The Inmate by Freida McFadden

Author:Freida McFadden [McFadden, Freida]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-06-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 28

ELEVEN YEARS EARLIER

Tim hates Shane. He thinks I should break up with him. But what he’s accusing Shane of is a step beyond that. He’s accusing my boyfriend of murder.

“Tim,” I whisper, “are you saying you think Shane…?”

Tim’s eyes flash as the room briefly glows from a flash of lightning. “It’s his house. If anyone were going to plan it…”

“Why would he do that though?”

“Why would he beat up some innocent kid? Because he’s a terrible person. That’s what I’ve been telling you, Brooke.”

My legs feel rubbery beneath me. Shane isn’t a terrible person. Tim doesn’t know him the way I do. If he had been in the bedroom and seen how sweet and caring and loving Shane was, he wouldn’t be saying that. Shane would never hurt anybody. “Why would he kill Brandon? Brandon is his best friend.”

“Best friend?” He shakes his head. “I don’t think either of those assholes has the capacity for that kind of loyalty. They’re friends, but they hate each other.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Believe what you want to believe.”

“Tell me something.” I narrow my eyes at him. “When you and Shane were huddled in the living room earlier, what were you talking about?”

He’s quiet for a moment. “What?”

“When we first came in, the two of you were talking. What did you say to him?”

Even in the dark kitchen, I can see his jaw twitch. “I just told him he better treat you right.”

“I see.”

“Listen to me.” His fingers close around my wrist. “This isn’t a joke. Shane is dangerous. And while you’ve been gone, I’ve been searching the house for something I could use as a weapon.”

That’s when I noticed the object in Tim’s other hand, that he’s been holding onto since Chelsea and I got back into the house. I squint into the darkness.

It’s a baseball bat.

“It’s longer than a knife,” he says. “If he tries to come at me, I’m clocking him right in the head.”

“Fine.” If Tim gives Shane a concussion, it won’t be the worst thing that happens here tonight.

He gives me a long look. “Let’s make sure we stay together, okay? I won’t let anything happen to you.”

I believe him.

When we return to the living room, Chelsea is still lying on the sofa, but on the plus side, her chest doesn’t appear to be covered with blood and stab wounds. Shane is also in the living room, shaking water out of his clothing and his hair. I can see him just barely well enough to recognize he got drenched out there.

“Any luck finding a signal?” I ask.

“Sorry, no.” He stomps his sneakers against the ground, trying to get some of the water and mud off of them. “I think we’re stuck here until morning.”

Chelsea struggles into a sitting position on the couch. “I hope Kayla is okay upstairs.”

I tug on the snowflake on my necklace. “Maybe we should check on her?”

“Why?” Shane says. “She didn’t seem to want us anywhere near her.”

“I know, but she was freaked out,” Chelsea says.

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