Author's Note: That last review? Lol...
2016
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
(Later That Night At The Beach House)
The impromptu party was in full swing. Five former friends had gathered at the Scott beach house for a late celebratory dinner as various others, including Anna, Coach Whitey and members of the old Ravens team also dropped by. There was plenty of good food and music, beautiful lights that illuminated the entire home right down to the decks that led to the pier and crashing waves. Had it been a bit rowdier, it would have been reminiscent of those infamous high school beach bashes Nathan Scott was known for throwing in their younger days. But away from the action, standing on the balcony watching the festivities from afar, stood Haley Scott. She held a glass of white wine in her hand as she looked on below. There in plain view was a smiling Jake Jagielski. He seemed relieved that the worst was over and he dared let his handsome face relax into a smile. Then Peyton walked over and the smile quickly faded. The couple walked into a corner to begin an intimate and serious conversation. Their body language was tense as they stood close, arms touching, exchanging somber but nevertheless heartfelt looks.
"Makes you wonder", said a voice from behind.
Haley turned around. It was her sister in law joining her out on the terrace.
"Hey, Brooke."
"Hey yourself. Hiding out up here?"
Haley gave a half smile.
"Something like that. Let's just say I've had enough excitement for one night…one lifetime actually."
"I concur. It's been a rough few weeks, that's for sure."
"How are you holding up?"
Brooke shrugged.
"I'll be okay. I'm strong. Most of all, I'm just relieved. This is all over now. We can finally start to put it behind us. I can move on."
"You miss him?" Haley asked.
Brooke chuckled.
"I'd be a liar if I said I didn't. Lucas has been a huge part of my life for so long. It's hard to say good bye. But I am relieved about Jake."
Haley nodded.
"He's a good guy. I feel bad for him. He has been through so much."
Brooke rolled her eyes.
"One of the many perks of being closely associated with Peyton Sawyer."
"He really loves her."
"Yeah, he does."
"Do you think they'll make it?"
Brooke shrugged.
"I have no idea. What is 'making it' really? I don't think he'll ever leave her, if that's what you're asking. After Jenny, Lucas, Minnie, the other affair, and now the end of this murder investigation, it makes you think, how much can one person take? Poor guy would probably be better off without her but he can't just walk away. Just like I couldn't with Luke and you can't with Nathan."
Haley sighed.
"Why do we stay?"
"That we'll never know. We just do and that's the way it is."
"You think we'll ever be the way we all were?" Haley asked.
The two women looked out as Jake tenderly took Peyton's hand in his.
"I don't know. I doubt it. But like it or not, we'll always be connected."
Truer words had never been spoken.
"I worry about Jake. I worry about all of you actually."
Brooke nodded.
"That's funny because right now I'm most worried about you, Haley."
Haley looked up puzzled.
"Why? I'm fine."
"Are you? Will you be? I mean, it's gonna be hard waking up each day and living with what you've done."
Haley's body stiffened.
"Excuse me? Brooke, I'm sorry but I have no idea what you're talking about."
Brooke looked her right in the eye.
"I really think you do, Haley", she said quietly. "I think you know damn well exactly what I'm talking about."
Brooke's eyes never left hers as Haley's body language began to change drastically. She looked on the verge of panic.
"Brooke…"
"What happened that night?"
"I don't know…"
"Yes, you do. Don't lie to me, Haley. It's over. I know you did it. I know you killed Lucas."
Haley hung her head as tears began to fall. The protesting, lying and denial stopped there. Haley simply opened up her mouth and told the story as that dreadful night replayed in her head.
"I…I got a message", she began in a shaky, frightened voice. "It was from Chris. He was gonna be in town for like one day only and he needed me to fly out and lay a track in the studio. I told Nathan and he was furious. You know how he feels about Chris Keller anyway. Ever since we started working together again earlier this year, Nathan has been furious."
"At least you didn't lie to him about it this time."
"I didn't want any more secrets between us. Anyway, he was in an even more foul mood after the meetings and dinners with his attorneys and advisors. That was the night he found out Lucas had managed to take most of the money and tie it up in several untraceable accounts all over. Nathan was ready to get on a plane to Dallas right then and there. Then I told him I had to leave and that made it worse. God, he was so angry. He demanded that I leave Landon with him and after a big fight, I agreed and chartered my plane. It was after eight and I scheduled the flight for 11 p.m. I put Lan to bed and I started packing and the phone rang. It rang and rang and rang on Nathan's private line. I got curious when he didn't pick it up so I did. It was, it…was Luke."
Brooke swallowed hard.
"What did he say?"
Haley closed her eyes.
"I guess we must have answered at the same time. I was quiet so they didn't know I was on the line. Nathan was angry. They argued. He threatened to kill Lucas. Um, Luke was already in town by then. Said he needed to see Nathan right away at the Market Street Docks."
"So Nathan went and you followed him?"
She tearfully shook her head.
"No. I couldn't let him go, Brooke. I knew what would happen. It would be awful. But you know how stubborn Nathan is. How could I stop him? You know he would never listen to reason. So I…I drugged him. I dissolved a downer and put it in his drink, knowing it would make him go to sleep and when he woke up, he'd just chalk it up to another blackout."
