Why did that guy look so familiar?
Ellis gently places a hand on my arm and guides me aside as the paramedics rush by me and into the apartment where the girls are.
“Are they dead?” I whisper as the paramedics begin working on the girls.
Ellis remains silent for a beat, listening to the paramedics talk, then he shakes his head.
“No, they’re all alive. They’re just drugged.” He settles a hand on the small of my back and steers me down the hallway. “Let’s go outside where we’re out of the way, okay?”
Nodding, I allow him to lead me out of the apartment. Once we’re outside, he has me sit down on the curb and wait while he checks on things. He’ll probably have to ask me questions since I’m the one who found this horrifying scene.
Because I thought Clover led me here.
I know that can’t be real. Clover is dead. And dead people can’t walk around, leading me to places where I can save girls.
What if I’m going crazy? What if I’m hallucinating her?
“Help me, my daisy friend.”
“I’m trying,” I whisper as I sit on the curb with red and blue flashing lights all around me.
More cop cars drive up, and then the coroner van. My back stiffens. Ellis said they weren’t dead, so why would that be here? I rise to my feet, watching as the van parks close to the door. Then a man gets out of it.
Not just any man.
My fucking uncle is here.
Why is he driving the coroner’s van, though? The fact that he is makes me think Ellis is right about him being involved in altering the report on Clover, and maybe even others.
He’s wearing a button-down shirt and slacks. He steals a glance around before closing the van door. The flashing lights reflect across his face as he strides toward a police vehicle where an older man is standing. They exchange a few words, then my uncle nods and turns to head into the apartment, but as he does, his gaze catches mine, and he grinds to a halt.
The worry in his eyes can’t be missed against the reflection of the lights. He moves to take a step toward me, but then must think better of it, and instead rushes inside the apartment. I desperately want to go inside, but too many eyes are on me. If I try to go in there, it’ll look suspicious, and that’s the last thing I need at the moment. So all I can do is wait and put my trust in Ellis.
About five minutes later, he exits the building with agitation rolling off him. He strides toward me and mutters, “Let’s go.”
My brows pull together. “Don’t they need to question me?”
The muscle in his jaw ticks. “Nope. They’re not ruling it as a crime.”
“What?” I hiss, gaping at him.
Voices rise over our conversation, and with a tense glance at the building, he signals for me to follow him. “Let’s talk about this after we get into the car.” He sneaks another look over his shoulder.
I track the direction of his gaze to my uncle, who’s positioned in front of the entrance doors with a few officers around him. And he’s glaring at Ellis.
I keep quiet as I follow Ellis away from the building to the back parking lot, where we climb inside his vehicle.
The moment he closes the door, he loosens his tie and then lowers his head onto the steering wheel.
“I’ve always had my suspicions about police corruption in Star Meadows, but now I’m completely convinced most of the police here don’t give a shit about justice.”
I shut my door. “Because they’re not labeling this as a crime?”
He bobs his head up and down. “And they kicked me out of the building. Said I had no jurisdiction here, which technically I don’t, but I made the arrest. The protocol requires them to get more information from me, but they didn’t want to hear any of it. I told them they needed to at least get a witness report from you since you found that girl, but then your uncle showed up and told a bunch of lies about you.”
I swallow the rage searing my throat. “What did he say?”
“Just a bunch of bullshit.” He raises his head and rakes his fingers through his hair. “Well, except for the fact that you were arrested today.”