Black Promises (Blackwoods College)

“It’s all I can afford, but thanks for pointing that out.”

She laughed kindly. “Don’t take it the wrong way. My car’s no better and I’m a full-time fucking detective.” She sighed and crossed her arms, trying to look casual. “Where were you February 9?”

I made a face. “I have no clue. When was that?”

“A few weeks back.”

“I can check my calendar. What day of the week?”

“It was a Tuesday.”

“Probably getting tutored then. I get tutored on Tuesdays.”

“Who’s your tutor? Can they confirm?”

“Cora Boyle, and yeah, she can confirm.”

If Detective Bates was surprised to hear Cora’s name, she didn’t show it. “And how late were you getting tutored?”

“We started at like ten, so until midnight.”

“Is that normal?”

“No, but I pay her to act like it is.”

“I see what you mean.” She grinned at me and winked. “I happen to know Cora. Pretty girl. I can confirm all this with her?”

“Please do.”

“All right, I will. And do you mind if I take pictures of your truck?”

It was my turn to act a little put out. “I’m sorry, Detective, what’s all this for?”

She didn’t look at me. She seemed as though she were thinking out loud, like this was off the cuff and not completely prepared ahead of time.

“I’ve been looking into a murder. You heard about it? Some chiropractor killed in the woods. Stabbed right in the throat. Pretty brutal stuff.”

“I hadn’t heard.”

Her eyebrows raised. “Really?”

“I don’t read the news.”

“Guess you wouldn’t. You young people never do.” She sighed and shook her head. “Anyway, you see, the thing is, and listen, Jarrod, I’ll admit that this is awkward, but a few guys claim to have seen an old beat-up truck just like your own park near the woods where the victim was found. They claim two people exited the vehicle—a big guy and a smaller girl. You wouldn’t know anything about this, would you?”

I went very quiet and very still.

So that was my mistake. Those guys sitting on the stoop smoking weed. I thought they’d be too high to ID me, but apparently, I was wrong. Fucking bastards, the detective must’ve knocked on doors and lucked out when she found those stoners. They ratted on me, and now I was the prime suspect.

Still, their evidence was shaky at best. If that was all they had, we’d still be okay.

I wasn’t going to let them take down Cora for this, no matter what. If it came to that, I’d take responsibility and claim I killed Silver alone, and that the stoners must’ve been high when they pictured a second person.

I’d protect her with my life.

“If you’re suggesting I had anything to do with a murder—”

She put her hands up, shaking her head. “Now, that’s not what I said. I’m only saying, those guys, they recognized you, or they claim to have. You’re a popular kid in this town, you know? They say they saw you that night, and I don’t know what to make of it. Between us, they’re not exactly reliable.”

“I don’t know what they think they saw, but I wasn’t anywhere near some woods that night. Like I said, I was getting tutored, and then I came home and went to sleep.”

“All right, all right, I believe you. I’ll check into your story though, if you don’t mind. And get those pictures.”

“Do what you need to do, Detective.”

“Don’t worry too much about this. I’ve just got to follow every lead, even the ones that seem a little outlandish.” She laughed and shook her head. “I mean, why in the world would you want to kill a chiropractor?”

“I wouldn’t.”

“Good, good. You go back inside. Thank you so much for your time, Jarrod. I appreciate it.”

“Of course, Detective Bates.”

I lingered for a moment as she walked down the front steps then glanced back. She smiled, but there was something behind her eyes—she didn’t believe a word I said.

She thought it was me.

I went inside. Uncle Bernard was waiting for me in the kitchen. “What the hell did you do?” he snapped, looking furious.

“Nothing.”

“You’re lying to me, boy. If you get arrested—”

“If I get arrested, I’ll be just like my parents, right? I can start a rap sheet and maybe make it as long as theirs.”

“What’s with you?” He shook his head, seething. He wanted to shout and threaten, but the detective was still nearby, which kept his tongue in check. “If you embarrass me, don’t think I won’t reconsider our arrangement.”

“Go ahead and do me the favor.”

He shook his head in disgust and left the room.

I poured myself some coffee and stood at the sliding glass door overlooking the yard. I stared the grass and replayed that conversation in my head over and over.

They had no leads. They had nothing except the word of some high idiots. That wouldn’t hold up in court and the detective knew it.