Pumpkin Spice ⭐

26 - I Promise

I was sitting behind the plexiglass looking at the phone I would have to pick up when she walked in and sat down. I wanted a face-to-face meeting at a table with no plexiglass, but I was told this was the best they could do for someone being put away for attempted murder.

I saw her walk in and she sat down, shocked seeing it was me. We both picked up the receivers of the phone and I took a deep breath.

"I never expected to see you here." She said and I sighed.

"I know, this was a trip I never thought I would make but I wanted to talk to you about Olivia." I said and I saw her eyes fill with tears.

"I don't want to think about it..." Karli said and went to hang up the phone.

"No! Wait!" I yelled and noticed some people look and Karli stopped but the phone back up to her ear. "Listen, I don't know what you have gone through in your life and I don't know anything right now. I'm confused and I have to figure some things out. Things are difficult and I just need clarification." I said and Karli said but looked down and her hand in her lap.

After a few minutes of silence and tears I saw Karli wipe away and she finally spoke up. "Olivia was an amazing friend to me. She never cared what kind of condition my life was in, she was always willing to help me. Near the end though..."

"Near the end what?" I asked.

"Near the end she was telling me John was starting to watch her like a hawk. She would go missing to come and help me out but he started to follow her and watch her, thinking she was back with Lamar." Karli admitted.

"You knew about Lamar?" I asked and she nodded.

"Olivia wouldn't just bring me food and supplies, we would sit and talk. She was pregnant, did you know that...?" Karli asked and I knew my face showed I did not. "Yeah she had a miscarriage right before she went missing. She wasn't sure if it was John's. She had a slip with Lamar a few months before and she wasn't sure who the father was. Unfortunately she had a miscarriage and lost the baby but she said she felt grateful for it. She said even if it was John's she didn't want the baby with him. Garrett was enough." Karli opened up.

"Did she not love Garrett?" I asked and Karli sighed.

"I didn't mean it that way. She meant Garrett being enough as in all she needed. She often told me though that you were a better mother to him than she could be. Always said if something happened to her, she hoped you would be there for him." Karli said and I gave a small smile knowing how much I had been there for that kid. He was like my own.

"Karli, after she went missing why didn't you just come to me and explain everything? I would have been willing to help you out." I said.

"Olivia said that if she ever stopped showing up to just stay away and take what I could in the dark of night. She said John watches you like a hawk sometimes and he never would have let you help me out. I'm sorry I stole from you." Karli said and I shook my head.

"I don't care Karli. I just want the truth from you and your story. I have to ask you about that night though..." I said and she sighed.

"The night you were attacked?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yeah...what happened?" I asked.

"I didn't do it! I swear to you I didn't!" Karli spoke up.

"I know, I believe you didn't. I'm trying to prove a lot of things right now including your innocence. I just need to stockpile the information I get, including what really happened that night when I got hit." I said and Karli just nodded.

"That night you got hit I was in the woods, we all know I was but I saw everything that happened just not who hit you." Karli said.

"Were you the reason the lights were out?" I asked.

"Yes, I tripped over them getting away when I heard you coming." Karli said and I half nodded.

"What else did you see?" I asked.

"I saw someone approaching all black. They had the shovel, I wanted to scream out I did, I wanted to warn you. I couldn't though, I would have been attacked too and maybe that was selfish of me..."

I shook my head "No, I'm happy you didn't say anything. I didn't want you to get hurt. I'm fine from it. Whoever it was wasn't wanting to kill me...I don't believe they were at least." I admitted.

"I just don't understand anything going on. If it was John why would he want you dead or injured?" Karli asked and I sighed looking at her.

"I never said it was John Karli..."

"I know I just know it was, I have a feeling it was. There was no one else that would be so evil. He is a horrible person Autumn." Karli said.

"I know, I do think John has done a lot more in his life than he has gotten in trouble for. I'm just looking for all the evidence. I have help from someone -..."

"Steve." Karli interjected and I gave a small smile.

"Yeah, Steve is helping." I said and she smiled.

"He really cares for you." Karli said.

"He loves me." I corrected her and we both grinned like giddy schoolgirls. I then sighed.

"Karli, I promise this to you. I am going to find out everything and get whoever it is, to admit to everything and then you will be free. When you are, you are to come to me. I want to help you out in whatever way I can." I said and she sighed shaking her head.

"Don't make me promises you cant keep Autumn...please." Karli said and I sighed.

"It's the truth Karli, please don't give up yet." Can you trust me?" I asked and she nodded after a moment.

"I will do what I can to trust you. I don't have much more to hope for." Karli said and I sighed.

"Give me time Karli and I will work on getting you out. I promise." I said and she nodded.

"TIMES UP!" The guard yelled.

"I'll see you soon." I said to Karli and we hung up.

As I was leaving the jail I knew she didn't believe me and I knew I didn't give her much hope but I was going to do whatever I could. I had a plan, I knew the plan was dangerous. I needed to talk to Steve about my plan and tell him I could do it even though I knew he wouldn't be happy.

Here was hoping my plan didn't ruin my relationship...