Who Killed Aylee?

Chapter 1

Penny

 I sit in this cold room of brick walls, painted white. The smell of bleach in the air and barely any light coming in from the small windows and fluorescent lights. It's been twenty three minutes waiting. The guard keeps giving me a look like she knows me. Like I am a bad person. My family is trash and she is just waiting for the day I end up behind these walls.

Truth is I won't.

Truth is I refuse.

I hear the shuffling sound and watch as they open the doors, a loud buzzer going off. I see my dad in his white baggy, slightly dirty pants and matching scrub top. With the number 1818 on the chest. Next to that is the name Saint. Our name. My name. I smile as he looks over at me. He is not happy I am here. He won't be happy when he asks me the same questions he has been asking me for months. Truth is there are no answers, yet.

It's been three months and no one has made any progress on getting the answers we are looking for. He sits across from me in his cuffs and gives a menacing smirk. With a heavy breath he looks me over and waits until they move back to the door to watch us. He has never seen me as anything but a food making annoyance. He has never really cared about me or my feelings. Not one recital or father daughter dance. No games or fun memories just us two.

" Anything?" His voice is rough.

" No"

" Penelope, we need to figure this out fast. I wasn't with him at all that day." He hits his fingers on the steel table. Trying to make a point.

" They have a lead but really are not sure what is going on with it. Thacher is on it." I move my hair out of my face.

Even at twenty three my dad intimidates me just a little bit. He is more bark than bite. Even though I did see him kill a man with my own eyes, just not my Uncle. Which is what he is here for. Someone killed him and the police have no leads. So all we know is. Uncle Lennie is dead and my dad was framed for it. I just have to lie to him for now.

We talked about club business. Let him know our new member is doing good. The truth is I really don't like him but I can't tell my father that. He's the one who brought him in. All I really know is Uncle Lennie sent him a text message before he died saying he had a new member coming in. Then when he died he showed up a few days later.

I am the only girl in the club but that is only because of blood. I am not this secretive. I also don't like to deal with drugs at all and that is the whole business. Plus a dance club in town. My dad was not the first President but he will be the only one to sit behind bars for life. Unless we figure this out.

" Dad, I have to go. We have a meeting soon." I really just want to be done with his questions.

" Tell them I am doing fine." He looks defeated as I stand up. " Next week?"

" No, Thatcher." I remind him.

" Oh"

That is all he says as the guard walks him to the door and down the hall. I watch him go as I leave. I know he doesn't like that I am taking over with Thatcher helping with club business. He didn't want me involved and said it's too much work for a little girl. He doesn't know me very well if that is what he really thinks. I am the level headed organized one. Me not my brother Thatcher.

When I get to the house I see Thatcher, with his friend on the couch. They are all hands and tongues now but she doesn't know that next week it will be a new blonde. He hasn't been the same since Aylee's death and it's been very busy around here.

Aylee was my best friend and Thatcher's girlfriend since forever. He loved her so much. When she died our entire world fell apart. We have been looking for what happened ever since. Me more than anyone. I just need to figure it out soon. The police say it was an accident.