Songs for Cricket by Laine, E. (best books to read in your 20s TXT) 📗

I’d learned some in that time. I’d been in the bathroom when the TV crew showed up. When the county deputy explained that no one had been arrested and brought there, the crew left.

The polite smile the officer gave me in response to my grateful one when I’d exited didn’t explain why he had lied. Then again, I supposed he didn’t want the station to become a circus.

When the doors opened again, I assumed the TV personality had done some digging and realized she’d been lied to. Instead, Finn rolled in with my brothers behind him.

They didn’t seem to notice me at first, and I wondered how many classes they were missing like me to be there.

“I need to talk to the detective in charge of the Lacey Foster case,” Finn inquired.

The desk officer didn’t seem moved. “They’re busy right now. You’ll have to come back.”

My brothers turned and noticed me. I joined them up front.

“I have evidence that can prove Mr. Connelly’s innocence.” Finn tapped an iPad in his lap for emphasis.

My heart kicked up a beat. I hated the idea of Shepard back there being railroaded for something he didn’t do. And I didn’t need the evidence. I knew him well enough to know he would never hurt anyone that way.

The officer looked skeptical, and Finn handed him the tablet.

“Watch,” Finn declared.

I could only hear muted words, it wasn’t turned up loud enough for me to make out everything. But after a few minutes, the cop looked stunned. He handed the iPad back to Finn.

“Wait in here,” the officer said, walking over to a door in the wall on the right that I’d missed. The room butted against the bathrooms in the waiting area.

He used a key card against a reader on the wall to open the door into a small conference area. We filed in, and Cooper moved a chair closest to the door near the end of the table. Finn’s chair easily fit in the vacated spot. The deputy left via another door in the very back of the room. It too had to be unlocked with the key card.

I glanced back at the door we’d entered to see if we’d been locked in. But there wasn’t a card reader, which thankfully meant we were free to exit at any time.

“What do you have?” I asked.

Finn started to explain something about security cameras when the door opened again. A tall, cute blondish guy with a shield on his belt walked in with a very put out looking older guy following him.

“I’m Detective Hastings. This is my partner Detective Miller. We’re told you have something for us to see.”

Finn pointed at the tablet. “I have proof that Shepard Connelly didn’t harm Lacey Foster.”

“What have you got there? Some doctored up video? I know how savvy you kids are these days,” the surlier of the two said.

Hastings held up a hand. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

We all moved to form a semicircle around Finn. August and Cooper hung back some, having probably already seen the footage.

Finn hit play on the screen, and we watched.

It began with a car appearing partway into the video. It slowly drove by, and I thought maybe he was playing it at half speed when I realized the car was parallel parking on the opposite side of the street in full view of the camera.

The passenger side door flew open, and Shepard unfolded himself from the car. He teetered on his feet, swaying a little as he attempted to close the door. It took him two tries before he accomplished that, and then he stumbled forward.

Lacey appeared, and he waved wildly to ward off her attempts at helping him.

“I’ve got this,” he shouted.

The picture was so clear, we caught her half-smile. Her lips moved, but unlike Shepard, she’d spoken too softly to be overheard at that distance.

He didn’t lean on her, but he appeared unsteady.

“I can do this,” he said, batting at her hand reaching for his pocket.

She giggled. “Are you sure about that?”

“Yes,” he slurred.

The faint sound of jingling could be heard before a soft click. Shepard completely disappeared from view. Lacey moved forward, short enough and far back enough to still be seen.

“Thanks for the ride, but I’m good.”

Her sultry steps stopped abruptly as a flash of irritation crossed her pretty features and then went away when she spoke.

“I’m more than willing to walk you in and tuck you in bed.”

It was more than what she said, it was how she said it. With him out of view, we couldn’t see his annoyance but had heard it in his next statement.

“Thanks, but no thanks.”

She crossed her arms over her chest.

“You’re turning me down again. Don’t tell me it’s about that other girl—”

“Look, I’ve told you before I’m not interested.”

I glanced up at the cops. That should have been good enough for them. Their eyes were locked on the screen.

“What? You just pretended to be interested in me to get a ride.”

His next words lashed out. “You offered the ride, I didn’t ask nor did I seek you out.”

“I won’t be made a fool of,” Lacey spat.

I wanted to punch her. It all became clear that she did this to spite him.

“You’re making a fool of yourself. You’re a pretty girl. You don’t need me.”

He sounded like he felt sorry for her. I didn’t though. Especially when rage crinkled her features, having picked up on his pity. She didn’t like it one bit.

Her arm whipped out and pointed to where he stood off screen.

“Do you know who my family is? You will pay for this.”

The loud sigh could have only come from him as she marched away, spine rigid.

I blew out the breath I’d been holding for a significant amount of time. My brothers and I then stood straight, but Finn cautioned us there was more.

“Watch the time,” he said as the video continued to play.

Lacey got in her car but didn’t drive off. When the video clicked on again, about fifteen minutes