All the Missing Girls(96)

* * *



I HEARD THE KNOCKING, could see the lights coming through my bedroom window from the bathroom, flashing red and blue against the far wall. I grabbed a towel, wrapped myself in it, handed one to Tyler to do the same. I threw on a bathrobe, padded down the stairs, and opened the door to Mark Stewart, Officer Fraize, Jimmy Bricks, and that guy from State—what was his name? Detective Charles? It didn’t matter. It really didn’t.

Water dripped from my hair in the silence that followed. Mark Stewart blushed, looking away from my robe.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Did something happen? Is my dad okay?”

Tyler came down the steps behind me, dripping wet, buttoning his pants. “What is it?” he asked. He, too, froze. “What’s going on?”

“Nic. Tyler.” Officer Fraize nodded at each of us.

The detective was frowning behind him. “I thought you hadn’t been seeing each other,” he said.

I folded my arms across my chest. “Hardly seems like any of your business.”

“Lying during an investigation . . .” His words trailed off as a car pulled up behind them. I craned to see Daniel’s car over his shoulder.

“Why is Daniel here?” I said. “Is anyone going to tell me what you’re all doing here?”

“We have a few questions. We’d like permission to take a look around,” Detective Charles said.

Tyler put a hand on my shoulder. “What’s this about?”

“I’m afraid we’ve got some bad news,” Bricks said. “We found Annaleise. She’s dead.”

Tyler’s hand curled into the fabric of my robe. “So you came to question me?” he asked.

“No,” he said. “That’s not why we’re here.” Detective Charles looked over his shoulder again, at Daniel jogging toward us, at Tyler’s truck parked behind mine. “When did you get here, Mr. Ellison? If you don’t mind me asking.”

I tried to calculate how long it had been since Everett had left. Tried to give Tyler as much of an alibi as possible. “About an hour ago? Maybe more?” I said, peering up at Tyler. His eyes locked with mine, his lips slightly parted, like he was watching the story in my head playing out, becoming real.

He nodded. “Yeah. About then,” he said.

Daniel pushed his way through the crowd, tried to hide his surprise as his eyes darted between me and Tyler, both of us dripping wet, on display. “Everett’s on his way back,” he said. “I caught him just as he was getting to the airport.”

My stomach hollowed out, and I felt Tyler tense beside me.

Daniel turned to the detective. “Our lawyer told us not to talk. Not to let you in.” He held up his hands—Not my call, just following orders—“Sorry.”



* * *



I LEFT DANIEL AND Tyler on the porch with the police while I got dressed, cracking open my bedroom window. I heard steps on the porch as Bricks and Officer Fraize circled the house, pausing to peer inside the windows. Eyes, eyes everywhere.

Detective Charles was near the garage, also peering in the windows, occasionally crouching low to examine something on the ground. My heart was pounding, and I couldn’t even ask Daniel about Laura, as he was busy keeping watch on the front porch.

It wasn’t long before Everett’s cab returned, leaving him halfway up the driveway. He froze as he exited the taxi, then took a second collecting his luggage. Composing himself, I knew. Processing the scene. His fiancée’s brother and another man on the porch. Two police cars and an unmarked car along the road. Officers in and out of uniform, circling my property.

I stepped outside, and Everett’s eyes swung toward mine with the creak of the screen door. He introduced himself to the police, all businesslike, very curt and Philadelphia, which wasn’t the best approach, honestly, but it got the point across. “Do you have a warrant for the premises?” he asked the detective before acknowledging me. Business Everett. Efficient Everett.

“We’re in the process of securing one,” he said.

“So that would be no, then,” Everett responded.

“We’d like to ask them some questions. You’re free to sit in. The warrant will be granted, I can assure you.”

“Great. Then at that time, you can come back. They’re not answering, and you all need to back up. Off the property, gentlemen.” To me, “Get inside, Nicolette.” Nobody moved, me included. “Okay, or stay on their property and I’ll file a complaint with the state.”

That’s not how it’s done around here. It makes us look guilty. Appearances are everything.

“It’s not my property,” I said. “Not yet. I don’t know what my dad would want—”

“Nicolette,” Everett snapped, “get in the house.”

Bricks raised his eyebrows but backed away. The group walked slowly toward their cars. But they didn’t leave. The unmarked car remained on the street; Officer Fraize spoke to the detective through the window.

“Inside,” Everett said, motioning for all of us to follow him. “And you are . . . ?” he asked as the door shut behind him.

“Tyler Ellison.” The silence that followed was long and excruciating, until Daniel started pacing, pulling Everett’s focus.