Chapter 88
DEMI
"I can’t believe the Shay saga is finally over." Ashley quips, rubbing his hands on his eyes.
"Yeah. Thank God." I reply, studying him.
This period has really been stressful for him. He rarely slept without popping sleeping pills. His nightmares got more intense and frequent. While I sit across from him on the couch in his room, all I can think about is his PTSD and what caused it.
He has never bothered to talk to me about his childhood or Tobias. I didn’t ask the burning questions on my tongue because of everything he was going through at the time but now that it’s over, I need answers.
What exactly happened with Tobias? Why would Cree go to great lengths to torment him in particular if him and his family are innocent as they claim? Why was Tobias’ autopsy and police reports stowed away? I have a hunch that the Rollins family just managed to silence another of their victims.
When Cree was apprehended, Ashley asked to have a private moment with her. I tried to coax him into letting me stand and watch while he questioned her but he was adamant about speaking to her privately. His eyes had flashed angrily at me when I made a fuss. It was weird. His brothers had also banded to dissuade me from stubbornly insisting. That’s how I know there’s more to Cree/Shay’s accusation and I am determined to unearth it.
"So, what did Cree say?"
"What?"
"What was her reason for attacking you? You didn’t let me go in with you."
"She kept denying being Shay of course. She’s a pathological liar. I’ll make sure she pays severely for everything she’s put me through," he throws me a soft glance, "everything she’s put us through."