“I don’t understand. What are you arresting him for?” I asked desperately.

DI Neeson stepped to my side, placing a reassuring hand on my elbow, squeezing gently to get my attention off of Zach who was still just looking at me with that same bored expression. I gulped and looked up into the kind green eyes of the police officer that I’d met the other day, not the one with the stern expression from moments before.

“We have the fingerprint reports back in full. We’re just conducting our investigation based on some new evidence. I’ll call you when I know more,” she said. Movement from behind her caught my attention and I looked up in time to see Zach being led away towards a waiting squad car.

“You think it’s Zach that was sending me that stuff?” I asked. My eyes prickled with tears as I hugged myself against the chilly breeze that blew across the parking lot.

“At this time I’m not at liberty to discuss it. I’ll call you once we’ve conducted more investigations.” She squeezed my elbow one more time before turning on her heel and marching over to the squad car, sliding into the open passenger side.

I couldn’t move. Zach turned in the seat, looking out of the window, his gaze locking on mine. In that moment I was totally lost. I had no idea what to think. Was it really Zach that was doing it all? What possible reason could he have for wanting to hurt me? I could think of none. Luke’s words rang in my ears again, ‘how much do you really know about him?’ Apparently I didn’t know him at all based on DI Neeson’s assessment of his character.

Chapter 23

I watched as the squad car pulled out of the parking lot. My feet seemed to be welded to the floor, my eyes wide and my brain scrambled. Had that really just happened? ‘New evidence’ she’d said – what kind of new evidence would make them arrest Zach like that?

A cold wind blew across the parking lot; ruffling my hair and making my skin break out in goosebumps. I didn’t know what to do or think. Was it really Zach that poisoned Chester? DI Neeson seemed to think so. There had to be some evidence linking him to it in order for them to arrest him. My stomach churned with worry and nerves. I’d trusted him. I’d defended him when Luke had suggested him, and now this? I felt a little betrayed. But at the same time part of my brain just refused to believe it. He seemed like such a nice guy, and he’d had plenty of opportunities to hurt me if he wanted to, but he hadn’t raised a finger. I felt guilty for even considering the possibility that it was him. I had always believed in innocent until proven guilty. I just tried not to believe that him being arrested wasn’t solid proof that he’d done it, after all, mistakes were made all of the time. And she hadn’t actually wanted to arrest him in the first place, just speak to him, but because he refused to talk to her she had no choice. My mind was whirling so fast it was practically spinning out of control.

I swallowed loudly and looked around the rapidly emptying parking lot. Some people were standing around, watching me; their faces wore excited expressions so I knew that they’d just seen Zach get led off into a cop car too. It would be all around school by tomorrow lunchtime.

I needed to leave. I reached into my pocket, trying to ignore the fact that my hands were shaking as I pulled out my cell phone. The first person I thought of, as always, was Luke. Struggling with my trembling fingers on my screen, I finally got his number up and pressed call. He answered after a couple of rings; I could hear his car radio playing in the background, so he was obviously on his way home.

“Luke, is there any chance you can come back to the school and get me?” I croaked, my voice barely working because my mouth was so dry.

“Come and get you? I thought you were tutoring,” he replied.

I closed my eyes, turning and perching on the seat of Zach’s bike. “I was but… please? Can you come back here and take me home? I’ll explain when you get here,” I mumbled.

There was barely even a second of decision time before he answered. “I’ll just be a couple of minutes.”

I smiled and ended the call, slipping my phone back into my pocket and ignoring the stares that were directed at me. A couple of minutes later Luke’s Jeep rolled into the parking lot, stopping in front of me. Luke’s concerned face peered through the windscreen as he popped his seatbelt and moved to climb out. I waved a hand and quickly jogged to the passenger side, climbing in.

“Thank you,” I gushed, settling into the familiar seat and closing my eyes.

“What happened to Zach?” he inquired. “Thought you were tutoring?” His eyes flicked to Zach’s bike still parked there, and he frowned in confusion.

I groaned and turned in my seat to face him. He’s going to go crazy when he finds out! “The police just arrested him,” I replied, wincing and waiting for his reaction.

