Chapter 22: The Yearbook

The living room was quiet except for Capri's shuffling feet returning from the kitchen with two cups of hot chocolate. Her face was still dull with indescribable emotions, her hand shaky as she handed Chyler one cup. Chyler sat at the edge of a couch watching her silently move through the room before finally lowering herself into a seat across from her.

She took a deep breath. "I'm going to tell you everything."

Capri met her gaze and nodded once. Chyler began with what she was doing with Cece, every part of the investigation about Maddie's mystery death, the mystery relationship, the attachments she had gotten from Maddie's contact about Caden's shady deals... then about Meghan, about her stakeout without leaving a single detail this time. Lastly about Captain Navarro's conclusion about Caden.

Capri sat still through it all, her expression dead straight until she couldn't anymore.

"So... he was with Maddie Howard?"

"Yes," Chyler said gently. "A relationship, a business deal or both." Chyler went on. "It seems like it went sideways and then Maddie was killed while she was still investigating him. That's why I thought he... killed her."

"And then Meghan the night before she was killed. God," Capri exhaled, fighting hard against herself. She blinked fast, taking another deep sigh before she spoke again. "I knew... he was having affairs. I felt it." She admitted, the confession sitting heavy in the air between them. "But with people I knew? My friends?" She shook her head like she was trying to shake off the image.

Chyler crossed the space between them by moving next to her. She took her hand. "I should have told you sooner. I should have handled things better at the memorial. I'm sorry."

Capri didn't speak. Her eyes filled with tears which them spilled slowly. She didn't try to stop them. Then suddenly, she collapsed into Chyler's arms. Chyler held her tightly, pressing a kiss to her hair as Capri shook against her.

"I've got you," she whispered. "I've got you."

They sat like that for minutes until Capri stopped sobbing and just lay there. Silence wrapped around them snuggly but their minds weren't as still. Chyler stared ahead feeling numb. The faces of the four victims haunted her like a bad horror.

"What are we going to do?" Capri whispered.

Chyler pulled back slightly, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek. "We are going to stay safe. I'm going to protect you."

"How?"

Chyler sighed. "I don't know yet. But this killer... whoever it is expects me to figure out who is next. They sent me a message back there. It said —" She stopped mid-sentence. A sharp frown creased her forehead.

"What is it?" Capri asked in alarm.

"Do you happen to have our yearbook?"

Capri blinked. "No. I never kept it." Chyler cursed under her breath. "What has it got to do with anything?" Capri queried.

"I think Juneau has it. She was obsessed with you and our graduating class. She has a bunch of our class stuff tucked somewhere in the house." She stood up gathering her jacket. "I'll go see if I can find it."

Capri shot up too quickly, her face streaked with fear. "Wait, you are leaving?"

"I have a theory but I need that yearbook to prove it. And I need to prove it fast."

"Please don't go," Capri begged. "Don't leave me alone."

The fear in her voice cracked something inside Chyler. She stepped close and held her again. "I'll be right back, I promise." She squeezed her arms. "Lock all the doors and windows and don't let anyone in until I return, alright?"

Capri nodded hesitantly but obeyed. Chyler kissed her softly then grabbed her car keys and left the house, her pulse thudding with urgency.

★★★

She knew something was wrong the moment she pulled into Capri's compound later and saw the car. Caden's car.

Her stomach dropped. She rushed to the door and burst in without a knock and there he was in the living room lounging on a sofa like he belonged there. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand and a half empty bottle on the table. Capri sat across the room, her face pale and distant.

Caden turned to her with a slow grin. "Officer Lee. You are just in time."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Chyler asked not moving from her position.

He raised his glass. "In-law privileges. I should be asking you that question." He stood up poured another drink and approached her holding it out. "For you."

"I'll pass!" she spat, giving every hint of every ounce of hatred she had for him.

He squinted his eyes. "I'm sorry. Don't you always like what's handed down to you?" he asked smoothly. "Including my wife? How is that working out for you by the way? My little pet over there won't tell me."

Chyler's glare darkened. Her grip around the Yearbook tightened but she grounded herself.

"See, you'll never be my match," he went on. "You know why? I have something that you don't. Something you will never have." He smirked but Chyler said nothing. "I'm a man. And that's what she wants so... unless you have a little freaky penis match going on downtown, why don't you just stop embarrassing yourself?"

"Caden, stop!" Capri shouted, getting up from her position.

"No, Capri. And if you know what's best for you you will remain seated there and shut up. This is between me and her."

Chyler smirked and took a step forward. "Funny," she said, unable to control the mockery in her voice. "You think being a man is all it takes to keep a woman?" She stepped into his face. "I don't need a dick to know how to love a woman right. And if you loved Capri, you would let her be happy. You would stop smothering her with your power and ego."

Caden chuckled coldly. "And who told you she is not happy?"

Capri rose behind him, her voice clear. "I did!" she said. "I'm not happy and I haven't been happy for years. I have spent every day in our marriage pretending, wishing I could escape!" Caden froze, then turned slowly staring at her like he couldn't believe she had said that. Capri's hand shook as she pointed at the door. "Get out! Go be with your mistresses."

He scoffed and drained his glass. "Wait till your parents hear about this. We will see what they have to say about it." He threw the glass to the floor and pieces scattered across the room. Them he stormed out slamming the door behind him.

Capri dropped back onto the couch breathing hard.

"You okay?" Chyler asked, approaching.

Capri gave a tired smile. "Caden is the least of my worries right now. Let's focus on what's important."

Chyler sat beside her and opened the Yearbook. "Okay." She flipped through the pages. "I have tried to make the connection between the four and analyzing what else apart from being classmates made them stand out. What else did they have in common?" Capri nodded. "All of them were known students. In extracurriculars, walking around in certain cliques... I narrowed it down to—"

"The in-crowd," Capri completed the statement as Chyler stopped at a page with a group photo. They stared, frozen at the photo, ten friends, all the popular hotshots of their graduating class. And four of them were dead. "They have all died in order..." Capri whispered, swallowing a bitter taste in her mouth. "Maddie, Jason, Serena, Meghan..." She stopped as their eyes shifted to the next one in the lineup. "Oh God!" she gulped, her hand flying to her mouth.

Capri. And behind her, his arms wrapped around her... Caden. Chyler felt her throat tighten. Bile rose to her throat as she slowly tore her eyes away from the Yearbook, to Capri.