My Life in Rosewood

Chapter Nine

Ever since Alison's funeral the town has been on edge. Now that the police turned her case from a missing person to murder the news spread that one of the four girls closest to her could have killed her, my friends. Her being murdered has had people going nuts from what's going on, even to the point where they are bothering the girls about it. This boils my nerves of course because those four would never purposely hurt someone, especially not to this extent. So the fact anyone would point fingers at them as soon as the word MURDER popped up does not sit well with me. Alison bullied the entire town, even the adults, and had others physically bully people she didn't like out of spite. Yet somehow they are being pinpointed just because they were the last people to see Alison, and that automatically makes them number one on the list.

Even after the rumors had been circulating for a month since the funeral this still has the girls more distant and distracted, but I also noticed that they seemed...scared. I get people thinking they killed their best friend would freak them out, but they were super jumpy all the time. Especially when their phones would go off, which is the same thing I saw at the church and it's alarming. They won't tell me though, seeming secretive, protective in a way. I haven't brought their behavior up since I noticed the oddness, but I do keep an eye on them just in case. They've done a lot for me, it's only fair to repay the favor.

On top of murder or the girls being watched and jumpy, there's a detective that's been on them like a hawk. This person is the one who is in charge of the investigation for Alison's murder and has been on her case since she was considered a missing person when he was a rookie cop. So he's been on the prowl (so to speak) for the girls' heads. He won't leave them alone, always coming to the school to pull them aside for chats of that night over and over. It's getting a little weird knowing how invested he is. How invested in them he is. Obsessed.

"Jessie Brant?" I hear the voice of a man just as I'm heading down the block with Mike from the school. We plan on playing basketball and I told him we could grab a ball from the store. I stocked the shelves up from the inventory not used in the back, slowly leaning towards opening it up.

I turn to the voice and see a tall light skinned man standing behind us. He has blue eyes and short dirty blond hair that is somewhat parted on the side and looks to be staying put with hair spray. He is in a suit, holding up a badge for me to see. "You're the detective that's looking into Alison's case?"

"Detective Wilden." He says with a nod and sticks his badge back into the inside of his jacket pocket, "I would like to speak with you."

A little taken off guard I blink up at him, confused on why I needed to be questioned. "Do I need my guardians present for something like this?"

He half smiles, shaking his head. "It's not an interrogation. You're not a suspect."

"Okay." I give Mike the keys so he can grab the ball, smiling in reassurance. "What can I help you with?" I look back at him once Mike is inside.

"I'm sure you know we are investigating a few people in the murder of Alison DiLaurentis. As of recently we've come to find a video tape of what seems to be her last moments before her death."

I just keep my eyes on him, not knowing why he's telling me this. Certain things are held from the press for a reason, and this wasn't in the news. But I continue to listen to him as he tells me that in the evidence of the tape it shows she had been wearing a sweater and had pinpointed it to be Toby Cavanaughs.

"We've been told that you were friends with him before he left town?"

Left town was one way to put it, but I nod to his question. "We were on good terms, yeah."

"Have you seen him since he's been back?"

"Only at Alison's funeral with his step sister, but not since then."