A smug grin crossed his face. “I knew that dude was no good. What did they arrest him for?” he asked, obviously happy that someone who he saw as a rival for my affections was now in trouble.

I licked my dry lips before answering. “For the notes and stuff that I’ve been sent, and for poisoning Chester,” I told him.

His eyes widened in shock before his teeth snapped together with an audible click. “What the hell? It was him?” he growled, tightening his hands into fists.

I shook my head quickly. “It might not be. They only wanted to talk to him, that’s all,” I countered.

He made a half scoff, half growling sound in the back of his throat. “They don’t arrest people for nothing, baby. Son of a bitch! I can’t believe it was him the whole time!” he ranted.

I frowned at that, still not wanting to believe it. I always liked to see the good in people. “Luke, they’re just conducting their investigation. He might be innocent.”

He shook his head, scrunching his nose up angrily. “Doubt it. I told you it was him, didn’t I?”

“Can you drive me home? My dad’s home and he was picking up Chester this afternoon, I really just want to go home,” I asked, wanting to change the subject. By the sound of it, Luke didn’t believe in innocent until proven guilty and I didn’t want to sit here debating it with him.

“Yeah,” he sighed, twisting the key to start the engine.

The ride home was practically silent as I became trapped in my thoughts again, trying to link up Zach to all the things that had happened recently. He had the time and the ability, but I couldn’t think of a motive at all. It didn’t make sense.

By the time I got home my brain hurt from thinking about it so much. When we pulled up Luke moved to get out but I shook my head and leant over the middle of the seats, planting a kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for the ride, but I don’t think you should come in. My dad’s still pretty angry with you and I just can’t deal with anymore arguments or distasteful looks right now,” I said, willing him to understand. “You know he takes a long time to forgive people.”

Luke nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I guess.”

I sighed and looked up at him gratefully. “Thank you for the ride home. You’re always there when I need you. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I cooed. The honesty of the words rang in my voice. I really didn’t know what I would do without him.

He smiled, his eyes soft and tender. “Good thing you’ll never have to find out, huh?”

I chuckled, straightening up and grabbing my schoolbag from where I’d stored it at my feet. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks again for the ride.” I hopped out; waving at him as I practically ran to the front door in a bid to get in quicker.

As I slid my key into the lock, the familiar barking sounded from inside the house. An excited giggle slipped out of my lips as I shoved the door open, stepping in and dropping my bag as Chester came strutting up the hallway. He didn’t run like he used to, but just the fact that he was here made my heart ache. I dropped to my knees and took his face in my hands, laughing and stroking him excitedly.

“He’s been waiting for you.”

I looked up, seeing my dad standing there in the kitchen doorway, arms folded, lazy grin on his face as he watched me. My breath came out in one big gust at the sight of him. I didn’t realise until that point just how much I’d missed my dad and how much I obviously leant on him while he was here. Before I knew it, a sob rose in my throat. I pushed myself up from the floor, crossed the hallway and threw myself at him as I burst into tears, letting all the stress, worry, confusion and fear leave my body at once.

It took a couple of hours for me to go through everything with him, to tell him all that had happened since the start of it all. Of course this time I got the lecture that I should have told them the first time I got a silent phone call and that I was to tell him everything in the future. It felt nice to offload to him actually.

When I’d told him about Zach being arrested at school he’d gone quiet and thoughtful. I’d told him that I didn’t think it was Zach, and that the police must have made a mistake, and he hadn’t had any answers for me about it. After we’d finished talking, he’d tried to call DI Neeson but she was busy and hadn’t returned his call. That was why we were now sat in one of the small, dull and empty rooms at the police station. Dad had driven us down here a little while ago so that we could try and get an update on what was going on with the case and Zach. We were now just waiting for DI Neeson to come down and meet with us.

Just after nine thirty the door to the room opened. I looked up quickly as she walked in, folder in hand, smile on her face that seemed a little forced. She probably didn’t like being dragged away from whatever she was doing to come down and update us, but my dad had been insistent to the receptionist, who finally agreed to put in a call to her.

“Maisie,” she greeted before turning to my dad. “And you must be Mr Preston, Maisie’s father. I’m Detective Inspector Neeson.” She extended her hand, shaking his firmly.

He nodded. “Nice to meet you.”