Chapter Fourteen
I hadn't seen David in years, but his name alone was enough to stir up a storm of memories—some good, most bad. He'd been charming in the beginning, the kind of guy who could make you feel like you were the center of the universe. But that charm had a dark edge, one I'd been too naïve to see until it was too late.
Now, as I stood outside the run-down bar where Evelyn said I could find him, I felt that old knot of anxiety twist in my stomach.
The neon sign buzzed faintly overhead, casting a garish red glow on the sidewalk. I pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside, the scent of stale beer and cheap cologne hitting me immediately.
David was sitting at the bar, a half-empty glass of whiskey in front of him. His once-boyish face had hardened with age, his features sharper, more weathered. He looked up as I approached, his brow furrowing in surprise.
"Well, well," he said, a slow smirk spreading across his face. "If it isn't Aria. To what do I owe the honor?"
I ignored his sarcastic tone, sliding onto the stool beside him. "We need to talk."
David chuckled, taking a sip of his drink. "Straight to the point. Some things never change."
"This isn't a social call," I said firmly. "It's about James Holloway."
The smirk vanished, replaced by a guarded expression. "Who?"
"You know who," I said, my voice cold. "The guy you got into a fight with at the party. The one who died."
David stared at me for a long moment, then leaned back in his chair, letting out a low whistle. "So that's why you're here. I was wondering when that would catch up to us."
"Catch up to us?" I repeated, my stomach tightening. "What do you mean by that?"
David shrugged, swirling his drink. "I mean, it was bound to happen sooner or later. People don't just forget about a death like that, no matter how much time passes."
I clenched my fists, trying to keep my anger in check. "What happened that night, David? Why were you arguing with him?"
He gave me a long, appraising look, as if deciding how much to tell me. "James owed someone money," he said finally. "A lot of money. He came to the party looking for a way to settle his debt. Problem is, he picked the wrong crowd to ask for help."
I frowned, trying to piece it together. "What kind of debt? Drugs?"
David nodded. "And not the kind of people you want to owe. He was desperate, and when I wouldn't give him what he wanted, he got aggressive."
"And then he fell," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
David's eyes darkened. "Yeah. He fell. End of story."
"No, it's not the end of the story," I snapped. "Someone hired a PI to dig into what happened that night. They think we're hiding something. And if you're lying to me—"
"I'm not lying!" David interrupted, slamming his glass down on the bar. The few patrons nearby glanced over, but quickly looked away.
I leaned closer, my voice low and sharp. "If you're not lying, then why do they think I'm involved? I wasn't the one fighting with him. I wasn't even there when he fell."
David ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched on his face. "I don't know, okay? Maybe they think you saw something. Maybe they're just grasping at straws. All I know is, I didn't push him. He slipped, Aria. It was an accident."
I studied his face, searching for any sign of deceit. David had always been a good liar, but this time, he looked genuinely shaken.
"If it was an accident," I said slowly, "then why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you tell the police the truth?"
David laughed bitterly. "You think they would've believed me? A guy like me, with my record? No way. They'd have locked me up before I could finish my sentence."
I wanted to argue, but deep down, I knew he was right.
"Who did James owe money to?" I asked after a moment.
David hesitated, then shook his head. "You don't want to get involved with those people, Aria. Trust me."
"I'm already involved," I said, my voice hard. "Now tell me who they are."
David sighed, rubbing his temples. "There's a name you should know. Caleb Hart. He runs the kind of operation you don't walk away from. If James owed him money, then it's no wonder someone's still digging around. Caleb doesn't let things go."
The name sent a chill down my spine. I'd never heard of Caleb Hart, but the way David said it made my blood run cold.
"Be careful, Aria," David said, his voice softer now. "You're playing with fire, and people like Caleb... they don't care who gets burned."
I stood, my legs shaky but my resolve firm. "I'm not afraid of him."
David gave me a sad smile. "You should be."
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