Chapter 14
I have the early shift at the fish camp this morning so I leave Ashton at the store and Austin to sleep in around the house until I get back for lunch around noon. Everything was working itself out. I have a somewhat normal routine now down here, despite the bus coming today.
It's a big deal, a big thing that's happening in my life, whether I want that to be true or not. After talking it through with Austin, at least for now, Ashton was right, this is the safest place we can be. We aren't getting on that bus.
"Karen, you hear 'bout the new wanted poster?" I immediately flatten myself against the wood wall separating the kitchen from the dining area. For the weeks I've been here, I've learned many peoples names and certain peoples voices, including the police in this area. And who is talking is definitely who I assumed it'd be. Officer Evans, frequent customer, but he also makes me nervous. Half the time I can't tell if he's detailing me for a wanted report because I look suspicious or checking me out.
"No, who's it this time?" I hear Karen respond, the consistent noise of clattering dishes cutting into her voice.
"Girl named Alison Swift? Long, blond hair, curly, blue eyes. Tall." My stomach drops to my feet. I regret not changing my last name. I'm a sitting target if they connect us in any way.
"We have a Taylor Swift, but it couldn't be her. She looks nothing like her. What is she pegged for?" I silently thank Karen.
"Murder; kidnapping. Up in Tennesee." My stomach drops again. Noah died. He's gone. I killed him. It was my fault. No, it wasn't my fault, it was self defense. It had to be. A gnawing begins to ache into my stomach.
"Wow. Yeah, I have nothin' to tell you, Ryan. Unless you wanna talk to Taylor but you won't get anything out of her," I push out from my hiding place at that moment, unable to listen to this anymore. I don't know why I'm so shocked, I expected it. I expected this to happen.
"Taylor, come over here a second please?" Karen calls just as I finish topping off a young couples teas. I nod and join the small group that feels a lot bigger.
"You wouldn't know an Alison, would you?" She asks as soon as I come over. Talking myself through it, I maintain a calm expression, and cast a slow, spreading kind smile.
My eyebrows scrunch together. "No ma'am, why?"
"There's a report for an Alison Swift. You wouldn't know her, would you?" Evans asks. I can tell he's trying too hard to be professional, that the grin breaking through is a lot more than work.
Staring back at myself from a few weeks ago in a black and white school picture, one actually from my senior pictures, is definitely a defining moment. I feel so much older, as if the weeks have aged me the same as years can.
"No. I didn't know there was that many Swift's out there, though. Murder, huh? Wow," I manage.
"Yeah. You said you were from Tennesee, too. Right, Taylor?" Karen butts in and I immediately revoke my previous thanks.
"Yeah." I put both my hands on my hips, watching as Evans gaze instinctively lowers to watch me. I shiver.
"Which part?" Evans, again.
"Nashville." I lie.
"Tell me if you notice anything new, will you?" Evans smiles, nodding at me once. Karens snorts and tells me to go on and to ignore him, which I most gladly do.
•
My eyes travel up the side of the beach I walk on toward the store where Ashton is still working. I decided to surprise him and show up, maybe bring him to dinner or something. We need an us night, at least one.
