Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Helia rolled her head against her silk pillowcase and looked at the clock.
Fifteen minutes before her alarm was set to go off at five thirty.
She’d never not woken up before her alarm and often wondered if that was a blessing or a curse.
She liked having a few minutes to enjoy the coziness of her bed, but some mornings, a little extra sleep wouldn’t go amiss.
Not worried about falling back asleep, she turned the alarm off.
In the early-morning quiet, she picked out the familiar hum of Sundaram preparing for a morning wedding.
The shuffling of feet across the courtyard as the team carried over the last of the flowers to the ceremony location.
A burst of laughter, muffled in the morning darkness.
The beep of a truck backing up near the kitchen; the last of the food supplies for Akin.
As the sounds faded in and out, her mind drifted to Collin.
And to him sleeping in that massive house all alone.
She could have invited him to stay with her, but she only had one bed.
And while he’d grown into a man she’d look at more than twice if she saw him in a bar or restaurant, their history stretched between them.
It didn’t make her uncomfortable—or him, it appeared—but he had enough on his plate that she didn’t need to dredge that past up.
Still, she didn’t like the idea of him in that huge place all alone. It was creepy and hollow and a little cold. But the memories were probably worse than any physical discomfort.
Grabbing her phone, she opened her texting app, grateful she’d remembered to get his number the night before. It was early, but he likely kept his device on silent while he slept.
Helia: How’d you sleep?
To her surprise, the dots immediately started glowing.
Collin: Fine, what are you doing up? Your mom said she and your dad are covering the ceremony and lunch and you’re not taking over until the reception
Helia: When did you talk to my mom?
Collin: When I got here ten minutes ago
She bolted up.
Helia: You’re here?
Why would he be at Sundaram at just after five in the morning?
Collin: Yeah, helping your mom and dad with a few last-minute things. I don’t know shoot about weddings, but I can carry things
Collin: *shit* about weddings…giving autocorrect
Collin: *fucking* autocorrect
She laughed.
Collin: Or maybe it’s my fat thumbs
Her mind flashed to his hands. There was absolutely nothing wrong with his hands.
Helia: I’ll be out in ten
Hopping out of bed, she pulled her hair into a bun as she darted to the shower. Ten minutes later, she emerged from her water tower, showered, dressed, and ready for the day.
It didn’t take her long to spot Collin crossing the courtyard carrying six chairs. He slowed when he saw her, lifted his head, then continued toward the ceremony location.
“The bride emailed last night. Some extended family from Vancouver decided to surprise her. They flew down yesterday, and now we have twenty additional guests,” her mom said, joining her.
“Collin appeared about twenty minutes ago and offered to help. It’s nice to have the muscle. And it’s nice muscle, too.”
“Mom!” Helia said over a laugh, hip-bumping her mother.
“You going to tell me it’s not? He was a good-looking boy. He’s grown into his looks even more as a man.” She paused as he exited the ceremony location on his way back for more chairs. He glanced their way but kept walking. “And thoughtful, too. Hard to believe he’s lived so close all these years.”
And never came to visit was left unsaid. Helia recognized the pang lancing through her at her mom’s words. Hurt. It hurt that he’d been so close and hadn’t ever dropped by or called or even sent an email. Her email address hadn’t changed since he left; he could have found her.
But she didn’t want to go there. Maybe someday, he’d tell her why he’d stayed away.
Or maybe not. For now, though, he was here.
And he didn’t seem like a man who needed to run anymore.
Nor was she a woman who’d let him. She’d missed him too much to do that again.
Now that she had his phone number, she had no intention of letting him slide into the shadows of her life a second time.
“What needs to get done?” she asked, turning to her mom. “I know you and Dad have this covered, but I’m up.”
Her mom rolled her eyes. “You’re always up.”
“What can I say, I’m a spry chicken, mama hen. Now put me to work.”
And to work she went. For the next hour, they touched up flowers, finalized the seating, made sure Akin was set, prepped the lunch buffet table, and checked waste bins and bathrooms.
When the families began arriving, she dragged Collin to her home to feed them both. They were halfway through their egg-and-sausage sandwiches, and well into their second cups of coffee, when someone knocked at her door.
