Page 192 of A Curse On Black Lake
I lean back in my seat and focus on the water stained ceiling tiles, trying to come up with ways to get out of here. But nothing I say to this asshole is going to make them let me go.
“I know my rights, Martinez, and I’m done talking,” I say, still looking at the ceiling.
There’s a spot that’s shaped kind of like a horse and a rider, like my Eliana and her Winnie. She always looks so free when she’s riding. The first time I saw it, I swear I fell right then and there. Her white hair flew behind her like it was trying to keep up with her. Her spirit was bright, as if she had wings, inflating my heart with her light. She breathed new life into me.
Closing my eyes, I smile to myself, replaying that picture over and over again. I hope she listened, and she’s in our bed, sleeping, or crying. Anything would be better than dangling herself like a worm on a hook.
“Fine, answer questions, don’t answer questions. But I’ll give you some evidence to consider while you sit in your cell. Why did we find your DNA on Hazel Usher?” Martinez asks.
It takes everything in me not to react to what he said. But how in the hell is that possible?
“Do you have a response for me, Lennox?” he asks.
I lift my head to meet his eyes. “Nothing I say is going to change your mind. You’ve already made it up.”And even if I did, DNA is hard to argue with. Dammit, this is going to crush Eliana.
Martinez continues to ask me questions beyond the DNA, and I ignore them, too busy praying this to be all a bad dream, and thinking about Eliana. I can’t do anything. I recognize that, so I have to appeal to the Big Man, and hope He hears me.
“Take him back to his cell.”
Deputy Connor grabs my arm and pushes me through the interrogation room to the holding cells.
This is the one time I wish I had friends because they might be willing to check on her for me. My only friend is the one currently trying to lure the killer on her own.
I could punch a hole through the cinderblock wall. Anger can look guilty because it implies that I’m angry I was caught. Why would an innocent man be angry when he knows that he didn’t do it? That’s the story I’m telling myself because the alternative is my cousin wants me out of the way. And even now, that’s a hard pill to swallow.
My calm exterior is starting to deteriorate, slowly being replaced with an impatient despair. I stare at my shaking hands, still stained with ink from rolling each of my fingerprints onto the booking page. I can’t sleep knowing she’s out there by herself. I’ll probably never be able to sleep again until I have her back in my arms. What is she doing? Did he find her? Is he hurting her?
Is she still alive?
I’d know.
She’s part of me now, just as I am part of her. There is no corner on Earth, amount of time, or distance that can sever our bond. She is my undoing and simultaneously the vines that have tied me back together. She is a lotus flower in the mud of my soul.
It kills me not laying eyes on her, but I would know if she died. And I have to believe that.
Wyatt didn’t say a word to me as they finished booking me and pushed me back into my cell. The first time he looked at me was to come and get Eliana. Even then, he couldn’t look me in the eye. He has to know this is wrong. We grew up together. How could he really think I did this?Maybe because he’s the one that set you up.
“Wyatt!” I yell.
“Hey man, I’m trying to sleep here!” A drunk guy says. They threw him in here not long after Eliana left. I have no idea what time it is, but I need to speak to my cousin.
“Hey!” I yell again.
“What,” Tillman says, holding the door open.
“I need to talk to Wyattnow,” I grit, eyeing the man I’ve known since grade school.
“No can do, he’s gone for the night.”
“Then call him, dammit!” I yell.
Tillman huffs. “Yeah, fat chance, man.”
“Then let me the fuck out of here! Eliana is in danger!” I yell.
“I heard she had powers, and can do things without even touching you. Is it true?” He asks with a smarmy smile.
“Come over here and I’ll tell you,” I mutter.
