At least the TVs are intact. The light fixtures too.
Small mercies.
Cops mill around, snapping photos, scribbling notes. Their voices blur into white noise. Reeves stands near the back, talking to an officer, his jaw tight, hands balled into fists.
I sink into the nearest booth, legs giving out. The leather's unscathed, thank God. I run my hand over it, grounding myself.
This is my fault.
All of it.
Tears spill over before I can stop them. Hot, angry, guilty tears that blur the wreckage in front of me. My stomach churns violently, threatening to empty itself right here.
A hand touches my shoulder.
Greg.
Of all people.
He kneels beside the booth, his usual cocky swagger nowhere in sight. "Hey. You okay?"
"This is my fault." My voice cracks. "All of it."
"No, it's not."
"Yes, it is. If I hadn't—"
"Stop." His tone is firm but gentle. "That psycho did this. Not you."
I shake my head, swiping at my eyes. "Reeves wouldn't be dealing with this if I hadn't—"
"Liza." Greg grabs my hand, squeezing. "Listen to me. We're gonna fix this. All of us. Together. Insurance will cover most of it, including the days we're shut down. It'll be okay."
I desperately want to believe him. "You really think so?"
"I know so." He grins—just a little, just enough. "Besides, Reeves has been wanting to replace that felt for years. Now he's got an excuse."
A weak laugh escapes me. "You're an idiot most of the time, but you have your moments."
"Oh wow, Gee, thanks, Liza."
Maybe Greg's not so bad after all.
One of the officers approaches—a woman in her forties or so with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense expression. “Are you Liza?"
I nod, wiping my face with the back of my hand.
"I'm Officer Mendez. My partner and I need to ask you some questions about the suspect."
I swallow hard. "Okay."
She gestures to the booth across from me, and I slide over. Her partner—a young guy with a buzz cut—pulls out a notepad.
"We understand you have a history with Daniel Ross?”
My chest tightens at the sound of his name. "Yeah. He's my ex. My landlord, too, technically. Was."
"Walk us through it."
