Chapter 3
Berkley didn’t realize she was holding her breath until her sister Krystal stepped out of her unmarked sheriff’s department SUV. Even so, a cold shiver snaked down her spine. Her sister wasn’t coming to arrest her, right? Wouldn’t be the first time, sadly.
She resisted the urge to look at Micah—no way he’d called Krystal. Right?
But then Krystal’s big grin unclenched her stomach and made her realize everything was fine.
“Hey, you two. You guys grabbing lunch?”
“Ah, no, just paying a bill at the bar,” Micah answered smoothly. It wasn’t a lie either, which soothed her conscience.
“Gotcha.” Krystal wasn’t in full uniform.
As a recently promoted detective, she was usually in “casual detective wear” as Berkley liked to think of it.
Right now that was jeans and a Sanctuary Falls PD green wool pullover that matched her eyes.
The Knight siblings all had varying shades of green eyes.
“I missed breakfast so I might sneak in there and see if Will can convince the cook to make me something.”
“You know he will,” Berkley said. Her sister was probably a decade-ish older than the bartender but she was also sure the guy had a crush on her.
A lot of people did. And who could blame them?
Former homecoming and prom queen who’d basically raised her siblings and was now a badass detective?
It was hard not to look up to her. Berkely certainly did, and couldn’t stand the thought of disappointing her sister again.
“Have you guys heard from Apollo? I’ve been texting him and he’s leaving his messages unread.” Her expression was neutral enough, but Berkley knew her sister was worried, could see it in her eyes.
Berkley shook her head. “I haven’t talked to him.
But I’m sure that’s not a surprise.” She loved her oldest brother, but they weren’t tight the way she and Micah were.
Whereas Krystal and Apollo were barely a year apart and basically besties.
Cormac was smack dab in the middle of all of them and he was good about staying in touch with everyone.
“He hasn’t responded to my texts either,” Micah said.
Krystal narrowed her gaze at him. “That’s not actually an answer and I know how sneaky you are. Have you talked to him on the phone in the last twenty-four hours? Or in person?”
Micah blinked, and oh, Berkley realized that he had talked to their brother because the truth was written all over his face. (It was hard to lie to Krystal when she’d been a mother to all of them after their own had been murdered.)
Krystal opened her mouth to say something, but then her radio went off and she answered the call. Then turned to them, gave Micah a pointed look. “This isn’t over.”
“Love you,” was his response as she hurried back to her SUV.
“Should we tell her what happened?” Berkley blurted as their sister zoomed off. She knew the answer was no, but still.
He was shaking his head before she finished the question.
“Hell no. She’ll be obligated to do something about it.
And if she doesn’t, the guilt will eat away at her.
If you tell her and ask her to keep it a secret, it puts her in an unwinnable position.
You’re doing her a favor by keeping this a secret. ”
“Fine…you’re probably not wrong. I know I can’t tell her, I just…”
“Don’t like lying to her. I know.”
“So what’s up with Apollo?”
“We don’t have time to talk about that. I made a copy of the bar’s security feeds from last night. I only scanned a couple frames and they’re all disappointing but let’s get in my truck and see if there’s anything that’ll help us figure out what happened to you last night.”
Her stomach tightened, but she nodded and got into his truck. She wanted to see what had happened, but part of her was scared of the outcome.
“I’m forwarding to the time frame you remember so we can see—hopefully—when you left.”
She felt her phone buzzing in her pocket, but ignored it. She was supposed to have lunch with Silvia and Kendall but was thinking of blowing them off. She wasn’t in the right headspace for anything right now, but definitely not casual conversation.
“There I am. You can see me moving in the reflection of the mirror behind the bar.” She squinted as if that would help her see better, but all she saw was herself packing up her purse, saying good-bye to some people she hadn’t seen in ages, then leaving.
“And here you are outside.” Her brother’s tone was frustrated. “For just a second, then…” He pulled up another file, then cursed. “It’s ridiculous that they only have two cameras outside and both have shitty angles. Right at the front door and then one facing the dumpster,” he muttered.
“Will said that the interior cameras are only facing the actual bar. Clearly the owner only cares about getting stolen from. Or…I don’t know, I guess catching people who use his dumpster too?” What a tool. Her phone buzzed again and this time Micah looked up.
“Who keeps texting you?” he asked.
“Just the girls. I’m supposed to meet them at Brunch and Bliss.” One of their favorite spots.
