Mid-December
"Toby Cavanaugh? Chief, they're sure about this?" asked Detective Wilden.
"Yes, Wilden. I called the lab myself. The dried seminal fluid found on the shoulder of Jenna Marshall's robe matches Toby Cavanaugh."
"God, he's fucking his own sister?"
"Step-sister—I don't believe that they are related by blood."
"Blood or not, that's pretty fucked up. The autopsy report states that she had had sex recently but no DNA, traces of a lubricant and spermicide-used a condom. No bruising or other overt signs of force, so the sex seems consensual. Did Kahn have sex with her and Cavanaugh what—how does Cavanaugh's semen transfer to Jenna Marshall's robe?"
"Well, if he tried to force himself, why is the semen on her robe and nowhere else? He has some knowledge of how the system works—juvenile detention is like school for criminals innit, we put'em away to "rehabilitate" and they come out dirtier than when they went in. Maybe he cleans her up but forgets he touched her shoulder."
"So Cavanaugh is jealous, waits for Kahn to leave, then Cavanaugh attempts rape and kills her?"
"He did try to kill her once before. He set their goddamn garage on fire while she was inside. There never seemed to be a motive then. Now the two of them tried to give us some cock and bull story later that some stranger set that fire, but that never felt true."
"But why would the girl try to clear him? He has this history of arson, so why not set the whole house on fire after he'd killed her—you know, destroy the evidence?"
"Not all criminals are as logical as the quacks say. Some of 'em are just plain crazy."
"The motive just doesn't seem to fit, Chief.
"I don't know Wilden, just find the bastard so we can give the parents and this town some peace of mind. Let lawyers and quacks worry about motive."
…
Veronica opened the door and found Detective Wilden.
"Mrs. Hastings, is Spencer home? We'd like to talk to her."
"She's a minor. You may question her here not at the station and while I am present,"
"Of course, Mrs. Hastings."
"Very well. I will return in a moment with Spencer. You may wait on our porch until I return."
"I couldn't get a cup of coffee, could I?"
"I will be glad to fix a cup for you, when I return." Veronica closed the door in Wilden's face and went to Spencer's bedroom.
"Spence, honey?"
"Yeah mom?"
"The police are here. Detective Wilden wants to talk to you. Honey, he's in charge of the Jenna Marshall murder investigation. Do you know why he would want to talk to you?"
"I have no idea. I don't—didn't really know Jenna all that well. We weren't friends. Do I have to talk to him?"
"Well, no, but I don't see why you shouldn't. I think that refusing to speak to the police will cause them to cast their suspicions onto you unnecessarily. I'll be with you the whole time. If there are any questions that you feel uncertain about answering, just look at me, okay?" Spencer nodded.
"Okay" Spencer's phone buzzed. *Alibi Toby for Jenna's death or your personal physician will be answering charges on the distribution of kiddie porn. Too bad for him, you're still a minor Spence—A* There was a video attached—Spencer and Wren, together. It looks like our first night together. Alibi Toby? What could Toby have to do with Jenna's death? He's in Bucks County. Why does 'A' want to force me to protect Toby? "I'll be right down mom, let me just go to the bathroom first." Veronica returned downstairs and invited Wilden and the uniformed officer inside. They sat in the living room to wait for Spencer.
Spencer stood in her bathroom, rinsing the vomit from her mouth. God, a video? That video getting out would be bad, punishing Wren for something that I wanted, but framing him for distributing child pornography, that would ruin him—how did 'A' even make this—I made sure that every damn window was blocked. I was so careful. The angle of the video—looks like the top of his dresser. There's nothing there but—his phone. He docks his smart phone there. 'A' hacked his phone. She washed her hands and walked down stairs.
"Spencer, I have some questions about your boyfriend, Toby Cavanaugh."
"Okay."
"Could you tell me about the last time that you saw Toby?"
"It was the night that Jenna died. I mean, I didn't know that she died that night but I now know that it was the night she died. I met him at the overlook around 10pm and left just after dawn."
"His parents told us that he had left town just after Halloween."
"Yes, he did, he came back that night to see me."
"I see. And do you know where he is now?"
"No, I haven't heard from him."
"Very well. Spencer, Mrs. Hastings, thank you for your time. We'll be in touch."
…
Monday morning at the hospital a nurse handed him a note. "A pretty brunette left this for you, Doctor."
