The Dead of Winter (Seasons of Jefferson: Book 2) (11 page)

I shake my head and pull my fingers up through my hair, “Guys, I’ve got nothing. Maybe I have some kind of undiagnosed head injury, but I am having a hell of a time remembering anything that happened before we found my busted up truck. Do you guys remember anything crazy happening before that?”

Brody’s eyes light up. “What about the footprints, Pip? Remember, the ones we were next to when we were wrestling around in the snow? You were getting worked up because you thought someone else was out there. I convinced you that our secret spot wasn’t really a secret, remember?”

Eyebrows begin to pop up all over the room, like sprouting buds of renewed possibility.

“Oh, Brody, with everything that happened down at the river, I totally forgot about that.” Kaitlyn’s face twists into a grimace. “Guys, what if someone was up there? I mean, before. Like the night before. Remember
Truth or Dare
? You might think it was a big joke, but I swear someone was in that cabin. What if they followed us up the mountain?”

“T, I’m sorry I didn’t take you seriously. I thought you were just paranoid because …”

“I should’ve never told you that old urban legend about
Jump off Joe
. It’s my fault for getting you all skittish,” Mom interrupts regretfully, then looks back at me so I can finish what I was saying.

“T, I know we gave you a hard time about being scared of the cabin. I thought your mind was playing tricks on you because you’re so freaked out about ghost stories. But I’m starting to wonder if you were right about someone being in that cabin.”

Jenna tugs on my shirt sleeve. “Caden, what about the newspaper at the pharmacy? It said there were several break-ins up at the cabins during Thanksgiving week.”

Renewed interest spreads on the detective’s face. “So, I’d like to know a little more about this cabin. What makes you think someone was in there?”

Jenna speaks up. “Well, the boys dared Kaitlyn to go inside because it was so creepy looking, all dark and screened in. I think they wanted to get her back for something. Oh yeah, for daring Mason to talk to Marissa. So we offered to go with her cuz it was way too scary to go alone …”

I watch Detective Eddie hurriedly jot down notes as Jenna speaks. “Go on,” he prompts.

“Okay, so it was really creepy. Especially when someone kicked the beer bottle and the foam started oozing all over the place. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when that happened.”

Kaitlyn looks up at Jenna and takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

Officer Marnia chimes in, “So, there was an open beer bottle, and it was still foaming when you kicked it?”

“Yeah, pretty sure.”

Officer Marnia scans our circle of family and friends, looking at each of us. “Were any of you drinking beer up by the cabin?”

“No, we just had the wine from the vineyard.” The adults all look at each other shrugging and raising their eyebrows.

“And were there any other campers in the area of the cabin?”

“Only the cabin down below,” Mason answers. “Marissa’s family was there, but they don’t drink.”

“And you know this for a fact?”

“Oh, yeah. It’s one of their family mantras.
“Alcohol is your Adversary.”
They live by it.

Officer Marnia begins writing now too.

“You getting all this, Eddie?” Marnia looks up at the officer through her long, thick lashes. Something about watching her gorgeous badass self, being all badass makes me forget some of the stress, if only for a minute.

“Okay, Jenna. So what happened after the beer bottle?” Officer Marnia prods.

“Well, we got to the cabin, and the girls were too chicken to go up the ladder, so I went. But then, something happened. When I got to the top, something hit my phone out of my hand. We were all so spooked that we made a run for it. I’ve never been so creeped out in my life … and that’s saying a lot.”

I can’t help but laugh. The vision of those girls running away from that cabin was insanely hilarious. Bouncing and jumping over logs, darting around trees, I’d never seen any of them move so fast. It was a blurry mess of wild, screaming hair.

“Is there anything else you can remember? Or was that the last thing that happened before you went tree cutting?” Detective Eddie asks one last time.

We all stare at each other, raising our brows and lifting our shoulders.

The detective reaches down to check his phone as a text alert chimes. He raises his eyes to Officer Marnia, mumbling, “Good news, Peyton’s been released. She’s home. They’re letting us know it’s okay to head over now.”

