April Fools(30)

I took a couple of deep breaths, "So you had CCTV in the stockroom and you let us do that?"

"Some stock went missing a few months ago so we installed a camera in there. I completely forgot about it. I didn't know that she checked the tapes."

"So she burnt my house down because she was jealous? She nearly killed Lukas because she saw us in the stockroom together?"

He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. I didn't know whether to scream or cry. "We need to tell the police."

He pulled something out of his pocket. I stood up and took a step closer to him, "What's that?"

He pushed a button and Abbie's voice filled the room, "What do you want me to say, Isaac? I've already said that I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry for burning April's house down. What more do you want me to say?"

"I want you to tell me why you did it" Isaac asked.

"I've already lost Sienna, I can't lose you too."

"Abbie, you nearly killed an innocent person. Lukas nearly died because of you."

"I didn't know he was going to turn all knight in shining armour, did I? I didn't know that he loved her that much."

"Did you think that April was in the house?"

My heart stopped as I waited to hear her response. After a long silence, she began to cry, "Please don't hate me, Isaac. You know that I'm not a bad person deep down. I had a lot to drink and I wasn't thinking straight."

"Answer the question."

There was another long pause.

"Yes, I thought she was in the house."

My legs gave way as I began to sob quietly. Thank god that I wasn't in the house. Isaac sat down next to me and pulled me into his arms. We stayed like that for a while until I managed to calm down. "I want to hear the rest."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded so he pressed play.

"Why are you blackmailing me?" he asked Abbie.

"Because you've left me no choice. I wouldn't have to blackmail you if you actually wanted to help me. After everything that we've been through, you should want to help me."

"What would you want me to tell the Police?"

"Tell them that I was with you the night of the fire. I don't care about the details, make something up."

"So you want me to lie, even though I didn't see you at all that night?"

"Yes."

"And what if I say no?"

"Then I'll release the tape. Trust me, it's not going to look good on April's CV."

The recording ended.

"About twenty minutes after that, she was arrested for arson and attempted murder." My whole body was shaking. "I won't let anybody come close to hurting you ever again. I will spend the rest of my life making sure that you're safe and happy if you'll let me. I know that I haven't been acting myself lately but I didn't want to involve you. You've already been through so much, I didn't want to put any more stress on you. I knew that I couldn't let her release that tape. We've come so far and I wasn't going to let her ruin it all for us, ruin your chances of getting the career that you want. I'm sorry for keeping things from you."

I shook my head, "Isaac, you don't need to apologise. I should be the one apologising. I'm so sorry for doubting you last night, I feel like such a fool. You were trying to do the right thing and I was too busy jumping to conclusions."

"Look at me. We were both fools. I should have told you everything from the start. From now on, we need to be completely honest with each other. We're a team. Good or bad, we will work things out together. We need to focus on our future. Abbie's going to prison for a very long time."

"What about the tape?"

"I have it."

"How?"

"I took it from her apartment before the police arrived."

I shook my head, trying to process everything. "How did you persuade Brody to let you in here?"

"I told him everything...after he finished pushing me up against the wall."

"Does Lucy know that you're here?"

He nodded, "She was with Brody the whole time, I didn't know what else to do."

"So she knows?"

"She knows that I'm more than just your tutor but she doesn't know everything."

I took a deep breath, "I can't believe it." He held me in his arms for a long time before we finally left the room.

Brody and Lucy were sitting on the sofa. He stood up when he saw me. "Is everything okay?"

I nodded.

"How are you feeling?" Lucy asked.

"Like I've been run over...several times."

She stood up, "That's tequila for you. Do you want us to go out and get some breakfast? Give you two some time alone?"

"No, I want you to stay." I turned to Brody, "What time are you leaving?"