FIRE & BLOOD • EVAN 'BUCK' BUCKLEY / 9-1-1

63.

"I don't understand." Ayla dozed off into space. After five minutes of watching Gigi and Ayla gawk at each other, the word fuck being thrown out a couple of times, we all finally sat down in the living room.

"I hate to be the one to ask this" Jay looks around the room to all of us before focusing on Ayla, "but is there a possibility one of you were adopted. Or maybe even both of you? I mean, you both share the same face and the same birthday. That can't just be a coincidence."

Ayla shook her head. "My mom died when I was 15, Jay. She raised me as a single mother, never once spoke about my father so..." her eyes went cold as she spoke. "I don't know."

Gigi sat in silence. She hasn't said a word since she sat down but she was looking at Ayla. There was empathy in her look. 

"Maybe Voight knows something and he never told you" Jay's voice got quiet. Ayla's head snapped up towards him. They stared at each other for a moment before Jay brought his gaze over to Gigi. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Gigi stood up straighter, holding her gaze. "Are you suggesting I am adopted and my parents have lied to me my whole life? They wouldn't do that..."

"You'd be surprised what people would do. Even the ones you care about." Ayla didn't look up as she spoke. She leaned forward and clasped her hands together. "People can surprise you."

Gigi's jaw clenched up. "My parents wouldn't do that!" Her tone was sharp. I gave Evan a nervous glance. This was supposed to be a meeting for me to talk to these detectives so they could help figure out what happened to Tyler and Savannah, and to find out if this person was also coming after to me. Instead, we are all sitting around in my living room wondering how my best friend and this detective look exactly alike.

Ayla shoves her face into her hands. "Okay" she says, standing up from the couch. She made eye contact with every single one of us. "We came here to speak with Stella. That is what we are going to do. We were sent here to find out more about these recent murders and make sure you" Ayla points to me, "don't become the third. So, Jay and I are going to talk to Stella now. This other thing" she's now looking at Gigi. "We'll have to figure that out later because I need answers. Just not today."

Jay nodded his head and said nothing more about the situation. Evan and I gave a slow nod. Gigi only continued staring at Ayla but it didn't seem to bother Ayla. "Okay then. Stella, whenever you're ready."

"Yes uh, the kitchen should be fine" I stood up from my seat and led Ayla and Jay over to the kitchen. I felt bad for leaving Gigi and Evan in the living room without saying anything but I felt it was best to get this out of the way now and the quicker I could get back to Gigi the better.

Ayla wasted no time getting straight to the point. She asked me the same questions I've been asked before, asked me to go over everything in detail. Asked if we could take my phone to be able to trace the messages. They asked about my relationship with Savannah. I told the same story I told Detective Baldwin.

"And you are sure you didn't miss anything?" Ayla asks.

"I'm positive" I say, annoyed having to go over everything once again and relive that night in my head. Every single detail.

"Thank you for your time, Stella" Jay gave me a nod and looked to Ayla who was still staring at me.

"One more question" She says while giving Jay a quick look before putting all her attention back on me. "Did you know if Savannah was in a long term relationship with anyone?"

I shook my head. "No, I mean I don't consider her and Tyler anything serious"

"We're not talking about Tyler. Her records show a number she texted and called frequently, it was also the last number she received a call from. It's not a California area code either."

"If she was dating someone out of California I wouldn't know. As I said, we weren't best friends."

"You're not originally from Los Angeles, correct?"
"I thought you said one more question?" Jay asked Ayla. Ayla ignored him. Why is she asking me questions about myself now?

"No, I'm not."
"Where are you from?"
"What does that have to do with anything?" I ask, slightly frustrated.

"Just answer the question, Stella."
"I lived in Siesta Key before I moved here but I'm still confused as to how that's relevant?"

Ayla took a deep breath in before answering. "Because the number that called Savannah before she died was a number from that exact place."

Jay looked at Ayla, then towards me. I looked between them both, unable to believe what she was implying.

"Are you asking me if I was somehow involved in Savannah's death? Because whoever she was seeing just so happens to be from my home town? Is that what you're implying, detective?"

"We just have to rule out every poss-"
"And now you have to ask if I worked with someone to murder Savannah?" I couldn't help myself as my voice came out louder than I meant for it to be. But how could they stand there and think I could possibly have anything to do with this? "Just come out and ask me straight. Ask me exactly what you want to ask me."

"We don't believe you had anything to do with this" Jay started, "okay? But we're just here doing our job."

"Stella, we are not saying you are involved. We are just trying to figure this whole thing out" Ayla says. "The contact was under a Dylan F. Does that name sound familiar?"

The whole world went silent. I couldn't move as I watched Ayla and Jay look at me, their mouths moving but no sound was coming out. No. No, it couldn't be. There's no way it could be...

"Stella?" Jays voice snaps me back to reality.
"It can't be him" the words slip out of my mouth. "It can't..."

"Who? It can't be who, Stella?" Ayla asks me.

I couldn't breathe. My legs start walking back to the living room. Evan was still sitting on the couch.

"Stella? We need you to answer the question" I hear Jays voice behind me but I keep walking towards the couch. Towards Evan.

"Baby? Is everything okay?" Concern flashes over Evan as he looks up at me. He was at my side in an instant. It felt as if the world was about to slip from underneath me.

There's just no way it could be who I think it is.

"You look like you're gonna be sick" Gigi says, getting up from where she was seated. Her eyes shoot towards Ayla. "What the hell did you guys say to her?"

I answer before Ayla or Jay could respond to her. "My ex. His name is Dylan. Dylan Fray."