Augie scared the hell out of Ashley when he’d knocked on her car window. Then she realized it was him. She saw his smile. She unlocked the door. He walked around. He slipped into the passenger seat.
“Come here,” he said, leaning over and hugging her tightly. Augie was always so sweet.
“Where have you been, girl?”
She told him the whole story. He didn’t interrupt. When she was done, he rubbed his eyes. He didn’t say a word for a few moments.
“Okay,” Augie said, breaking his silence, “Have you talked to the police?”
“Not yet.”
“Good. When you do, don’t tell them anything.”
“They’re going to know I was across the bridge.”
“Big deal. Brandon was found here in Tacoma. It means nothing.”
“I don’t have an alibi.”
“In a few hours, you’re not going to need one.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just stay here. I’m going to take care of it.” Augie stepped out of the car. He pressed a button on his key ring and leaned back in, “Get in my Town Car over there. I’ll be right back.” Ashley looked over at Augie’s car. She didn’t see a reason not to. She got out of her car and got into his, watching as Augie walked up to Ray’s place.
Ashley looked at the interior of the car. It was a late 1990s Town Car and it was immaculate. This did not surprise her. Augie was precise. Always. She looked out the window again, but this time she saw a car she had not noticed before: Laura’s Jag. Laura was here. At Ray’s.
A few minutes later, Ray jumped into the back seat of the Town Car. Ashley looked back at him from the front. “Ashley!” He reached up to touch her. “You’re alive!”
Ashley chose not to bring up Laura’s car. They were all dealing with Brandon’s death in their own way. Who was Ashley to say one way was better than another?
Augie got into the driver’s seat.
“Alright. Ashley, I need the address for Gretchen. Ray and I are going to pay her a visit.”
The words hung in the air. Ashley didn’t know what to say. She knew Augie wasn’t talking about bringing Gretchen in to the police. Part of her was okay with that.
Another part of her thought killing, any killing, was wrong. Killing Gretchen wasn’t going to solve anything. Still. Did she want Gretchen dead? Yes, of course. Did she want to be responsible for it? Not really. But, what would they say if she refused? Did she really have a choice?
“I want to go with you,” Ashley said.
Ray and Augie exchanged looks.
“Okay,” Ray said.
“Alright, Augie, head for Gig Harbor,” Ashley said.
Maybe if she went with them, she could keep things from getting too out of hand.
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Afterthoughts
I only had a couple of opportunities to let you into Ashley’s head so I had to make them count. That said, I didn’t want to linger any longer than we have to. Because next up is the end of the story we began last year.
Everything in the novel has led up to this. Just one more installment, one more mega-sized chapter to end it all. Be here next Friday for
The thrilling conclusion to A Better Lie
The first line of one of the paragraphs is missing the word UP I think. I think it's supposed to say, Ashley chose not to bring up Laura's car. But the up fell through the cracks.