Page 109 of I Hope This Finds You Well

I’m packing up my access card and phone when Caitlin says, “Should we stick together since it’s dark?”

Her voice startles me after all the silence. I glance up and she’s watching me carefully, her face a little guarded.

“Right, yes, murder is a thing,” I say. “Are you taking the bus?”

Caitlin sighs. “I’m in Sundance. An Uber would be like a hundred bucks. I’m supposed to be saving money for my... Yeah, the bus.”

I nod. “Same. I’m in the other direction, but just as far.”

An awkward smile emerges on Caitlin’s face for a second before it drifts away. “Let’s hope our buses come at similar times so neither of us have to give witness statements tomorrow.”

It feels like an olive branch. I chuckle.

We make our way down the stairwell to the bus stop just in front of our office in polite silence. Ever since Kyle yelled at her, it’s like a layer of skin has been lifted. I thought I knew who Caitlin was, but now I finally see her.

But the idea of her going back to Kyle is like a corkscrew drilling into my brain.

“Caitlin,” I blurt out, “are you going home?”

Caitlin stiffens and her hands clench. “Yeah...” Her eyes flicker to mine and then away. “Is this about Kyle? It’s fine. Just stay out of it.”

She’s right, of course. This isn’t my problem, and Caitlin isn’t my friend. I shouldn’t have listened to that phone call. There’s so much I shouldn’t know these days.

But I do know Kyle. I know that he is a terrible person—dangerous even. It’s like a scream is stuck in my throat, causing a phantom ache as it begs for release.

It’s too much. I open my mouth and the words tumble from me. “Caitlin, if he’s willing to talk to you like that when others can hear, I’m really worried about what he says when he thinks nobody can.”

Caitlin tucks her hand into a fist against her belly. Both our eyes slip to the ring on her finger. She shakes her head. “No, it’s not like that. Things have just been stressful for both of us with work. That was a one-off.”

I wish I could believe her, but I saw the emails. And I know Kyle. I speak softly: “But things sounded so heated. Are you sure you want to—”

“Jolene, can you honestly drop it?”

It’s not like Caitlin isn’t capable of taking care of herself. But the corkscrew twists inside, sharp and urgent.

“It’s just—” I swallow, hardly able to believe what I’m about to say. “I actually know Kyle from—”

Caitlin throws up her hands. “Enough!” Then her gaze locks directlyon to me, her lips curled with disdain. “You think you know Kyle? He told me all aboutyou. I know all about your friend. How you left her to die.”

I stop breathing as her words splash over me like boiling water, hot and painful. Her lips turn into a smirk, taunting me.

This has always been my worst nightmare—even worse than losing my job was someone knowing.

But this isn’t about me. She’s the one who needs help right now.

I inhale and look directly at her. “It was the worst moment of my life.” My breath hitches despite myself. I push down my panic and keep speaking. “Ellie was my best friend.”

Caitlin’s gaze shifts down to the sidewalk, her nose wrinkling.

“I don’t know what Kyle told you, but I really was alone with her when she slipped and fell. Everyone said I left her there, but I stayed for a long time. I tried screaming for help. Eventually I had no choice, I had to leave her.”

Caitlin’s eyes flash back to mine, but she doesn’t speak.

“You know what happened when I finally got back to the group? I was begging for someone to call for help, but Kyle laughed and said I was just a drunk loser trying to get attention.”

Caitlin’s fingers squeeze into little fists at her sides. I wipe my cheeks with the back of my hand.

“Weeks later, he would taunt that we had some squabble and I killed her for fun.” My throat is raw and broken as I keep going. “Whatever Kyle says I am, I’ve thought worse about myself. So think whatever you want about me. Nothing is worse than what happens inside my head.”