Murder? This can't be right. Tobias wouldn't murder Dylan... right? I shake my head over and over again until I begin to feel light headed. The nausea crawls its way up the back of my throat and I hold my stomach in an attempt to subside it.

"No, Jake wouldn't do this," I whisper.

Jake and Tobias are wanted for murder. How did this happen? When did this happen? I went to bed for one night... How much damage can the Melvin's do in one freakin' night?! Panic envelopes around me like a body crushing hug. I begin pacing the hallway with one hand pressed against my stomach and the other pressed against my forehead.

"This can't be happening," I repeat over and over again.

I stop pacing before staring at Myra with wide eyes and a panicked shrill to my voice.

"Why is this happening?" I question her.

Myra doesn't say anything. I take a deep breath to calm down while I think rationally. The Melvin household isn't swarmed with police officers yet which is a good sign, right?

"What evidence do they have?" I question Myra.

"All we know is the police have a description that matches Tobias and Jake. It was around midnight last night when they were both seen carrying baseball bats. Dylan died from a trauma blow to the head," Myra says quietly.

My eyes grow wide with disbelief.

"A trauma blow to the head," I repeat in a hushed whisper.

I blink several times as I try to digest the information. I know Jake and Tobias both own baseball bats. My heart somersaults in my chest and I hold my hand up toward Myra.

"Wait here! I have to check Jake's room," I tell her before diving for the stairs.

I run up the stairs as fast as I can before bursting into Jake's room. I drop down on his side of the bed and pull up the bed sheets in search of his baseball bat. The usual spot is empty and I feel my heart drop to the pit of my stomach.

"No, no, no." I whisper before dropping down on the floor.

What has Jake done? My hands find their way to my hair and I begin rocking back and forth. If Jake goes down for murder, how am I going to raise this baby alone? My phone is sitting on the bedside table so I snatch it up before turning it on. It immediately begins to vibrate with numerous missed calls and delayed text messages. They're all from Jake. My eyes frantically scan over every message.

I screwed up, Wentworth.

Hello? Emily? I need you to call me, baby. It's important.

I'm so sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen.

Every text makes him look guilty. I release a strangled noise of shock before calling Jake with trembling hands. The line rings once, twice, three times.

"Come on, Jake. Pick up the phone," I whisper.

I can feel my heartbeat thudding inside my ears. The room spins around me and the presence of the police officers downstairs is overwhelming. Jake finally answers the phone and I hear him inhale a deep breath before calling out my name in a quiet tone.

"Emily?"

My eyes close with relief. It's so good to hear his voice.

"Jake? What the hell is happening? Where are you? Are you hurt? Is Tobias okay? Where is Ivory? The police are here... They think you killed Dylan!"

I whisper-scream with panic down the line. Jake responds with complete silence. I know he's still there because I can hear his labored breathing. Tears fill my eyes because why isn't he correcting me? I want him to tell me the police are wrong and he isn't guilty of a single crime. I want him to tell me he's minutes away from home with our favorite breakfast bagels and a hot chocolate from Lulu's cafe. I want him to tell me he would never risk our future together with our child.

"Jake?" I sniffle while fighting back tears.

"I didn't do it, Emily," Jake whispers down the line.

The relief that floods through me is unlike any I've experienced before. If Jake tells me he isn't guilty, I believe him. He has no reason to lie to me.

"Why do the police think you're guilty? They have a witness statement describing you and Tobias," I say to him.

In the background, I hear Tobias talking and instructing Jake to get off the phone.

"Where are you? I have to see you," I say hurriedly.

I hear scuffling on the other end of the line before Jake speaks. He sounds like he's in a rush.

"I can't talk right now but meet me at the library at lunch. I'll explain everything, I promise."

"Okay, I'll be there. Jake? Stay safe. I love you," I say quietly down the phone.

Jake pauses and I hear his uneven breathing as he catches his breath. I can feel his panic and worry radiating through the phone.

"I love you too, Wentworth," he whispers a response before the line clicks and the call ends.

I slide my phone into my pocket before stumbling to my feet and darting downstairs to find Myra. She's waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs while chewing her perfectly manicured nails. I had no idea she was a nail biter. Upon noticing me, she stands up straight and looks at me for clarification.

"Well?" Myra questions me.

"They didn't do it," I breathe out. Myra's expression doesn't change. She blinks several times while appearing to be deep in thought.

"Didn't you hear me, Myra? I spoke to Jake. They didn't do it," I repeat myself.

Why isn't she acting relieved?

"Do they have proof they didn't do it? Do they have an alibi for their whereabouts last night? The police seem to think they did it! They've been after Jake and Tobias for years. Regardless of whether they're guilty or not, this could be pinned on them!" Myra continues to panic.

