19. Chapter Nineteen #2
“You okay?” Layla asks as Aurora stands up to greet her. The two share a quick hug.
“Yes, yes, I’m good,” Aurora reassures her and moves to sit next to Daniel.
Layla’s anxious expression doesn’t fully fade as she sits across Aurora and Daniel, setting her backpack down. “You texted me SOS,” Layla says, narrowing her eyes at Aurora before shifting her gaze to Daniel. “Why’s he here?”
“My name is Daniel, I—”
“Oh, I know who you are,” Layla cuts him off, taking a sip from Aurora’s cup. “You’re the guy who ghosted her.” Her tone is icy as her eyes scan the specials on the whiteboard.
Daniel is momentarily taken aback, wondering how Layla knows about him since they’ve never met. He figures Aurora must’ve told Layla about him standing her up.
“It’s fine,” Aurora chimes in. “We’re past that.”
“Well, I’m not,” Layla retorts firmly, waving the server over.
A tired-looking, middle-aged woman in a faded pink uniform approaches their booth, notepad in hand.
“Coffee and pancakes. With chocolate chips, please,” Layla orders, then adds, “put it on his tab.”
“And a blueberry muffin, please,” Aurora chimes in with a soft smile.
The server glances at Daniel for confirmation. He gives a curt nod before she folds her notepad and heads behind the counter.
Layla turns her attention back to Aurora. “So, what’s up?”
“We need your help—” Daniel begins, but Layla cuts him off again.
“Not talking to you, Casper,” she dismisses him with a wave of her hand.
Daniel lifts his hands in surrender, then mimes zipping his lips shut.
“Be nice,” Aurora hisses quietly. “We’re fine.” She gestures between herself and Daniel. “For real.” Pushing her cup of coffee toward Layla, she adds, “Drink this and listen. Remember when we celebrated the end of the semester with Javi and Connor?”
Layla takes a sip from Aurora’s cup before responding, “Vaguely.”
“When you made out with Connor?” Aurora teases.
Layla shoots her a death stare, but Aurora just smirks, suppressing a laugh. “Yes, I remember,” Layla confirms.
Aurora leans closer to Layla. “The next night, did you attend the Mayor’s State of the City Gala?”
“I don’t remember,” Layla says.
Anyone else might have missed the panic that flashed across Layla’s face. But not Daniel.
Aurora pulls out the photo and slides it across the table. “Is this you?”
Layla glances at the blurry shot, face just out of focus, before flipping it over, a hint of irritation flickering in her eyes. “Maybe. She looks hot, though.”
At that moment, the server arrives with the girls’ order. Before Layla gets the chance to grab hers, Aurora snatches the plate away.
“Hey! Give it back,” Layla protests.
“I’m holding the pancakes hostage until you answer my question,” Aurora says. “It is you, isn’t it?”
Layla begrudgingly picks up the photo again and pretends to study it. “Yes, this looks like me.” She rolls her eyes and sets the photo back down, extending her hands for the plate.
“Why were you there?” Aurora persists, still holding the plate.
Layla is quiet for a moment before responding, “Why does anyone go to a party?” She glances briefly at Daniel. “I had a date.”
A date.
“With Connor?” Aurora jerks her head back.
“No. Not with Connor.” Layla bites the inside of her cheek. “He was sick that night and ended up skipping the gala.”
“But Daniel said your name wasn’t on the guest list.” Aurora furrows her eyebrows, glancing at Daniel to confirm.
“Someone probably made a mistake.” Layla rises from her seat and grabs the plate from Aurora, who finally relents.
“Aurora, I think we need the other folders from the car. Could you get those, please?” Daniel asks, not breaking eye contact with Layla.
“Go get it yourself,” Aurora replies, crossing her arms and jutting her chin toward the door.
“Please.” He tilts his head toward her in an almost sweet manner. “You’re on the outside of the booth.” Daniel brings his hands together as if praying.
Aurora gives him a side-eye, then groans before taking a bite of her muffin and grabbing his car keys.
As she walks away, Daniel leans in, his tone sharp but controlled. “What name would appear on the list, Layla?”
“Roxanne Miller,” Layla says, swiping away the grains of salt left behind by previous occupants of the booth. “Don’t tell her,” she pleads, glancing toward the front door where Aurora just disappeared.
This is the first time Daniel detects any sincerity in her face and voice. Apparently, she does care about some things.
“Fuck,” Daniel mutters, shifting in his seat as he leans closer to Layla. “It’s an offense to lie to the police.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s also an offense for a cop to attack a civilian,” she shoots back, her tone sharp. “Don’t you lecture me.”
“I guess that answers the question of how long you stayed at the party,” Daniel says, trying to keep his voice steady.
“Long enough to see you swing at Sergei Chernov.”
Daniel’s eyes widen in disbelief. “Did you know she’s working for him now?”
“Yes,” Layla confirms. “I’m the one who gave her his information.”
“Why would you do that?” Daniel raises his voice in frustration, then lowers it before saying, “Why would you introduce her to him?”
“Because he didn’t kill his wife.” She says it so simply, as if it’s common knowledge.
“I didn’t know your job came with clairvoyance skills,” Daniel retorts.
Layla cuts her pancake into smaller pieces, stabbing one forcefully before bringing it to her mouth. “Just like you, I need to know how to read people well,” she says through a mouthful.
Aurora returns with the folder, flapping it open on the table before sliding back into the booth beside Daniel. “Here you go! Did you ask her yet?”