My Sister's Secret

(Chapter Five: Deep Trouble)

Bailey and Elliot returned home late that afternoon with four pairs of shoes and Chinese take out.

"I'm gonna go show Aubrey my new heels," Bailey said running up the stairs.

Olivia turned and looked at Elliot as she folded her arms in front of her.

"Those aught to look nice out on the ball field," she said with a sly smile.

"There was a sale."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. Buy one get one half off."

"Did you get the cleats?"

"The cleats, two pairs of running shoes and the heels."

"How did she talk you into it?"

"The sale. And the fact that she and Aubrey wear the same size. She could have a very successful career in sales someday."

Olivia laughed.

"How's Aubrey?"

"No fever or anything. Just feeling under the weather."

"You get anything out of her?"

"Nope. You have any luck with Bailey?"

"No. They are good."

Olivia smiled again. "They are good."

"They are stubborn."

"Right," she agreed.

"And they get it from you."

"Right again," she said patting him on the back as she kissed his cheek and moved to set the table. "Girls, dinner!" She called up the stairs.

Elliot sat the grocery bags on the counter and began to the items away. The girls came down the stairs and sat down at the table for dinner.

"Hey baby," Elliot said looking at Aubrey who could barely look him in the eye.

"Hi dad," she replied softly.

"You hungry? Mom said you haven't really eaten anything today."

"A little."

"I got beef and broccoli. Your favorite."

Aubrey smiled. "Thank you, daddy."

"You are very welcome honey," Elliot said kissing the top of her head.

"And for dessert, rocky road ice cream."

"Also my favorite," she laughed.

"Mom's favorite, too. I thought that might make you feel better. I love you, princess."

"Love you too, dad."

For the first time all day Aubrey actually enjoyed a meal. They sat down to dinner as a family and ate together. And for that half an hour, everything was normal again.

Monday morning things seemed to be returning to normal as the girls went running with their mother. Olivia watched as they gathered their things and climbed into the back of her black SUV. Everything seemed fine when she pulled up in front of their school and dropped her daughters off that day.

But everything was not fine. Infact in just a few hours Olivia would soon learn how far from fine things really were.

It was just after two o'clock in the afternoon when Elliot received the voicemail.

"You okay, Bre?" Bailey asked closing her locker door.

"Fine, I just can't wait for this stupid day to be over so I can go home."

"Hey, a couple of more hours and the day is over."

"Yeah," Aubrey agreed.

"At least you have art class next. That is fairly easy. I'm stuck in History. BORING!" Bailey exhaled. "Meet me back here after class for lunch, okay?"

"I will," Aubrey agreed.

Bailey hugged her sister and slipped the strap of her back pack over her arm. "I love you, Bre."

"I love you too, Bailey."

"We'd better get to class before the bell rings."

After class the girls met up at their lockers, then headed to the cafeteria for lunch.

"I am starving," Bailey said as she picked up a tray and got in line.

"I'm not really hungry. Can you just get me a soda? I'll get us a table."

"Okay."

A few minutes later Bailey sat down beside Aubrey with two Diet Cokes and a tray full of food.

"Eat lately?" Aubrey asked looking at the mound of food on the tray.

"I didn't know what I wanted. And I figured you could help me finish it. I got a salad, nachos and a turkey sandwich."

"Bailey, I told you I'm not hungry."

"Please, eat something. Here," Bailey said taking half the sandwich and setting it on a napkin for Aubrey. "You have to eat something."

Aubrey picked up the sandwich and took a bite. She looked up at Bailey, who smiled at her.

"It's gonna be okay Aubrey," Bailey whispered.

After lunch was study hall for both girls, where notes were being passed and whispers circling the room about a kid who had died over the weekend.

"I wonder who he is?" Bailey asked overhearing Lisa tell her sister about it.

"I don't know," Lisa replied, "but I heard he was shot in the back."

"No, he hung himself," another girl replied from across the room.

"Whatever it was, I heard the cops are ruling it murder. They said he was at some party Friday night and when home and climbed in bed. Someone must have followed him, because the next morning they found him with his head bashed in!" Stated Ralph Johnson III, a boy from Bailey's Chemistry class who was the third member of his family cursed with the awful name.

"Gross!" Lisa declared.

"Seriously Ralph," Bailey said with a glare, "why do you have to be so graphic?"

"Yeah!" Lisa agreed. "And right after lunch!"

"I would think the two of you could handle a bit of graphic grossness. I thought mommy and daddy were cops? Haven't you seen like dead bodies and stuff before?" Ralph asked, half just being a jerk and half really curious about the answer.

"We saw my grandma at the funeral home when we were about six. But it wasn't gross or graphic."

"No! I mean like pictures of bloody, severed heads and stuff."

Bailey just stared at him, his question unworthy of an answer.

Lisa laughed. "Really, Ralph? Like, no wonder you don't have a date for the homecoming dance!"

"That is right ladies! I am still available! I have turned down numerous invitations to make sure my dance card stays open for one of you," he said leaning toward Aubrey.

She pulled back and wrinkled her nose as she glared at him. "So, not gonna happen."

"What about you, my love?" He asked turning to look at Bailey. "I realize as twins you probably share everything and I just want you to know that I understand. I'm cool with it!"

"Sorry Ralph," Bailey said standing as the bell rang.

As they walked through the hallway littered with adolescent high school students the heard a man's voice from behind them.

"Bailey Stabler?"

"Yes," she said before turning to look at the man in his police uniform.

"Is one of you, Bailey Stabler?"

"I am," she spoke up as the girls looked at each other.

"Bailey Olivia Stabler?"

"Last I checked," she snapped becoming annoyed at his repeating the question. Aubrey nudged Bailey with her elbow for being rude. "I mean yes, sir. I am Bailey Olivia Stabler. Is something wrong with my mom and dad?"

"No ma'am. But I am going to need you to come with me," he said pulling a pair of handcuffs from his belt.

"What?" She asked looking confused.

"Can you put your hands up against the lockers, please?" He instructed.

Bailey handed Aubrey her books and did as she was told.

"What is going on here?" Aubrey asked as Bailey looked back with tears in her eyes.

"Bailey Olivia Stabler, you are under arrest for the murder of Jeremy Briggs. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand these rights as they have been read to you?"

"Umm….yes," she said through tears as the man cuffed her wrists behind her back and turned her to walk her toward his squad car. "Aubrey?" She called looking behind her at her sister.

"I'll call mom and dad," Aubrey replied about to cry as well. And for the first time the sisters realized exactly who the dead kid from their school was.