” He leaned back on the couch. “Let’s go to the police. We say Holly has accused Oliver of murder. Let them go talk to Holly. She’ll have nothing.” He clapped. “Then we call Clary, laugh at her for being so stupid, then tell her to come home.” He opened up his arms as if he’d just had a brilliant moment.
“And if Holly really does have evidence against Oliver?” Elton asked.
“Then I’ll accept my punishment.” Oliver squared his shoulders. “Aldric’s right. Let’s just go to the police.”
“No,” Seth and Zane said at the same time.
Aldric locked his gaze on Seth. “Shall we vote?”
Zane stood, shaking his head. “Oliver, you don’t know what you’re saying.”
“If it weren’t me, would you think it was acceptable for anyone else to get away with murder?”
“But it is you!” Zane’s chest rose and he stormed away. “We’re not voting on this.”
Elton watched Zane head out back and Seth plod up the stairs.
Once again, he’d messed up. He should have listened to Clary and just kept his mouth shut. Now everyone was miserable.
* * *
“You can’t expect me to sit across from you, watch you cry, and not ask what’s going on.”
Clary wiped her tears off on her shoulders. She hadn’t realized she was still crying.
“You know you can tell me anything.”
She shook her head. Not this.
“I’m on your side—no matter what.”
She shook her head again. She’d once thought that would be the case, but it wasn’t so. No one would agree with what she’d done.
Clary couldn’t even be sure if she agreed with her choice. Was it right for her to protect Oliver even when someone else could be hurt? No. Mr. E, Grandma Moretti, and Uncle David would all tell her that.
She didn’t care about being right, though. She just wanted to protect Seth and his brothers from all of this.
