DEZ

Of course, there’s no way Tori killed Ms. Dunn. I know that. Little Tori stabbing a woman—a tall woman—dozens of times. I don’t think so, but it’s not like I can tell Riley this. How would I explain how I know the unpublished details of her murder?

And if she knew the whole story, she’d never forgive me. She’d never give me the chance to explain and all of this would be for nothing. All of it.

I try to hold her to our date after the meeting, but she’s caught a new scent and won’t give it up.

“So, I was thinking dessert at the Pie Place?” I ask as we get into my car.

“Sure, whatever you want,” she says, distracted.

“Don’t act so enthused.”

“Sorry, but food is the last thing on my mind right now, Dez. Tori may have killed someone. A teacher. Isn’t that freaking you out? How can you think about pie at a time like this?”

My mind searches for something to grab onto. Anything. Surprisingly, I’ve become pretty damn fast on my feet. I do the only thing I can think of. Throw her off track.

“Because I know it wasn’t her,” I mumble.

Now I have Riley’s attention.

“How?” Her eyes pull together.

My throat tightens. I hate what I have to do, but there’s no other choice. “I was with her that night,” I lie.

“What?” she yells, trying to mask the hurt I can see on her face.

“Please,” I whisper. “Don’t make me relive it.”

“Oh,” she finally says.

This is low. Lower than low.

“It’s a long story.” I try to salvage the situation. “Nothing happened.”

“Hey, it’s none of my business.” Riley raises her hands.

“Yeah, well, maybe I want it to be your business.”

“Dez, don’t,” she threatens. “Not now.” She scoots away from me, closer to her window. “Please, just take me home.”

Great—by giving Tori an alibi, I push Rye further away, and all I really want to do is reel her in.

We don’t discuss it again.

Thankfully, I think Riley’s investigation is finally over.

During the next week, I work to keep Riley close. I find random jobs on the film to busy her mind. Some bogus. Some not. It does the trick, and before I know it we shoot the last scene in the film.