My palms grow clammy with moisture when I realize she's right. Just because Jake is innocent doesn't mean the police will believe him. He'll need to prove his innocence. I trust Jake but I don't trust Tobias... Not after last night. He was so filled with rage. Myra takes a step forward before staring straight into my eyes.

"You have to give them an alibi, Emily. It's the only way to get the police off their backs." Myra says quietly.

Uneasiness floods through my body and I glance down at my stomach. If I wasn't pregnant, I would give Jake an alibi within a heartbeat. It isn't Jake I'm lying to the police for though... It's also Tobias. What if Tobias is more wrapped up in this than I know? What if giving a false alibi to the police lands me in trouble and I have my baby behind bars? Giving a false alibi is an arrestable offense. My baby could be taken off me, and I would fail as a Mom. I close my eyes for a brief second because what I'm about to say doesn't make me feel good at all, but I know it's the right decision.

"I'm sorry, Myra. I won't give them an alibi."

*

The police ask to question me but before they can, I slip out of the house to meet Tobias and Jake. I need to know the full story over Dylan's death before I speak to the police. I won't be providing them with an alibi, but I also can't go into this blind. Just as I turn the corner from Jake's house, I come face to face with a parked police car on the side of the road. I come to a screeching halt before whirling around and walking in the opposite direction. Adrenaline flows through me as I begin to pick up pace before breaking out into a light jog.

When I get to the public library, I walk inside before scanning the area. Jake and Tobias aren't here yet and I know it's going to be a couple of hours before they arrive for our arranged meeting. I drop down in a chair facing the library entrance and allow myself to be alone with my thoughts. Once I see Jake, we'll work together to get him out of this mess. It's a misunderstanding... That's all. I pull out my phone before finding Ivory's contact. I know she doesn't want to speak to me after my decision to keep the baby but I haven't seen or heard from her. I'm sure she'll want to know what's going on with Jake and Tobias. I call her number and patiently wait for her to pick up. Her phone rings and rings before going to voicemail. A deep sigh slips through my lips. Is she seriously ignoring me when there's a family crisis going on? Hours pass and I'm beginning to grow bored out of my mind. I tilt my chair back and count the wooden beams on the high ceilings. I'm almost at the end when I hear my name being whispered from the dark corner of the library.

"Psst! Emily!"

My head whips to the right and my eyes narrow. Am I hearing things? I slowly stand from my seat before walking toward the secluded corner. The bookshelves are dusty and it clings to the particles in the air. I walk forward uneasily before pausing.

"Hello?" I whisper. A shadowy figure takes a step forward and I panic for a brief second before I realize it's Jake with his hood covering his face. My shoulders sink with relief and I run toward him before throwing my arms around his neck. Jake clings onto me tightly while breathing me in.

"Goddamn, it's so good to see you." Jake mutters into my hair.

What has he been through since last night? I pull back and look up at him. He looks like he's had the night from hell. His eyes are sunken and hollow from lack of sleep but I know he's filled with adrenaline due to the shaking in his hands. His jeans and trainers are covered in mud. Jake takes my face in his hands before leaning down to kiss me. His lips move slowly and he savors every second of the kiss.

"Seriously? We're on the run from murder and you're making out in a public library? Classy," Tobias snorts with his usual sarcastic remarks.

I pull back before glancing over in his direction. He's sitting on the library floor in the dark with his back resting against a bookshelf. My eyes connect with his and he salutes me half-heartedly in a greeting. His appearance mirrors Jake's, he's covered in dirt and leaves. His eyes are tired and he looks like hell.

"Shut up, Tobias." I mutter unhappily before dropping down next to him.

I cross my legs and get comfortable beside him. Jake sits on the other side of me before tilting his head back against the bookshelves and releasing a deep sigh.

"Yeah, shut up, Tobias." Jake repeats quietly. Tobias musters a grunt in response. They both sound completely exhausted. Did they sleep at all last night?

"Is the house crawling with police?" Jake asks before turning to look at me.

"There's two officers inside and a second police car parked outside."
His eyes flash with frustration. I slip my hand into his before resting our clasped hands on his thigh. A silence settles in the air. Sitting on the floor of a public library looks innocent, like all three of us are children enjoying our Saturday morning surrounded by books. In reality, I'm avoiding the police officer's questions and Jake and Tobias are on the run. It doesn't get much crazier than this.

"Are either of you going to tell me what happened?" I say quietly while glancing between both of them. Tobias kisses the front of his teeth before shaking his head in protest. I turn to look at Jake and he appears to be deep in thought. His eyes are troubled and he's unusually quiet.

"Somebody needs to tell me what's going on. Start from the beginning," I say quietly but firmly.

It's time the Melvin boys learned to talk to me... Especially since they're going to need my help.