His words strike a match inside my chest, lighting me on fire.
Peyton’s home? Why didn’t they tell me? I’ve been calling non-stop for days. I’ve got to get over there.

“Well, you’ve all been very helpful. You kids all have my number if anything happens, or if you need me. Eddie, I think we’ve got a good start with this new information. Let’s go see if we can learn anything else.” Marnia looks at each one of us, then focuses on our parents, “I’ll be contacting you soon with any new leads.” Nodding toward each of us, she reaches for the door.

She’s followed by the detective, who looks back over his shoulder and speaks, “We’ll be in touch.”

The door creaks closed behind them. I look around the room. Every last one of us looks like a deer in the headlights.

THE SILENCE IN THE ROOM
is too much for me. It’s letting my mind go places I can’t deal with right now. I need to get out of here. I can’t believe Peyton was released today, and I had to find out by chance.
Why didn’t she let me know? Has she forgotten about me?
My chest tightens and the fire reignites inside of me. My mind opens the door to the same hell it’s visited a thousand times this week.
Why are her parents keeping her from me?
Do they think I’m an irresponsible hellion? They probably want to throw the book at me. I can see their point. They trusted me to keep their daughter safe, and I damn near killed her. I deserve this.

My throat constricts, and I fight the tug of my lower lip. I try to stop it, but the damn thing is too stubborn. I quickly look down at the floor, hiding my face from the crowd.
I will not cry in front of them. Snap out of it, dumb ass. Be strong. Just fix this.
I have to go over there to make this right. I need to explain what really happened.
The red truck. The gunshots
.
Do they know what led up to the accident?
I know I can’t redeem myself for driving my truck over that cliff. I can’t take back my inability to save her. All I can do is beg for forgiveness. With desperation, I glance up at Jenna, and secretly point to the door. I need her help getting out of here, but I can’t let her know it’s to go see Peyton. When her eyes meet mine, a faint smile crosses her lips. It’s followed by a subtle nod.

“Whew, that was intense,” she belts out as she bounces off the couch. “I think I need some fresh air. Anyone up for a drive?”
I knew I could count on her
. She turns her back to our parents, discreetly gesturing to Kaitlyn and the others that I need to be alone. I breathe a sigh of relief that she’s recognized my anguish.

Brody stands slowly, stretching his arms over his head. After the exaggerated stretch, he reaches for Kaitlyn’s hand and pulls her to her feet. “We’re going to grab a bite to eat before heading back over to the valley to decorate for Christmas. Who’s coming?”

Mason stands up quickly and says, “I’m in. I want to help with the grandparents’ tree.”

Thankfully Jenna turns down the offer. “I have a few errands to run. Caden, it looks like you have a choice to make. Do you want to go play Santa’s elf or stay here with me?

How am I going to get her to take me to Peyton’s?

“No icy, winding hills for me today. I’m staying with you. I have a few errands of my own. Do you mind driving?”

“Only if you don’t mind dropping by the bank to take care of my missing debit card.”

That catches Cinda’s attention, “What did you say?”

“Oh, Mom, sorry I didn’t tell you. I kinda misplaced my wallet.” She looks down, shuffling her feet, “I’ve been looking for it since the trip to the cabins, but…”

Mr. Bailey leans forward, scowling at Jenna through his heavily wrinkled brow, “Why didn’t you say something earlier, young lady? We’ve been back for nearly two weeks.” He shakes his head as his voice becomes increasingly scornful. “How could you blow that off for so long, especially when I’m the one responsible for that account?”

“Dad,” Jenna retorts, “I was hoping it’d show up when we got home. You know, maybe find it under my car seat or stuffed in someone’s bag. I swore I never took it out of my suitcase the whole time we were on vacation. I didn’t mean to lose it, I swear.”

Mr. Bailey starts in again, “You need to be more responsible with your stuff. Last week it was your locket and now this?”

