“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Hayley Jackman?” one of the officers asks, even though he knows the answer. I can see the recognition in his gaze.
“Yes.” I nod, taking a second to breathe before I straighten. “How can I help?”
“Mind if we ask you a few questions?”
“Sure.” I nod again, swallowing a lump in my throat. “I’m ready to tell you everything.”
Ready as I’ll ever be.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Reed
After a visit from my doctor—telling me I’m lucky to be alive and freaking the fuck out of my parents—Mom delivers her own emotionally charged speech before she and Dad leave with the promise to come back later today.
And to be better.
When I was younger, I used to beg Mom to listen, and so did Dad, but it was always futile. Hayley calls them out once and she’s changed? As much as I love Hayley and think the world of her and her incredible speech, I’ll believe it when I see it.
The second I’m alone, I watch the door expectantly, waiting for my beautiful girl to waltz back in so I can finally tell her I love her again.
Only she’s nowhere to be seen.
And the next time the door opens, the smile drops from my face.
“Reed Coombs?” a police officer asks, his expression somber as his eyes bounce around the room.
“That’s me.”
“How are you feeling?”
“I’m alive, so that’s something.” I force a smile but get nothing in return.
“Yes, you’re lucky on that front. Do you mind if we ask you a few questions?”
“Of course. Go ahead.” I try to sit up, but when a sharp pain shoots through my side, I think better of it. “Hope you don’t mind me lying down.” I cringe awkwardly and the younger officer smiles.
“We won’t be long.”
The officers run through the standard questions I was expecting, and I answer as best I can, but for the life of me, I can’t think ofanyreason as to why Landon would have had a knife. Or why he’d pull it on Hayls. Or me. I’m not even sure who his anger was aimed at.
“I wish I knew. I wish I’d seen something. Did he mention I was mentoring him? He was kind of shy, but other than that, he was like any other player on the team. I just wanted him to break out of his shell. I never once saw him display any anger; I never even saw him upset. He’s a good guy. I never would have expected this.”
“Hayley mentioned you charged him after she told you to call the police.”
“She said charged?” I raise a brow in question. I highly doubt that. “I dialed the police and raced to her aid, pinning him against a wall so he couldn’t hurt her. She thought she was hiding it, but I could see the fear in her eyes when he was dragging her away.”
“Okay. And the knife?”
“He pulled that out seconds before Hayley stepped between us. I’m ashamed to say, I hadn’t even noticed his hand in his pocket.”
“Thank you. Do you remember where you were when Zane arrived?”
“Zane?”
