Grave.
Move on.
“Alyssa…please tell me you didn’t.”
My heart is pounding, attempting to dislodge from my chest. My vision swims with red, and I know that I’m moments away from lashing out, which I don’t want to do. I can’t process what she’s saying. Can’t think.
Every part of me is locked up, awaiting Alyssa’s unspoken words.
She wouldn’t do that, right?
She sighs heavily. “I didn’t. There was no way I was going to make that decision without you.”
The breath whooshes from me, and my hand flies to my chest, rubbing out the phantom pain. “Thank you. You have no idea what that means to me.”
Maybe she does. Having her own loss, she might be the only person who could ever understand.
“Nick, I—”
“Alyssa, it’s all good. We’ll talk about this more later.” I blow out a breath. “Can you give the phone back to Malone? Please?”
She swallows, bobbing her head. She calls for Malone, and he comes onto the screen, eyes animatedly wide.
“And now do you see why I called?”
I nod once. “Are any of them sober?”
“Yeah, the crazy-hot other brunette.”
“Corinne,” I say, shaking my head at my partner.
“She’s their DD.”
“Get them all in the car and follow them back to Alyssa’s. Make sure they’re in the house before you leave.”
“Roger.”
“And, Malone,” I say before he hangs up. “Thank you for calling.”
He nods once more before the call ends, leaving me reeling with all that’s just unfolded.
My respect and admiration for Alyssa just increased tenfold. The fact that she is willing to be stuck with Isla for my benefit is something I’ll never forget.
I groan, head tilting to the sky.
I’ve yet to completely come to terms with the fact that Isla stuck around. I’ve done my best to shove it as far from my mind as possible, because no matter how much I believe Alyssa, this is hard to swallow.
But I can’t dwell on any of that right now.
I have a dead girl on my hands and no suspects.
It’s going to be a long day.
14
Seven of Cups
It’s been twoweeks with little communication from Nick. We’ve exchanged several text messages back and forth, but he’s been so consumed with the Grayson case that we haven’t had time to discuss my New Year’s Eve shenanigans. Or Isla, for that matter. The only text he’s sent that alluded to that night was him telling me how much he appreciates that I didn’t act upon Isla’s wishes.
