Secrets We Keep (Thistle Cove 1)

“I’ve seen it,” Mr. Baxter says, tugging at the cuffs of his suit. “And I admit, it doesn’t look great for Finn.”

My stomach drops. Fuck.

“But it also isn’t an indication of murder. Teenagers having a lover’s quarrel?” His manicured eyebrow raises. “That’s not exactly unusual.”

“It’s the fact he made threatening advances to her, that concerns us most.”

“I wasn’t threatening her—” I blurt. I’ve held it in all day. Both my father and Mr. Baxter glare at me to be quiet. “I wasn’t. I want to explain what happened. Can I just do that?”

Mr. Baxter holds my eye, then nods.

“Yes, Rose and I got in a fight that night. It wasn’t the first one, but it was the last. We were supposed to hang out the Saturday before school started—head down to the beach with everyone else. She didn’t want to go, but I talked her into it. We were on the way, and she was being moody and checking her phone constantly. I got annoyed. It was happening all the time.”

“Her moodiness?”

“And distraction. I was tired of it, and when we got to the gas station I decided it was time. I broke up with her.”

Detective Jones raises an eyebrow. “At the gas station? Classy move.”

“Hey, it’s better than ghosting her.”

“What does any of this have to do with exonerating yourself from harming her?”

“Because I didn’t hit or grab her or whatever. I yanked the necklace I gave her off her neck.” I glance at my dad, feeling ashamed. “It was a promise and that was over. I didn’t want her to have it anymore.”

Jones frowns. “Are you talking about the Claddagh charm?”

I nod. “We skipped the party and I left her at Juliette’s house. On the way home, I tossed the charm over the side of the bridge. What Rose and I had was over. It was a long time coming.” A wave of emotion rolls over me. “Two days later, she vanished. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t know if maybe…you know, after I broke up with her, she did something to hurt herself.” I blink back tears. “I couldn’t face myself or my family or her family.”

Mr. Baxter gives me a tight grin. “Thank you for your honesty, Finn, better a little late than never.” He looks at Detective Jones. “The simple fact that multiple witnesses and photographic evidence can place Finn Holloway at the bonfire during the time of Ms. Waller’s disappearance means that he is not a suspect in this crime. Now that he has explained the video, and there is no evidence of any other crime either, I expect you to release him immediately.”

The detective nods and stands. “Thank you for your patience.”

“I’m sorry for not coming forward sooner.”

“It’s been a long, scary week for you kids.” He rubs his beard. “The information you’re giving us corroborates with a few other pieces of evidence that points to this being a suicide, which is something we’d always considered.”

“Really?”

“Yes, she was parked on the bridge when Alice Kendrick stopped to talk to her—it seems they had a few words as well. Then Ezra,” the officer looks at Mr. Baxter, “met up with her for a potential drug deal—”

“He what?”

“There is no evidence your son ever sold her drugs. At least, not that night.” The detect

ive looks between us. “She’d recently apologized to Ms. Keene, had nothing of value in her car, and the likelihood that she took her own life is increasingly clear.”

“But what about the dating app?” I ask.

“What app?” my father asks. Mr. Baxter looks curious, too.

“Thank you for that, by the way, the information about the dating app has come in handy, and further leads us to think she was a very lonely, desperate girl. Her final comments to people were about how she wanted to ‘leave Thistle Cove,’ it just took us a moment to realize how she meant to do it.”

I’m dumbfounded and momentarily speechless. Jones shakes my hand once again, then we walk outside, where my dad gives me a tight hug.

“You did good in there.” Then he turns to shake Mr. Baxter’s hand. “Thank you. We were in over our heads.”

“No problem. Finn is one of Ezra’s oldest friends and teammates.” He clamps a hand down on my shoulder. “The last thing we need is to lose our captain before the season really starts. What’s this dating thing you’re talking about?”