Page 54 of Tell No Lies

“Fine. If it comes to that I’ll go, but that has to be the very last resort. I’ll do everything we planned. I won’t give this guy a chance to get me alone.” I would obey the rules, anything I could do to keep thing web from spreading.

“I know this seems extreme, Aubrey, but I’m glad you appreciate how serious things have gotten. No sneaking out this time or not telling me where you are.”

I nodded in agreement. There was nothing for me to dispute.

“There are only a few select people I approve of you being alone with. Mike, Liv, Carter, and the Pages.”

“I understand, but what about everyone that was sitting with you today? If none of them left from my solo to the team routine, then we can eliminate them as suspects.”

The three of them seemed to consider this.

“You’re right. Aubrey. I think you just made a valid point.”

I smiled at Liv, appreciating her support.

“Your attack happened immediately after your solo. Do you guys remember anyone leaving during that time?”

Brandon shook his head but had a look of total concentration, as if he was reliving those moments.

Mike looked past me and focused on the wall. “No. No one in our group left. Mckayla had a program and made sure everyone knew when you and Cassie had performances. She didn’t let anyone leave when you guys were going to be on.”

Liv’s smile broke into a beam. “Make a list of who was there. Those people are safe. That narrows down who you know here significantly.”

I jumped up and searched for a notepad and pen in the kitchen. Mike reached up and took them from me. For several minutes, he listed every person who had been there.

“What’s taking you so long?”

He met my eyes for a second before looking back down at his work. “I’m listing everyone that went to Catalina too. Since you got pictures from the trip, it was likely someone with us who took them. I’m eliminating everyone at the show today. That should give us a list of suspects.”

Squealing as I jumped up, I threw my arms around him and kissed his cheek. “You’re a genius!”

I looked over to Brandon and Liv, who were both sitting in stunned silence. Eventually Brandon said, “That was brilliant, Mike. Once we have that list, Carter and I can go through and look into each of them.”

Liv squeezed his hand. “This is it. We’re so close I can feel it!”

☼ ☼ ☼

Music woke me up on Sunday morning—far too early for the weekend, especially with the drama from yesterday. If there was any day I deserved to sleep in, it was today. I pulled on a hoodie and stumbled out of my room.

I froze when I saw Brandon standing in the middle of the barren living room. He was wearing old sweatpants and a T-shirt, studying a brochure.

“What. Are. You. Doing?” Normally I was a morning person, but too little sleep turned me into a monster. Which Brandon knew.

His head popped up, and he grinned up at me as if it was Christmas morning. “Morning, sis! We’re painting.”

I looked around the room and now understood why the furniture was missing. He said it as if this was a perfectly normal thing for him to surprise me with. I held up my hand to give myself time to process.

“Why?”

“I thought you would like it. You complained about how boring it was in here. So, on my way home from work last night I bought paint, and the lady at the hardware store gave me this for some tips.” He waved the brochure as if it explained everything.

I closed my eyes and threw my head back as I sighed. “Why now?”

“Because you need something to take your mind off things, and you’re constantly reminding me how bare this room is. I thought you’d appreciate some color, so I went this morning and picked up all the supplies we need. I wanted to invite some people over tonight, and we can unveil our new living room too.”

“So, you’re starting this now? The morning of? Perfect.”

He ignored my sarcasm and tossed a package at me. I caught it and examined it. A drop cloth? I read the instructions and started chuckling.