Yet a Stranger (The First Quarto #2) - Gregory Ashe Page 0,133

and you don’t have an alibi for the night Nia was shot. You’re a murderer, and you’re a fucking coward, and I can’t wait to see you in court. You’re going to be a fucking laughingstock, Peepee.”

“Don’t call me that,” Orlando said.

“Why not, Peepee? Are you going to cry? Do you think that’s going to help you when you’re taking the heat for this? Because you’d better fucking believe Genesis isn’t going to admit she was part of it. She’s going to let you shoulder the whole thing, Peepee.”

“Stop it.”

“Peepee, Peepee, Peepee. You are one stupid son of a bitch. Did you know that?”

“Stop!” Orlando shouted.

“No, I’m not going to stop, I’m going to—”

Auggie caught Theo’s shirt. “Give us a minute.”

“Not a fucking chance.”

“Give us a couple of minutes. You’re upsetting him.”

“He ought to be upset. He’s a fucking murderer.”

“Theo, get out.”

Face twisted with rage, Theo lunged at Orlando. Auggie got between them, and after a few moments of tussling, forced Theo out into the hall. Theo stomped toward the next bedroom. A door slammed shut, and the crash shattered the silence.

When Auggie turned around, his back to the hallway, Orlando was crying. The tears shone in his thick scruff. “Augs, I did not do this. I didn’t! I swear to God.”

“Last chance, Orlando. You can get out in front of this and make it better.”

Orlando was silent for at least five minutes; Auggie let him have the time, let it work on him. Auggie heard the front door open and felt a thrill run through him. After that, the only noises were stray sounds: the squeak of a floorboard, a click that came from the kitchen. Theo grunted in the hallway, probably annoyed by the wait.

“We’ve got the rifle with your prints, Orlando. It’s open and shut. You’re going down for murder and attempted murder.”

Something steadied in Orlando’s visage. He wiped his eyes, and they stayed dry. “You’re a smart guy, Augs. Really smart. But you’re wrong about this, and I thought you were my friend. The only part you got right was Genesis asked me to get rid of some stuff for her. She emailed me. She told me Cal had stolen some of her underwear out of her locker at SportsPeak. That’s what I was doing when you caught me the first time. And yeah, I came back later. I burned it for her because—because I loved Cal, but it wasn’t right what he did to her. Let’s go. You can take me to the police. I didn’t do this, and I’ll tell them that too.”

“I don’t think we’re going to do that,” Wayne said from behind Auggie. Auggie turned. Wayne stood in the doorway. He’d healed since the fight with Theo, the marks of it gone except for a slight crookedness to one of his fingers that hadn’t been there before.

“Wayne, thank God,” Orlando said. “You need to call Mom and Dad and have them get that lawyer you used. Augs is crazy, and not his usual kind of crazy that’s neurotic and sweet.”

Wayne’s eyes were so dark they were almost black. His gaze fixed on Auggie, unwavering. Auggie could feel his pulse in his throat, a sudden lightheadedness.

“Orlando,” Wayne said, still staring at Auggie, “go get that tie from my closet, the one I wear for athletic signings.”

“What? Why? Wayne, Augs thinks I killed Cal. You need to call Mom and Dad and—”

“Everything’s going to be ok, and I swear to God I’m going to take care of you, but you need to do exactly what I say right now: go get the tie from my closet.” When Orlando didn’t move, Wayne screamed, “Go get it!”

In his peripheral vision, Auggie saw the sudden pallor in Orlando’s face, the way the thick brows scrunched together.

“Do you want me to tell him?” Auggie said. “Or are you going to?”

“You’re done,” Wayne said.

“You killed Cal.”

“One more word, and I’ll make you be quiet.”

“Let him talk.” Orlando’s voice was sharp. It echoed weirdly through the apartment.

“This is your chance, Wayne. This is your chance to show Orlando that you can be a good brother. Bail him out like you did after we found your shit under his bed. Tell him what you did. Take responsibility for it, and the craziness can end. Otherwise, the police are going to get a rifle with Orlando’s prints all over it. Are you going to let that happen to him?”

“Augs, what are you talking about? I thought you just told me I was