"Haley…"
"And I took the car and left from the rear entrance so no one would see me and I drove down to the docks. I parked on Front Street and walked down to the docks. Lucas was waiting."
Brooke's heart began to pound a little faster.
"Then what?" she mouthed with a dry throat.
The memory was still fresh, too fresh. Haley closed her eyes and repeated everything just like the vivid recollections played in her mind like a movie…
It was dark but she knew the area well. A faint, passing smile crept to her lips as she passed by the table, their table. After all those years, it was still there. "Don't say I never gave you anything." She could still hear those words, still see the shy but annoyed tutor sitting across from the cocky jerk of a jock. But she kept walking until she saw the lone figure that was waiting.
"Luke…"
He turned around, stunned for a second before smirking.
"Nate complains about being half the man he used to be but sending the little woman out to fight his battles for him now? That's just pathetic."
"He doesn't know I'm here."
"Why'd you come?"
"To put an end to this. To make it all stop for everyone. Why, Lucas? I thought you were done. I thought you were trying to change."
"Haley…"
"Please. It'll never end. Look, we're all at a point where everything is just starting to maybe be okay. Jake and Peyton are raising their kids, working on their marriage. Nathan is finally bearable again and Brooke took you back. That's what you wanted isn't it?"
Lucas sighed.
"All I want is for Nathan to give up this money."
"Money! Money, money, money. It always comes down to that with you. You've already stolen most of it. What more do you want?"
Lucas chuckled.
"That's between two brothers. Sorry, sis."
Haley shook her head in disgust.
"I thought you were clean, Luke. You must be in some kind of trouble. Are you gambling again?"
"No. It's not that, Haley."
"Then why are you so hard up for this money?"
"Because Nathan has enough and I need it and I want it and that's the least he could do."
Haley took a deep breath.
"He knows. He found out what you did early. He's very angry."
"Listen, I have to talk to Nathan."
"That's not possible."
"Is he coming?"
Haley folded her arms.
"No. Not tonight."
"Fine", Lucas began to walk away. "Then I'll see him at the house."
"No", she grabbed his arm. "Don't! Lucas, don't you dare! I mean it. Do not go to my house. My son is in that house."
"Haley get off me! I have to see…"
They tussled until he finally jerked back. Haley gasped in disbelief first and in fear second when she saw it. The moon shone an eerie light on the shiny handle that seemed to glisten.
"Oh my God! Lucas!"
"Hales…"
She backed away slowly.
"No. Get away from me with that thing! Is that…oh God, is that a gun?"
"Haley, calm down. It's not what you think."
She let out a scream and turned to run. She was hysterical, in a full out panic. Lucas grabbed her arm, pulling her back before someone heard or saw.
"Let go of me! What are you doing?"
"Haley, stop it. Be quiet", he whispered.
"No!"
He spun her around to face him, pulling out the .357 and pointing it right at Haley. She nearly fainted from shock.
"Haley, get a hold of yourself."
"No", she began to whimper.
"I, I'm not gonna shoot you."
"Then why do you have that thing pointed at me?"
"I…I just need you to shut up. Please. For like one second."
Haley's eyes grew large as saucers.
"Oh God. Nathan…you, you were gonna shoot Nathan."
"Hales…"
"Lucas, no. That gun was meant for him. That's why you called him. You wanted to lure him down here and if he didn't do what you wanted, you were going to kill him. Your own brother, my husband. You monster!"
"Listen to me!"
"No!"
She pushed him away and tried to run but he pulled her back again. They scuffled. The next thing Haley heard was the loud pop. Then she saw the look on his face, his eyes wide and frightened before they rolled back in his head and shut. Then she saw the blood. It was everywhere…
A single tear fell down Brooke's face as she listened to the last moments of her husband's life.
"He…he just kind of fell and he was moaning and gurgling and I really didn't know what happened. Then I looked down and that's when I saw it. Oh God, Brooke, the gun was in my hand. Luke's blood was spattered all over me. I…"
"Haley…"
"It was an accident. I killed him but I swear I didn't mean to. The damned gun just went off. I didn't even know it was in my hands."
The brunette swallowed hard.
"Then what?"
"I was so scared. I pulled out my phone to dial 911 but I just froze up. I panicked. So I moved his body in the corner away from sight and I threw the gun in the river. I ran off, got in my car and drove home. Nathan was still sleeping when I got there so I ran upstairs and showered. I changed my clothes and got ready for my flight. I wiped the car down for blood and put my bloody clothes in a trash bag I tossed at the airport. And…and that was it."
"You didn't tell anyone?"
"No. Not even Nathan. I couldn't. I was afraid. Horrified. In shock, really. I fell asleep on the plane and when I woke up for a while it was like this crazy, surreal nightmare. So I went on. I went to Chris' house, recorded my track in like one take and acted completely normal like nothing ever happened, hoping if I didn't think about it, then…then somehow it wouldn't be true. Somehow Lucas would be alive still."