Text me the time you will be leaving from work. I'll be waiting for you. You said that you would do anything to help me, please do this for me. When you get home, grab me and bend me over. Push up my skirt and rip off my underwear. Force me. I'll explain everything later, please don't ask. SpencerWhat the hell? God knows I'll rip her pants off any day, but force myself on her, no. I'd do anything for her, but I can't do that. If she wanted to do something new, she'd just say so. She had made plans to hang out with her friends after student council and hockey practice. What the hell happened? She had started to leave things at my place beyond a toothbrush. She stayed through the night most nights now. Things were fine when she left last night. She seemed relaxed. School was fine, she had relaxed about UPenn and as far as I know, no family issues. Melissa was in Philadelphia, Peter Hastings was on some business trip. Garret's death seemed to have kept this 'A' person happy enough to leave Spencer alone. Jenna Marshall's death was weeks ago—her death hadn't seemed to disturb Spencer any more than the tragic death of a schoolmate would bother anyone. What the hell's put the wind up? Wren pulled out his phone, texted Spencer, and returned to work.
…
Spencer paced in Wren's apartment. She was wearing heels and a tight pencil skirt. She had thought about running to the mall to buy a garter belt and thigh highs, but she didn't have the time. She settled for sheer stockings that she already had at home. She imagined the sound of the nylon stockings and cotton underwear tearing just before Wren entered her. She imagined the feeling of being pressed into the table and pounded into over and over again. Where is he? It only takes ten minutes for him to walk from the hospital to his apartment building. He's twenty minutes late. Probably some patient. I'll just text and ask him how long he'll be.
Wren had stopped in the neighborhood pharmacy to buy lube and condoms. He was sitting in the coffee shop now. How am I aroused thinking about forcing Spencer, thinking of bending her over a table and fucking her as hard as I can? What kind of a man does that? Am I really even considering doing this? Wren checked his incoming *you on your way? If not, how long will you be?* No way in hell am I forcing her. I'll rip her clothes off sure, but she has say yes before anything else. Safe word, there has to be a safe word. *I'm on my way*
Spencer opened the door while Wren was climbing the last flight of stairs. She locked the door behind him and waited. Wren placed the bag on the kitchen counter before turning to speak.
"I don't know how far you want me to take this. I'm conflicted about forcing you to do anything. We need a safe word."
"Fine, apples. Can we fuck now?"
"Blow me."
"No." They laughed. He walked towards her and pulled her close. "Thank god. You had me really worried." He pulled away and looked into her eyes. "Are you certain this is what you want?"
"Yes. I need you to be rough today. I want you to take control. I don't want you to ask me, I want you to take me. Will you fuck me now?"
"I'm gonna fuck you so hard you can't walk tomorrow," he whispered into her ear.
...
Her last gasp pushed him over the edge and he came, falling on to her back. They rested their before Wren was able to stand up and pull out. He stepped out of the pile of pants and boxers. He pulled off the used condom and walked to the kitchen trash. He looked back at Spencer, and smiled, a little embarrassed and a little proud that he had left her so disheveled. Her bra was hanging off her forearms, her hair a little messy, as she leaned over the back of the sofa and panted, trying to catch her breath. He wanted to run over and kiss her, but was a little wary. He poured two glasses of water. She still hadn't said anything.
He walked back to her, handing her the glass. She took quick sips, like a marathon runner.
"I take it back. Thighs like that, you definitely rowed at Oxford. Forgive me for ever doubting." They laughed. He picked her up, carrying her bridal style to the bedroom while talking.
"One never lies about rowing for Oxford. I was in a lightweight four." He pulled the bedclothes back and placed her tenderly on the bed. He proceeded to undress her, tucking her now bare legs and cold feet into the sheets.
"That was, damn. I think the proper phrase is 'you could fuck for England'" Wren laughed.
"Thank you." He pulled his shirt over his head and climbed into bed next to her. She snuggled close and he put his arm around her, pulling her closer, wrapping her onto his chest. "Will you stay?"
"Is it okay if I do?"
"More than okay, I get to hold you like this all night."
"Too tired for another round?"
"I think I'll find a way." He stroked her hair. "May I ask—what changed your plans for the evening?" Crap, right, the reason for the amazing sex, thought Spencer.
"There has to be a reason for suggesting amazing sex?"
"Spencer," Wren groaned, "you already admitted as much." Spencer listened to his heartbeat.
"The police came to see me. They're looking for Toby."
"Now? Aren't they busy enough with the Jenna Marshall murder? What do the cops want with Toby?"
"They think Toby had something to do with her death."
"I thought he left Rosewood."
"As far as I know, he did. I figured he went back to Bucks County. He had a job there for a while."
"So what makes them think it was Toby? I thought they arrested Noel Kahn."
