Tell Me No Lies by Rachel Branton Page B

Skeet.
     
     
    A shiver of dread rolled through me. “Mia, you said Skeet hurt you. What did he do?”
    She shook her head, her ponytail swinging with the force of her effort. “No,” she said faintly.
    I guess that meant she wasn’t ready to talk about it—at least not to me. “This note proves something,” I said.
    “That’s what I think. I’ve been asking everyone questions, and I must be getting close. Look, I know it’s not a great time, but do you think you and Gage could stay a few more days until my husband gets home from his trip? I’m so afraid someone will come while I’m sleeping, and I won’t hear them. I’m never afraid with Gage here.” She took the note from my fingers and tucked it back inside her apron.
    “What about the police? You need to tell them about that note.”
    “I will if you come with me.” Mia held up a hand. “But you can’t tell Gage. He says it’s done and over and I should forget it. But I can’t—not now. That record will haunt him the rest of his life. He wouldn’t have been able to find a good job if one of the prison guards hadn’t put in a word for him with his brother who manages the company Gage works for, and I never, ever thought Gage would marry because he said he didn’t want any child of his to grow up like we had to. But you saw how he is with Dylan—he deserves to be a father to his own kids someday.”
    “Maybe if Gage saw the note, he’d have hope.”
    “No. Until there’s real a real chance of clearing his name, I’m not telling him anything.” Tears started in Mia eyes. “I failed my brother seven and a half years ago, but I won’t fail him now. I should have taken the blame.”
    “No one should accept blame that doesn’t belong to them. Besides, you had your husband and Dylan to think about.” Since Dylan was in the first grade, that meant Mia had been expecting him about the time of the murder, or shortly after.
    Mia ran her fingers under an eye to catch the moisture, glancing to make sure Gage and Dylan were still occupied. “It wasn’t because of them that I didn’t do it. It was the shock of everything that happened then. I—I lost myself for a bit. I’m stronger now, but the note frightens me.”
    “So is the note the real reason you wanted Gage to come here now?”
    “Yes. I mean, of course I’d want to meet you anyway, but I was glad to have the excuse. I also hoped you might have some ideas about the murder since you can look at it with fresh eyes. You have as much stake in his future as I do.”
    I swallowed hard, loath to reply. I had no business delving into Gage’s life, not in this way, but I didn’t want to let Mia down either.
    “We’ll stay,” I said. “At least until your husband comes home.” I wasn’t exactly excited about running off to Lily’s where I’d have to explain that my marriage was fake and over with before she even met the groom she’d raved about. Besides, staying here would probably go a long way toward convincing my grandfather’s attorney that my marriage was everything I claimed. “But we should talk to the police as soon as possible, so they can start looking for whoever put that note in your mailbox.”
    “We can go before dinner. I know one of the officers from school. Maybe he’ll have time to talk to us.” There was a relief in her voice that came clearly through the fear, and I knew insisting on going to the police was the right thing to do. I had to admit that I hoped Mia was right, that Gage really was innocent.
    “Mommy, is something wrong?” Carrying a chicken, Dylan was coming toward us. I turned to see him, and that made Mia become aware of his approach. He signed something.
    “No,” Mia said aloud, signing at the same time. “Nothing is wrong. I am so happy to meet your new aunt. Come, meet her yourself. Her name is Tessa. She and your uncle are married.”
    Dylan stared at me, more in consternation than anything. “Married?”
    I smiled. “It’s nice to