"Haley…"
"I'm sorry, Brooke", she cried. "I wanted to tell someone. I made a mistake, an awful mistake. I, I took my Buddy's life. I…I know I have to pay for my crime but I'm so scared. I'm in too deep. The more time passed, the harder it got. Oh God! Brooke!"
Haley began to hyperventilate.
"Haley, calm down. Just breathe. Take a breath."
"I can't go to jail! My husband! My son! Who will take care of Landon? Please, Brooke! I didn't mean it! I am so sorry! Brooke!"
"Haley, stop!" Brooke shook her. "Calm down! You're fine. No one is going to jail."
"But…"
"Remember what we promised? No one will ever know. Your secret is safe. I didn't let anything happen to Jake and I won't let it happen to you."
Haley wiped her eyes.
"You knew? How?"
Brooke sighed.
"Deb figured it out."
"Deb? Deb knows? Oh my God! How…"
"Relax. You know, you and your mother in law are more alike than you think. You were both naïve, golden hearted, innocent teenagers who fell hopelessly in love with maniacal Scott men. The years were hard on both you. Both of your hopes for the change and the future rested with the births of your only sons. And you also saw what this Scott legacy, curse or blessing, did to Lucas. Haley, I…I thought he was changing. I believed him. Hell, I wanted so badly to believe in him but Luke would never change for the better. He was too far gone. He was too much like, Dan, worse even. I loved him and I didn't want him to die but I saw it coming sometimes. He had hurt and pissed off too many people…just like his father. And maybe it was for the greater good that he did die. Just like Dan. I know that. Deb knew it too."
"What are you saying, Brooke?"
"The fire all those years ago at the dealership? It wasn't an accident. Deb planned it all. She drugged Dan's liquor and when he was passing out, she set fire to the place. She did it on purpose. Deb killed Dan."
Haley lost her footing and her breath.
"No! Oh my God. Oh my God…"
"She knew…and she wanted to protect you, to protect all of us."
Haley blinked.
"Jake…what about Jake? All that evidence. How…"
"Jake finally told me the truth after Peyton's testimony. Lucas called Jake that night on the phone. I don't know how he knew he was in town, too. He must have had it all planned out. Told him to meet him down at the docks around the same time Nathan was supposed to be there. So after eating dinner, that's where Jake went. But when he got there, all he saw was Lucas' dead body. He kneeled down and touched him and that's how the blood got on his clothes and that's how fibers from his suit were matched to Luke's clothes. Like you, he pulled out his cell to call for help but at the last minute panicked. He dropped it in the darkness and ran off, leaving the bloody footprint. It must have fallen into the river. He never told anyone his story either, not until he told it to me a few days ago. He was willing to go down for the rap because he automatically assumed Peyton had done it."
"Brooke…"
"My only question is the gun. How did it get from Whitey's house to the Docks? Jake didn't steal it."
Haley swallowed hard.
"Lucas had it on him already. I, I saw it."
"Then he must have had it planned. Either he was going to kill one and frame the other or kill both Nathan and Jake."
"You don't think…"
"What other explanation is there?"
Haley closed her eyes.
"The fake alibi. How did you…"
"Deb again. Convincing Grandma wasn't hard. She never believed Jake or any of us was the killer. Deb made up some story about a mafia hit over a gambling debt or some crap. Mae ate it up. She agreed to testify to save Jake."
"But the witness affidavits?"
"Haley, don't be naïve. Money is power and in this town the Scott's are power. You know that by now. Money talks and bullshit walks. Getting a bunch of business associates to sign false affidavits was the easy part. Hell, I'm sure they're used to it with all this family's shady ass dealings over the years."
"But what if…"
"What if nothing? It's over now, Haley."
"It can't be. I feel guilty. I feel horrible…"
"Think how much worse you would feel if your husband was in prison for a murder he didn't commit, or worse…what if it were Nathan lying in that coffin right now?"
Haley breathed hard.
"But I'm still a murderer."
Brooke wiped away her own tears and put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
"No, you're not."
"I, I killed Luke. I killed your husband."
Brooke bit her lip.
"I forgive you."
"Brooke! No! You can't! How can you? It's too much to forgive! I don't want you to when I can't even forgive myself! I don't deserve mercy or forgiveness, especially yours!"
"We protect each other, no matter the crime, right? Remember our pact ten years ago, earlier tonight and always. Us against the world, Haley. No one else has to know. Not Jake or Peyton or even Nathan. This stays with Deb and me and you until our graves."
"But…"
The master bedroom door opened and in walked Deb.
"Brooke, I was looking for you", she said as she walked across the room onto the balcony.
She gave a knowing look when she saw her daughter in law.
"Haley and I were just on our way back to the party, weren't we, Haley?"
Haley's brown eyes darted as she tried to compose herself.
"Yes, um…"
"Good. Nathan is looking for you."
Haley nodded and turned to follow Brooke out.
"You okay?" Brooke whispered one last time.
Haley nodded. Deb took her hand and gave it a gentle pat, her soft eyes speaking a million unspoken words.
"It's okay, Haley", she said softly. "It's over."
