Page 141 of Tell No Lies

Brandon jumped up. “What do you mean? When did it happen? Someone was there?”

Liv reached up and put her hand on his hip. “Brandon, let her talk.”

He fell back onto the couch, never breaking eye contact.

“There was only one song between my solo and our team, remember?”

There was collective nodding.

“I ran back to the room to change, and all of the girls were already backstage, so I was alone. I finished changing and was on my way out when the lights turned off and the door shut. There were no windows, so it was pitch black. I was trying to get out, but I kept tripping over other bags and stuff. Then I felt someone grab my shoulders and shove me forward. I was on the ground when Cassie opened the door and found me. She turned on the lights, and we ran out. When I got back to the room, I found the envelope, but I haven’t read it.”

Mike had moved from sitting next to me to practically holding me in his lap. “Why didn’t you come get one of us?”

“There wasn’t time.”

Brandon clenched his jaw. “Did you see anything? When Cassie opened the door, did you see anything?”

“I was only able to look quickly, but no, I didn’t see anyone in the room or in the hall when we left.”

He shook his head. “I hate to ask this, but could it have been Cassie? If she’s the only person you saw …” He knew better than to finish the sentence.

“No. How could she have pushed me then gotten to the other side of the room and opened the door from the outside?”

“It just doesn’t make sense. How did neither you nor she see anyone?” Mike asked.

“I think I did see him, just after.”

“What do you mean?” Liv’s worried eyes searched mine.

“During my last team performance, I saw someone standing by the exit doors with a hoodie on. I couldn’t see a face, but by the size, I think it was a man. He was looking directly at me, and I was hoping one of you would notice me looking in that direction, but I guess you guys didn’t.”

Liv began shaking her head. “I noticed, but I just thought you recognized a friend or something. I looked down, but I didn’t see anyone.”

Frustration set in. This person had followed me to the competition and watched for me to be alone. Whoever it was had had enough patience to wait for the perfect time. According to the cop shows I’d seen, that meant this person was smart. Smart and crazy, a deadly combination.

Brandon slowly reached forward to pick up the envelope. I’d nearly forgotten about it after everything else that had happened today. Carefully he broke the seal and examined the interior. He exhaled slowly while lifting out a card.

He met my eyes once before reading it aloud.

You’ve ruined my whole life. Now it’s my turn.

We sat in stunned silence. I quickly ran through a mental list of people I knew here. I didn’t think I had even been at Bayview long enough to make an enemy, let alone ruin someone’s life.

“Who is this?” Mike verbalized what we were, no doubt, all thinking.

Brandon ran his hand through his hair several times before replying. “None of this makes sense, and now that we have their motive, it’s even more confusing. It’s gone from a possible prank to something personal. This is a direct threat.” He put his hands on his knees and pushed forward to stand. “I’ll go make the call.”

I’d been through this enough to know who he was calling. My favorite pair of detectives.

While he paced around the kitchen island, Liv scooted closer to me. “We’re going to figure this out, Aubrey. Now that he’s become physical, the police will have to do more.”

I wanted to believe her, but we had nothing further to give them. This note was no different than the others, and those had proved futile. Carter had been the one who was able to isolate the area of where the messages were coming from to our general area. The detectives had done nothing but question my accountability.

They requested that moving forward I would turn over any letters or notes to them immediately, unopened. How could I give them everything without knowing what it said? I didn’t say it aloud, but that wasn’t something I would be doing.

After three hours of me repeating the few details I knew from the competition, there was a unanimous decision that I was officially under house arrest until the stalker was found. The detectives were the first to suggest it, but approval quickly spread. As much as I wanted to fight for my freedom, it was time for me to accept my reality. If I wanted to remain safe, I needed to listen this time. From now on there would be a set schedule of my day and my chaperone.

“I swear if one more thing happens, I’m going to have to figure out something else.” Brandon sighed as he sat across from me on the couch when we got home.