Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 138169 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 691(@200wpm)___ 553(@250wpm)___ 461(@300wpm)
“S-sure.” Her eyes well up again and she presses her lips together. “I don’t know how to go home and tell his parents, my parents. God, they… they really loved him. But I have to stay in this room by myself?”
“Is there anyone you can call?” I ask softly. “Someone who could come out and be with you?”
“My sister,” she says. “She’d drop everything for me.”
There’s warmth in her ragged voice, and I smile slightly. “I know that feeling.”
“You have siblings?”
“A brother. I lost him just as unexpectedly. So believe me when I say I do understand what you’re feeling right now.”
Until this past month, before Talia, I wouldn’t be able to tell a complete stranger something so personal.
Something about that girl changes the way I think.
The decisions I make.
It’s like I don’t want to ruin the misguided faith she has in me.
Miss Lewis’ sorrowful eyes search mine.
“How did you get over it? How do you move on?”
“I don’t know. That’s the hard part,” I say softly. “It’s different for everyone. Some days, I wonder if I’ll ever move on at all.”
Her lips curl in a bitter, understanding smile, and she looks away, rubbing at her nose. “You probably need to go, don’t you?”
“That depends,” I say, even as I ask myself what the hell I’m doing. “Do you need me to stay?”
It’s like that one question shatters her.
Suddenly, she’s crying again, curling over her untouched tea mug and bawling herself out with a broken, “…p-please. Please d-don’t leave me alone just yet…”
“Okay, Miss Lewis.” I reach across the table and cover her hand with mine. “I’m here, as long as you need me.”
I’m starting to wonder if I’m getting tunnel vision.
If I’ve gotten so wrapped up in this long, slow game with Xavier Arrendell and the Jacobins, in maintaining my cover in Redhaven, that I’ve forgotten what’s really important.
The human factor.
Sitting there for nearly half an hour, holding this stranger’s hand while she cries herself into an exhausted sleep.
For the first time in ages, I feel like a person. Not a hard, cold automaton stuffed into a uniform with a quiet rage.
Shit.
What happens if I do take down the Jacobins? If I get my justice for Jet?
What will I be after that?
What can I be?
It feels like the same question Ariana Lewis has been asking herself since the moment I told her Brian Newcomb was dead.
That grim realization that her life has a different purpose now, and she doesn’t know who she’ll be once her grieving is all said and done.
That weighs heavy on my mind as I politely excuse myself and head back into the expansive sunlit lobby later.
Janelle looks up from the front desk, pulling at her bobbed hair.
“You were up there for a while,” she says. “Is everything all right?”
“No.” I stop, leaning one arm against the desk. “We found her boyfriend dead at the bottom of a cliff. Looks like he fell. She’s in shock, but if you’ve got the time to go check on her, I’m sure she’d appreciate it. Probably shouldn’t be alone right now. Bring her a meal, something light. Open a tab in my name.”
Janelle goes pale, fretting her hands together and looking up toward the room, then back to me.
“Oh dear—oh my God, that poor girl! He was such a nice boy, too. So polite. Lord, that’s terrible! Don’t tell me it’s happening here again?”
I wish I didn’t have to.
“It is,” I agree. “I’ve asked her to stay in town for a few days while I investigate. She’s calling her sister to fly in and stay with her tonight.”
“Of course. I’ll keep an eye on her until then, don’t you worry. And forget about the tab, it’s the slow season. I don’t need to be down here all evening. I’ll go talk to her immediately.”
I nod with a brief salute, touching my fingers to my brow. “Much appreciated, Mrs. Bowden. I’ll be heading back in to work now.”
She switches her gaze to me with a weak smile. “Of course. It just never ends around here. Take care, Officer Ainsley.”
I only nod and turn to walk away—but then her voice drifts after me.
“Oh, and could you stop keeping my husband so late?” she calls, her voice brittle, a weak attempt at forced humor. “Honestly, you’re all such workaholics. He hasn’t been home before midnight in ages.”
I stop, turning back to her.
She’s just looking at me.
Her eyes are almost desperate.
Like she’s begging me for answers.
I should probably lie to her. Say something comforting. Make a goofy joke. Mind my own business.
Not open a huge fucking can of worms.
Too bad I’ve never been one for lying.
And I’ll admit, I want to know if she’s really as innocent and sweet as she seems. Wouldn’t be the first time appearances were wrong here in Redhaven.
“Mrs. Bowden, you must be mistaken?” I ask slowly. “Chief Bowden’s called out sick for the past two weeks. We haven’t seen hide nor hair of him at the office.”