"My mom said that they had to let Noel go, even with the witness statement that placed him at her house at the time of death. She heard from one of the court officers that the police found DNA on Jenna's robe from someone other than Noel. She didn't know if it was Toby's but she said that she thought that Toby's DNA would still be on file from his previous arrests. She said that the forensic people would have run every sample found against Jenna's DNA and against some big database called CODIS."
"So if the cops are looking for Toby, you think that it was his DNA found on her robe?" Spencer nodded. Wren rubbed her back. "Well, Toby and Jenna lived in the same house, it will be hard to convince a jury about when the DNA transferred to the robe. It could have been before he left." Rosewood must have the highest per capita murder rate in the whole bloody country. How I am going to protect Spencer?
"You're right, of course you're right. There's no way Toby had anything to do with Jenna's death. I wish I had thought of that. Though not too much, because the sex was mind-blowing." They laughed.
"Spencer, this question may seem callous. I know that Toby is important to you, but is that really the only thing that has upset you?"
"You don't believe me?"
"I believe that something significant happened."
"My boyfriend being accused of murder isn't significant enough for you?"
"Spencer, that isn't what I meant. Of course you care about him—"
"I love him!" I love you. Does he? Do you love him from my bed? How can you love a boy that runs away? thought Wren.
"I know, but I also know that you're the strongest person I know; strong enough to endure police suspicions of Toby. There is something or someone else that you're afraid of, isn't there?"
"No," said Spencer, defiantly, walking into the bathroom and slamming the door. The sound of the shower came through the door. Wren knocked softly on the door.
"Spencer, talk to me. You're not alone." Spencer opened the door, took his hand and pulled him into the shower. "Shit it's freezing!" Wren pulled her close, out of the cold stream of water and changed places with her before he changed the temperature. She didn't register the temperature change as the hot water fell on them. He waited for her to speak.
"They're watching us."
"Who?"
"A'—whoever that is. I got a text just before Wilden interviewed me. 'A' wanted me to alibi Toby for Jenna's death or they would release a video of us together and frame you for distribution of child pornography because I'm seventeen."
"What? What video? There is no video."
"There is, I've seen it—us, in your bed, I—I think it's of our first night together."
"Spencer, I had nothing to do with—I have no idea how this happened—" Spencer placed her finger on his lips.
"I know. I think 'A' hacked your phone. It looks like the video was taken from where you dock your phone on the dresser."
"Christ—so you gave Toby a false alibi?"
"Yes. If the cops figure it out, there's nothing they can really do; I didn't commit perjury. And I had to protect you." Wren kissed her, trying to communicate his love and gratitude through his lips. They broke the kiss when they needed air and stood holding each other with their foreheads touching.
"You know, we've never done it in the shower."
"You're like the Energizer Bunny of sex. You just keep going and going."
"It must be frustrating for you," teased Spencer.
"Very frustrating, but I love to try to satisfy you. I hate to change topic, but Christ, a video and blackmail—aren't you curious as to why 'A' would want Toby to have an alibi for Jenna's murder?" Spencer turned away, grabbed the shampoo and began to wash her hair.
"Let me, please." Spencer dropped her hands. Wren massaged her scalp.
"Do you think that 'A' wants to protect Toby?" Spencer nodded.
"Do you think that this means that Toby is working with 'A'?" Spencer turned back, burying her face in his shoulder.
"What else could it mean? I believed he loved me and it was all a lie!" she sobbed.
"Shh, everything's going to be okay, but I need to rinse your hair before soap gets in your eyes or the hot water runs out." Spencer let him tilt her head under the water and rinse the shampoo from her hair. They quickly finished washing and left the shower. "Uh, no towels, here this will keep you warm." Wren pulled his plaid flannel robe around her, wrapping fabric to her wet body and tying the sash tightly before he dried himself a little using the only towel in the bathroom, a small hand towel. He began to dry himself, but she pulled his head to hers and kissed him deeply. She pressed herself into his body as she ran her hands over his back, weaving her fingers into his wet hair. He shivered a little and she opened the robe and pulled him against her, wrapping the robe around him too.
…
"She was lying."
"I thought so—giving that delinquent an alibi for killing his sister—unbelievable," said Wilden, shaking his head.
"I checked with Public Works: the road to the overlook was closed that week, that big storm knocked down a lot of trees and they left the overlook road 'til last to clear."
"Find out where Spencer Hastings really was that night. They weren't at the overlook, but were they together? We need to know if she's giving Cavanaugh the alibi or creating one for herself. My money's still on Cavanaugh for this, but double check. Let's get her phone records, find out if she's in contact with Cavanaugh. Check on that BOLO. We still need to bring him in."