Jenna’s face melts into a frown as she bows her head in defeat. Dead silence fills the air.

“Why did you have to bring that up? You know how much that locket meant to her.” Cinda stands up and moves toward Jenna, pulling her into a hug. She sets her head down on top of Jenna’s, scowling at Mr. Bailey, “We’ll find it, don’t worry.”

“You’re right, I’m sorry. I’m just so damned frustrated with all of the irresponsible behavior. Jenna, the next time something as important as a wallet comes up missing, you need to let your mother and me know. Now, get down to the bank before it closes. Have them run a report on any activity in the last two weeks. You’d better hope that wallet is wadded up in your dirty clothes somewhere,” he shakes his head. “Go, now. We’ll discuss this later.”

I’ve never seen Jenna look so worried. I kind of feel bad for her. Her dad was really tough considering all she’s been through the past two weeks.
Maybe he’s reached his breaking point with all of this.
I’ve got to try and smooth things over for her. After all, she was just trying to help me get out of the house. “I’ll make sure we get to the bank right away.” I nod toward the adults in the room and grab her by the hand, “Mom, Dad, I’ll be back in a while. Let’s go, buddy. Your dad is right. We need to look into that debit card immediately.”

Quickly, we run out of the house before her dad starts in again. Jenna can’t get the car door opened and closed fast enough. I can tell she’s beyond upset. She’s not saying much, but she can’t even start the car.
This must be bothering her more than she’s letting on.
She tries to stick the key in the ignition, but her trembling hand is fumbling for the keyhole. I lean over, holding her hand in mine, and help her start the car. “Settle down, girl. I’m sure he didn’t mean to jump on you like that. This is just a lot for our parents to take in.”

“I didn’t mean to lose my wallet … or my locket! My dad can be such a jerk!”

I’m quiet for a minute trying to let her cool down.
Mr. Woodley was right about that wallet. Who knows what someone can do with all that stuff?
I should defend him, but I don’t want to say the wrong thing and piss her off even more. There’s no way she’s gonna take me to Peyton if she’s fired up. I bite my tongue and focus my attention on Mr. Brownell shoveling his walkway.

“Well?”

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you going to say anything?”

I shake my head, quickly back and forth. “I’ve got nothin’.”

She turns up the radio and slams her foot on the gas, screeching away from the sidewalk and sliding through the first stop sign. I pull on my seatbelt and shift my weight to gain better balance in my seat. I forcefully swallow the bitter chunk of mid-afternoon snack that resurfaces upon take-off. “Ease off the gas, Jenna! This isn’t Fast and Furious! It’s icy out here, and you don’t have your studded tires on.”

“I can’t hear you!”

I turn down the music, “I said, ease off the gas! I’ve already pressed my luck once this month.” I can see she feels bad about making me lose my shit as she begins to slow down. “Do you want me to drive?”
Why did I ask that? What if she says yes?
Please say no.

“No, I’ve got this.”

Phew.
She slows the car to a normal speed for a snowy, residential area. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you like that. I’m better. So you don’t mind going to the bank with me?”

“No. Let’s get it over with. It’ll give the officers time to finish with Peyton, and then we can head on…”

“Peyton? Is that why you wanted out of the house? So you could go get your heart broken again? Really? Caden, do you seriously think her parents are gonna let you see her? They didn’t even tell you she was being released!”

“Yeah, well, I don’t know, but I’m going to try. I can’t handle this ostracism for one more day. You know how screwed up things are between us right now, and you know that in order for me to get past this, I need to go over there and straighten it out. I’ve got to know why she won’t talk to me. I mean for God’s sake, Jenna, maybe she can’t even talk. And for whatever reason, her parents won’t let me see her. Geez, is she dying? Disfigured? What is it? I need answers, and I need them today. You’ve got to take me. Please!”

Relief comes over me as I watch understanding replace her anxious sneer. “I will help you,” she nods. “But, I don’t have a good feeling about this.”