Haunted by the Past (Original)

Chapter 55

Just as the sky began to brighten, we trudged weary and tired through the back entrance of the Night Owl. While its patrons were long gone, its owner painstakingly mopped at the mess made during the night.

"Oh for fuck's sake, can't you read!? We're closed!" Cameron yelled without looking up. "Unless you're here to volunteer, get the fuck out!"

"Is that how you greet all your customers these days? No wonder why you're struggling," I humored.

Cameron's head snapped around to look in our direction, "Dani?"

"The one and only," I bowed with a flourish. I wanted to curtsey but as soon as I shifted my weight, my ankle screamed out in pain.

"You look like shit," he mused, gesturing to my pained expression.

"So do you, but what's your excuse?" I countered.

Cameron leant the mop against a barstool and walked over to us. In one swift move, he pulled me into a tight bear hug, "You got me worrying about you! What the fuck is going on, Dani!?"

Hugging him back, I shrugged, "It's complicated."

Even though it was good to see Cameron again and most importantly sober, somehow the air around us grew cold. As we pulled away, I noticed Cameron and Eli glaring at each other.

Cameron gestured to Eli, "Dani, how did you end up caught up with this shithead?"

"Um, this is Eli. He's, uh, Meredith's brother," I introduced. "Half-brother."

"Huh, didn't know Meredith had a brother," Cameron scratched the back of his head, "Have we met before?"

Eli seemed very irritated by the conversation, "You might remember, we went to high school at the same time."

"Did we?" Cameron arched an eyebrow then shrugged. "I don't know, my high school years were a bit of a blur. But you didn't answer my question. How did you end up mixed up in this d-bag's shit and how the fuck did it get so out of control?"

Looking Cameron in the eyes, I didn't have the heart to tell him his sister's killer was back, "It's complicated."

"Complicated? They say that guy in Jersey was marked," Cameron pointed out. "Like how Heather was marked."

"You know that wasn't us, right?" I questioned nervously.

"Of course, I know you would never pull that shit," Cameron assured me. "As I've been saying to everyone all week, it has to be some kind of sick fuck framing you. You would never do that to me or to Heather's memory. Him though? I have no fucking idea."

I glanced to Eli in the corner of my eye, "He wouldn't either."

"Dani says you have a place for us," Eli stepped in to direct the conversation to more pressing matters.

"Oh, sure. The upstairs apartment," Cameron gestured in the direction of the stairs outdoors. "I didn't know you were coming so soon. If I did, I would've opened the windows or something. Swept out the dead roaches at least."

"Charming," Eli rolled his eyes.

"Ha, beggars can't be choosers!" Cameron teased Eli, then turned to me. "I don't like being up there so I try not to be. Can I just give you the keys?"

"Yes, that's fine, Cam," I sympathized. "We can find our way up."

Cameron nodded, then left us to find the keys in the drawers behind the bar. Eli turned to me with an exasperated expression on his face, "I really don't like this. Us going up there, you'll only be punishing yourself."