Secrets We Keep (Thistle Cove 1)

She stares at me, but I have nothing else to say, waiting until she finally opens the door and steps out of the car.

My shoulders shake as I drive off, leaving her on the side of the road. I don’t know where I stand with Finn, and I have no idea what’s going to happen with the video, but I do know that after today, Alice and I are through, and I feel so much better already.

That night, I sit at my desk pretending to do my homework, but really, I’m waiting for Finn to come home. He never does. There’s no word that he’s been arrested, but photos of him being walked out of school, flanked by the two detectives, along with the video from the gas station, have already sealed his fate.

Finn Holloway, football star and doting boyfriend, has fallen.

At the very least he looks abusive, at worst a murderer, but I still don’t believe it, which probably makes me as big of a fool as Rose.

Why didn’t he tell us, or the police, about the necklace?

Restless, I open the SugarBabies app on Rose’s iPod and go directly to her account. I start reading the messages between her and Big D. They started in the spring, mid-February. They’d gotten past the introductions and small talk.

BD: Have you ever been with an older man before?

R: Yeah, I have. My friend’s dad.

BD: Did he treat you right?

R: Sometimes. He’s hot. Good in bed, but he can’t give me the lifestyle I want LOL

BD: Money?

R: Among other things.

BD: Explain.

R: Why?

BD: I’m just curious, wanting to know about you, this is a relationship, not just an arrangement.

The time stamp implies Rose took five minutes to reply. If she was using that time to consider her answer or do something else, I’ll never know. Eventually, though, she replies.

R: I want out of this little town I live in, away from these people I call my friends, away from my squeaky-clean boyfriend, the glares from people that hate me, and the sins of my past. I crave something bigger, wilder, something that takes money—money of my own—not my father’s. I want somewhere to go when I feel like I can’t breathe anymore. Somewhere where no one can find me.

BD: I can understand that, but you have to understand that if I pay you to be my princess, you have to fulfill your obligation. Money isn’t free, no matter how you earn it.

R: I promise you, Daddy, this is exactly the way I earn it, doing what I love, with the type of man I want to be with; rich, handsome, and in control.

She follows it with a picture—it’s spring and she doesn’t have tanned skin. I see the necklace glinting against her neck. Although she’s talking a big game, there’s an innocence to her that’s missing in more recent photos. Whatever Rose got into with this guy, I have no doubt she was in over her head.

35

Finn

“Can I get you anything?" Detective Jones asks. It’s the fifth time in as many hours. “Water? Soda? Tea?”

“No thank you,” I say, trying not to fidget under the table. I’m nervous. Fucking terrified. My dad is in the lobby waiting for Mr. Baxter. Until he gets here, I’m not supposed to say a word.

I can’t believe that fight got caught on video.

I run my hand through my hair and my knee starts bouncing again.

The door opens and Mr. Baxter walks through, my dad following him.

“Finn,” he says, shaking my hand. “Detective Jones, nice to meet you. Let’s talk about why you’re holding this young man.”

“I’m not sure you’ve seen the video,” the Detective begins.