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Detective Harris kept her eyes forward and her face neutral as she pushed her way through the crowd and got into her car. She drove off, leaving the gaggle of reporters in her wake. The cameras cut to a side-by-side of the reporter outside the precinct and two news anchors sitting behind a desk.
The breakroom erupted into several different conversations, and Cassie noticed Jane discussing the news with other employees. It seemed everyone had tuned in to the broadcast.
“Those poor girls,” Magdalena said. “They don’t deserve to be paraded through the headlines like that. Their souls won’t have any rest until that detective solves the case. Why can’t the press let her do her job?”
“The press are trying to do their jobs, too,” Cassie said, “but I don’t disagree with you.”
Jason leaned in close to Cassie. “But that is the detective who visited you the other day, isn’t it?”
Magdalena must’ve caught sight of the panic in Cassie's eyes because she gave Jason a death glare. “If Cassie doesn’t want to talk about it, she doesn’t have to.”
Jason looked so chastised that Cassie put a gentle hand on his arm. “It’s fine. Yeah, she’s the one that was here the other day. She had a couple questions, but I wasn’t able to help her.”
“And you’re sure you’re not in any trouble?” he asked.
“I’m sure. I’m safe.” Cassie gulped. “I’ll tell you more some other time. But not here.”
“Sure,” Jason said. His eyes were huge, and
Cassie felt bad about the millions of theories running through his brain. “You know where I am if you need me.”
“Thanks, Jason.” Cassie waited for him to leave. She turned back to Magdalena. “So, he asked me out yesterday.”
“And you didn’t tell me!” Magdalena hissed.
“I was going to,” Cassie hissed back. “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“Are you going to tell him about you-know-what?”
“I’d like to one day. Kind of a difficult thing to work around for too long. But I’ll let him buy me dinner first.”
“Smart move. Get into his pants first.” Magdalena smiled and winked and looked between Cassie and the television. Her tone turned serious. “But what did she want?”
“You know, you’re as nosy as he is.”
“Yes, but you let me be this nosy.”
Cassie couldn’t deny that. “I’ve helped out the police with cases in the past,” Cassie measured each word as she said it. “I know some people downtown, so she’s heard of me. I think they’re pretty desperate for answers.”
“I would be, too,” Magdalena said. “If they’re not careful, they’re going to have a full-blown panic on their hands.”
“I think that’s what the detective is worried about,” Cassie said. “Sharing details about the case might make things worse.”
“Do me a favor?” Magdalena placed her hands on Cassie’s shoulders and squeezed. Her eyes wavered as she took Cassie in. “Be extra careful.”
“I always am,” Cassie said. “Trust me, I’m the last person you need to worry about.”
“Yeah, well. Crazier things have happened.” Magdalena looked at her with concern. “Sometimes it doesn’t matter how mindful you think you are.”
Cassie sighed. She knew Magdalena was right. Those kinds of thoughts could keep her up at night, but she’d been better about keeping them at bay. However, this case brought back some terrible memories.
“All right, then.” Magdalena clapped her hands together. “Are we going to try to elbow our way to a table?”
Cassie looked around the room. It was still packed, and half of the other employees were still watching the news channel. “I think I’ll eat in my office,” she said. “It’s too crowded in here.”
“All right, I’ll see you later, sweetie. Keep your head up.”
Cassie smiled and took her lunch back to her workstation. She wasn’t hungry anymore, but she forced herself to eat half of her sandwich. It was just a way to waste time though. She knew what she had to do next and, while she always enjoyed talking to the person she was about to call, she knew reaching out to him would further embroil her in the case.
