Up On the Bookshop, the Body Fell by Jessica Brimer

Author:Jessica Brimer [Brimer, Jessica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-08T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

The following hours passed in a blur. I had managed to unbuckle and pull Jane out from the passenger side. I thanked God when I saw Jane was breathing, mumbling about being fine. After calling her a liar, I used my smartwatch to call for help. I barely recalled the ride to the hospital. My thoughts were fixated on Jane’s well-being. It wasn’t until later, after the doctor released me, that I felt body aches and saw some emerging bruises on me. Now, I sat beside Jane’s bed listening to the machines and her soft snores.

“She’ll be as good as new by morning.” Deputy Underwood stood on the other side of the bed, across from me. He came in not long ago, and I’d answered his questions. Underwood didn’t voice his thoughts aloud, but I knew his tone enough to know he was upset. I didn’t blame him. Meddling in a homicide had consequences, and Jane being in a hospital bed was proof.

A mix of emotions flowed through me: fear, anger, worry, and overall, numbness. My mind kept replaying the crash and getting Jane to safety.

Footsteps entered Jane’s room. I turned, expecting to see the doctor or a nurse. Instead, another person came in. I took in his sling and bandaged hand.

Underwood walked around the bed, fully alert. “Knox Crowder? Do you need to add something to your statement?”

I flung my gaze to Underwood. Statement?

Knox said, “No, I wanted to see.” He stopped talking upon seeing Jane sleeping.

“What are y’all not telling me?” I looked at Knox when Underwood didn’t respond. “What happened to you?”

“Someone attacked me,” Knox replied at the same time Underwood said, “Later.”

Frustration rushed through me as I glared at my dad’s friend. He had questioned me about the car accident and failed to tell me someone else got injured. Underwood wouldn’t look at me, his attention stayed on Knox.

“How did it happen? Was it a car accident?” I asked Knox.

Knox began to come closer to me when he winced. I stood up, giving him my chair. Gingerly, he sat. I cast another glare at the deputy. Underwood gave nothing away. His lack of emotion bothered me. Even though he was normally closed off, something felt different this time. It made me ask myself what information he knew that I didn’t.

“I was taking out the trash,” Knox said. “Miranda hates doing it, so I did it. I was tossing in the bags when footsteps ran up from behind me. Somebody punched me in the back of my head, and I fell. My shoulder popped, and I laid there, hoping he would leave. He did.”

“You told me you weren’t positive it was a male,” Underwood interrupted.

“Their voice sounded funny. It was impossible to tell,” he snapped. Again, he winced when he moved the wrong way. “Anyway, he or she told me to ‘Stay out or you’re next.’” Knox mimicked his attacker’s voice. “Once I knew he was long gone, I crawled inside the store. Leo called 911.”

Knox hugged himself with one arm.

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