AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And this one has Jake listed as a passenger.
This…this is a different report. This must be the original report. So, the officer Jake remembers being there and talking to his dad, he told the truth. It also lists that they were at fault, not Meaghan, because the BMW was in her lane. In the one I have, it says the cars were found differently.
This totally confirms everything. It still shows Connor as the driver, though, but he wasn’t exactly alive to tell the truthful officer anything different.
So…what does all of this mean?
It means they weren’t able to bribe or threaten the officer, after all. It means, somehow, after the fact, the Mitchells got this original report removed from file and replaced with one that fits their fabricated story.
“Oh my God,” I breathe.
“Yeah,” Jake says with a sigh.
“How did you get this?”
“It was in a file drawer at the house.”
Damn. He beat me to it. Not that it matters anymore.
“So, you’ve seen the other police report then? The falsified one?”
“I had my high school friend Rebecca email it to me when we were at the house. She works at the Henry County PD.”
Rebecca. The girl he called ‘doll’ on the phone.
I pull away. “Jake, why are you showing me this? The story isn’t running.”
“I figured,” he says.
Yeah, I bet.
“I just wanted you to know.”
“Okay, thanks,” I say. But no thanks.
It’s not like he’ll be doing anything with it. His life will continue on, and Meaghan’s will remain ruined. She’ll never get the justice she deserves.
“If you’re done now, just leave the luggage.”
“Scarlett, I…there’s more I need to say.”
“I’m not interested.” Though it’s a lie. I actually am. Somewhat. I just don’t have the mental energy to wade through his words and decipher what is what. “I won’t ask again. You need to go now.”
Which is better for him anyway. Stephen will be here any minute.
“Okay,” he concedes, and the paper crinkles as he tucks it into his pocket. “Take care, Scarlett.” And as he walks away, I think he says something like, “Things will make sense to you soon.”
But I don’t think too hard over it. I’m just glad he’s gone.
I feelsafe having Daphne and Stephen over now that I know the story isn’t running and the Mitchells got their way. We talk until midnight, hash the entire story out a couple times from start to finish, then come to the same conclusion I already have…that Jake is a product of his messed-up family. And then drink until we fall asleep.
We pay for it the next morning.
At least I don’t have to go to work now.
After I see them off, I take a shower, unpack, text my mom to reassure her I’m okay and that I’ll call her later to fill her in, put a load of clothes in the washer, (so I can get the Jake smell off) and head down to the management office. I need to tell them my rent will be late. It’s due in two weeks.
I find LaTonya clacking away on her keyboard when I rap my knuckles against her door. “LaTonya?” I say softly.
