AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Her leg stopped moving. “Well, if it is, at least you tried.”
I glanced at the time. It was after dinner, something I’d skipped. “I’m surprised to see you here. You’ve been gone almost all week after classes.” I suspected she had a boyfriend. I didn’t usually see her until I woke up the next morning to find her back from a shower and getting ready for morning classes.Wait, maybe it’s me she’s avoiding?“Is it me? Do you not want to room with me because it’s weird?”
I’d been living with the loss of my sister for years. I could still see her in the shape of my eyes and the same smile reflected in my pictures and the mirror. Our laughs had sounded very similar. That one didn’t slap me in the face as often, as laughing wasn’t something I’d done the first year after she’d died. It was only through continued effort on my foster family’s part that had eased the ache enough, so I tried to be happy. With them anyway.
Piper pulled the length of her hair forward. It was long enough to fall over her shoulder even though she wore a ponytail. She wound the gold strands around her finger, biting her lower lip for a second. “Okay.” Her hand dropped back to her lap. “I’m not gonna lie and say it’s easy. When I look at you, I wonder what Summer would be like if she were here. We were close, then she was gone, and you… changed.” She held up her hand to stop me from speaking. “I get it. What you were going through was unimaginable, and we were kids. But… I don’t know. We’ve talked, and I’m getting to know you again. So, it’s not weird. I was just surprised when I learned you would be my new roommate. I’m glad you’re here, Winter. Really, I am. It’s just been a bit of an adjustment.” She offered a small smile to show she was sincere.
I shoved some of the mess out of the way and hopped off my bed, then hugged her quickly. “Thanks. And thank you for suggesting talking to the police. I think I’ll do that now, since I can’t stop thinking about”—I waved toward the papers—“whatever this is.”
“That’s probably a good idea. And I’m in for the night if you need to talk or want to go to the library when you get back.”
“Is your boyfriend busy, then?”
Her brows rose. “Y—no.” Her eyes narrowed.
That time, I laughed. “You never said anything about dating someone to me. It was a guess.”
She huffed a breath. “It’s new. I don’t want to jinx anything.”
“No worries. Tell me about him when you’re ready.” I grinned then gathered a few sketches and shoved them into my messenger bag. “I’ll see you later.”
I plugged the police station into my map app as I walked to my car. It wasn’t far. Maybe ten minutes away. It was still light out, but not for much longer. Only a few open parking spots remained when I turned into the lot. I found one close to the main entrance then headed inside.
In the front room, I stepped up to the plexiglass divider that went to the ceiling.
The woman in uniform behind the thick layer of protection hung up the phone and gave me her full attention. “How can I help you?”
“Hi, I’m Winter Patten, and I’m hoping to talk to someone about Katrina Patten’s upcoming parole hearing. Or whoever would be in charge of her case.” I had no idea what I was doing.
She picked up the phone receiver, hit a button, and repeated what I’d asked to whoever was on the other end. “An officer will be with you in one moment.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I stepped away from the glass and off to the side. Some plastic chairs lined one side of the small waiting room—or foyer. I didn’t know what that space was called. All I knew was that I was uncomfortable.
A few minutes later, a loud buzz sounded, and an officer held open the door. He was about my height with close-cropped salt-and-pepper brown hair and a large nose. “Winter Patten?”
“Yes.” I hurried forward and passed through into the station. The sounds of people pounding away on their keyboards, talking on their phones, and the faint crackle of dispatch filled the open area as he guided me into his space.
“I’m Officer Blare.” He stopped at a messy desk and waved toward one of the two chairs on the other side. “The private rooms are all full, so we’ll have to talk here.”
That was my cue. “I was wondering what you could tell me about my mom’s case. She’s up for parole, and I’ve been invited to speak, but I can’t remember much other than my sister and I being pushed into the lake.”
“That would be Detective Jaimeson’s territory. Let me see if he’s available to speak to you.” He pushed up from his chair and went in search of the detective.
I followed him with my gaze, nervous about being in there. He disappeared for a moment. When he came back, not even five feet behind him, another person snagged my attention, and I froze. Landon exited a room down the hall. Two men flanked him, a man in a suit and an officer. The suit spoke to him, and Landon didn’t look my way as I waved.
Did he not see me?
He didn’t turn my way once. I jumped as Officer Blare retook his seat, his eyes sharp and intense in a way that made me uncomfortable.
“Do you go to Thane University?”
“Yes.”What did that have to do with anything I’d asked?“Why?”
“What happened at Thane is pretty big news.” His dark gaze was unwavering. “Did you know the guy who died?”
“What guy?” His question sparked a memory of Piper telling me about a kid that had died. “Luke Green? I don’t know anything. I’d heard about it, but I hardly know anyone from school. I just transferred there.” It was weird, and I disliked how the officer looked at me. “Were you able to find the detective in charge of my mom’s case?”
“The detective you need to speak to is in with a suspect right now, but I’ll get him your name and number. He’ll call you when he’s free.”
