Jake

Heart knocking, I roll off our makeshift bed and tug on my jeans. Jessica does the same. Our eyes lock, round and panicked as we dress. “How did they find us?” I hiss.

She lifts one shoulder. “Your phone?”

“Shit, I forgot to turn it off.” Truth is, once I saw Jess teetering down the path in ankle boots, tight black jeans, and a high ponytail to save me, I forgot everything. Now we’re caught and trapped like rabbits. “I’m sorry,” I say to her.

She offers a worried smile. “Don’t run this time, please.”

“I won’t.” As we lift our hands to our heads, the sight of my swollen knuckles reminds me that I beat Brendon pretty good. “I think I’m going to jail, Jess.”

She rushes to my side, and we hold each other one last time as footsteps stomp around the shed and the glow of a flashlight pierces the black windows.

“You have one minute to exit the building,” shouts the cop.

Our hearts collide against our chests, and Jess quivers in my arms. “It’s going to be okay,” I promise as I nuzzle her neck, absorbing her, memorizing her as if I’ll never see her again.

“Ask for a lawyer,” she says.

I groan because my mom can’t afford a private lawyer. A trial will be expensive, and my mistakes are going to ruin my family, fucking ruin them. I should never have dragged Jessica into this either. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry,” I whisper into her ear.

“Shh,” she says. “We’d better go.”

I nod and call toward the door, “We’re coming out.” The cop asks us to identify ourselves, so we give our names, state that there’s no one else in the shed, and then exit, hands on our heads.

Seconds later, I’m on the ground with my arms wrenched behind my back, my wrists zip-tied. An officer I don’t recognize leans over me, his slick hair hanging over his forehead. “You’re in serious trouble, Healy.” He yanks me to my feet.

Officer Lee is here too and she questions Jessica, asking what time she arrived at the river and if she knows anything about my assault on Brendon. My girlfriend stammers over her answers.

The other officer warns me of my rights, his voice echoing in the silent forest. “You’re under arrest for the assault and battery of Brendon Reed. You have the right to remain silent…”

When he’s finished, Officer Lee speaks. “I have some news for you, Jake. We found Tegan Sheffield earlier this evening.”

“Oh my god,” Jessica cries.

I sag toward the ground as relief washes through me. Holy fuck, they found her. “Good, that’s good.”

The male cop recoils. “It’s not good, Jake.” He guides me into the squad car. Officer Lee releases Jessica after she promises to drive herself straight home, and then I’m carted away. The ride is quiet, and even my tears are silent as I realize what Officer Lee didn’t say.

She told me they’d found Tegan, but not if they’d found her dead or alive.