“Good. Go meet them, and I’m going to be digging into Reed’s computer files.”
Not that she needed the reminder that he was dead, but his name still jarred her. “No, I think I’ll go home and…” What? Take a shower? Wash off last night?
“Well you should definitely go home, but just to freshen up and change—and we need to dump your clothes. I’ll burn everything.
You need to talk to Silvia and Kendall, find out if they know anything.
We’re trying to piece together last night.
And whatever you do, don’t tell them what happened. We’ve got to keep this circle tight.”
Yeah, she knew that even if she hated it. “Fine. You’re right.”
“Words I can never hear enough.”
She nudged him once, then sobered. “Listen, thank you for—”
“Nope, not doing this. You don’t thank me for this. We’re family…and you’ve never judged me for anything.”
True enough. She knew her brother lived in shades of gray, and if anything, she was a little in awe of him. He lived life by his own rules and made no apologies. “Fine, but thank you anyway,” she rushed out before she exited the truck.
It was time to put her game face on and hopefully get some answers.
***
“So, tell us about the guy you left with,” Silvia said to Kendall, who’d arrived ten minutes later than Berkley.
She’d been so worried about running late, but as per usual, Kendall was later than all of them. And all their texts had just been fun memes and normal talk, nothing serious.
Silvia had been normal when she’d arrived, so clearly she didn’t know that Berkley had left with—or been abducted by?—some random and now-dead guy last night. She really wanted to tell Silvia about it, get her advice, but her brother was right.
She had to keep the circle tight. Her friends needed plausible deniability anyway so she couldn’t drag them into this.
Before Kendall could answer, their server set a small flight of different flavored mimosas on the table.
“Oh, we didn’t order—”
“I ordered them on the way in,” Kendall cut in. “Figured we could all indulge since we all have the same day off.”
A rarity with the three of them. With Kendall being a nurse, Berkley working random days and hours, and Silvia’s job as a private investigator with equally odd hours, she was right.
But Berkley only picked up a glass to be polite. She’d swish it around because no way was she drinking today. After being knocked out, she needed to keep a clear head. At this point she didn’t think she had a concussion but…still. Better to be smart about things.
“We’ve actually been talking for a month,” Kendall said, jumping right into it from Silvia’s previous question.
And Berkley was grateful for it because she didn’t have the energy for much small talk. But she could listen. And even though she’d thought she wasn’t hungry, she ended up devouring a waffle board that was meant for two people.
Because it was definitely that kind of day.
When the bill came, the champagne flutes ended up on her tab even though she hadn’t drunk any, but she didn’t say anything. Just like she was never going to ask Kendall to pay her back for the drinks from last night.
“That’s enough from me,” Kendall said with a laugh once they’d all paid. “Who’s the mystery man I saw you with in the parking lot last night?”
For a moment, Berkley froze as she was putting her wallet back in her purse, but then realized Kendall was looking at Silvia.
Who now had big cartoon eyes. “Ah, no one.”
“Oooh, lies. I saw you talking with someone and you pretended you didn’t hear me. I couldn’t see their face though.”
Berkley had still been inside when they’d left—had seen them both on the camera feed leaving. But she hadn’t seen Silvia heading out with anyone.
Silvia lifted a shoulder, sniffed once. “I don’t have to tell you two everything. I’m talking to someone and saw him last night.”
It had been years since Silvia had dated, so this was definitely news. “Talking as in…dating?”
Silvia lifted the same shoulder, looking anything but relaxed. “I mean, yeah.”
“How long?” Berkley asked.
“A month. Or two.”
“Wait, two months? It’s January… You were ‘talking’ to someone over the holidays? Did you guys exchange Christmas gifts?”
Silvia’s cheeks flushed and she shrugged, but her face was a giveaway.
“Oh my go—”
Silvia stood abruptly, her cell in her hand. “I love you two, but I’m not talking about this. And I’ve gotta run anyway. My mom needs me to do a grocery run for her.”
Berkley knew better than to push so she hugged her friend good-bye.
Once it was just the two of them, Kendall laughed. “Maybe he’s an uggo and she doesn’t want us to meet him.”
“Hey.” Berkley frowned at her.
But Kendall held up her palms. “I’m just playing. Silvia can get anyone she wants. I’m just nosy…and I’ve had one too many mimosas.”
“You need a ride home?”
“No, I didn’t drive.”