“You expecting someone at”—Collin looked at his watch—“seven forty-five in the morning?”
She shook her head but pushed back from the table. Crossing the room, she opened the door to find Jess and Carter on the other side.
“Detectives,” she said. “This is a…”
“Surprise,” Collin said, from over her shoulder. She hadn’t heard him move, let alone approach her.
“Morning,” Carter said. “Mind if we come in?”
She stepped back, bumping into Collin. He set a hand at her waist, but seemed reluctant to move and let the pair in.
“Sorry to bother you so early,” Jess said. “Especially when you have an event going on.”
“But we have a couple of follow-up questions,” Carter finished.
Helia frowned. “I don’t know what more I can tell you, but I’m happy to help. Can I get you both coffee?”
“This isn’t a social call, Helia,” Collin grumbled. She looked up at him, but his eyes were fixed warily on the two detectives.
She frowned at the expression on his face. “I know it’s not social. But since I had nothing to do with Justin’s death, if I have answers to any questions they have, I’ll help. His mom deserves that.”
Collin’s gaze dropped to hers. They stood inches apart, his hand still resting on her hip, the heat of his body curling around her.
His eyes held steady, but she didn’t fool herself.
His mind was working a mile a minute. On what, she didn’t know, but after an uncomfortable stretch of silence, he nodded.
A slight tightening of his lips the only evidence of his unease.
She dragged her gaze from his, then cleared her throat. “So, coffee? Tea?”
Jess and Carter shook their heads.
“Okay,” she said, leading everyone into her small sitting room. She and Collin sat on the sofa, his thigh flush against hers. Carter sank into the one chair, while Jess leaned against the wall, setting the backpack she carried on the ground.
“What can I help you with?” she asked.
Carter pulled out his phone, tapped the screen, then handed it over. “Do you recognize that knife?”
She took the device and studied the image. Collin’s weight shifted as he leaned closer to look as well.
“It’s part of a set,” she said, handing the phone back. Both the blade and the handle were covered in suspicious stains, and her skin crawled at the idea that it might be Justin’s blood.
“So you recognize it?” Jess asked.
She nodded. “It’s in the kitchen, or the rest of the set is.
Akin had a sous-chef, Marcel Laurant, who worked here two summers ago.
It was his,” she said. After a moment’s hesitation, she added, “It always seemed weird to me that he left it. Knives are a critical part of a chef’s trade.
They tend to have their favorites and guard them almost religiously.
But it’s a beautiful set. Unique. We assumed it was meant as a thank-you for Akin. ”
“Can you get us Marcel’s information?” Carter asked.
She nodded. “It’s in the computer in the main building. I can get it for you when we’re done here. Was that knife used…”
Jess ignored her lingering question. “Who would have access to the set?”
Helia shrugged. “Pretty much everyone who works here. The last time I remember seeing them was about a month ago, and they were in the drawer that holds extra knives.”
“You’ve touched them?” Carter asked.
Collin shifted beside her, bringing his entire side flush against her body.
She frowned. “I guess, maybe once or twice. They’re beautiful pieces. The scrollwork is delicate yet solid. But if, or when, I did, it hasn’t been for a while.”
“Why?” Collin asked. Carter’s and Jess’s gazes shifted to him.
Rather than answer, Carter tapped his device again and handed it over.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to take it this time, but Collin had no qualms. He plucked the phone from Carter’s hand and studied the screen.
She watched his face rather than read over his shoulder.
The corners of his eyes tightened before they narrowed.
His nostrils flared a hint. And even through his beard, she saw his jaw clench.
“Collin?”
His lips disappeared into a thin line as he tipped the phone in her direction. She hesitated, then leaned over. On the screen was an image of a page torn from a notebook. Scrawled diagonally across the paper in large letters were thirteen words.
Why, Helia, why don’t you listen? Why are you doing this to me?
She read it, then reread it before looking at Collin in confusion.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “What does this mean?”
Carter shifted, and she turned back to the detective. His gaze flickered to Jess, then came back to her.
“Where were you on Wednesday night, Helia?”