I beam at the praise. “Thank you.” It wasn’t how I interpreted our phone call, however. “What about the witness Rob mentioned?”
“Are you positive they got a statement?”
“Yes. He said there was nothing they could use though.”
“He saw this statement?”
What is he getting at?
“I didn’t ask. I only assumed he had. He said a colleague went to take it. Why?”
“Because it doesn’t exist, Hayden.”
That can’t be right.
“How is that even possible? They have a name.”
“I’ve looked through their entire system, not just that case file.”
“Isn’t that illegal?”
“Technically, yes, but I helped improve their computer security. I’d say that gives me rights.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course it does.”
“I dug deeper on the name you gave me in case something stood out as weird. I got nothing. I do have an address. I’ll email it to you.”
“Thanks, but what about this statement?”
“Not sure, kid,” he tells me, but I detect the lie rolling off his tongue. “The system hasn’t been hacked. That would have come up when I did a system check.”
“So, whoever changed it had access.” I mull that over, none of the scenarios good. However, it still doesn’t give me a link as to how that’s connected to Christina’s murder and the break-ins.
“I’m not sure. I don’t know what was in the statement to say whether it was worthless information or if someone thought it was important to remove. Either way, it shouldn’t have been removed from their file. It should be on their system, even if the statement was removed. The only way this exists at the moment is by word of mouth.”
“I’ll think on it, see what I can come up with. I’ll keep it from Rob for the time being. Because if it has gone or been misplaced, it will put him in a difficult situation.” I take in a steady breath. “I’ll go see the witness and hopefully get some answers.”
“Hayden, maybe you should drop this or get Beau to look into it. He’s new there and won’t have problems looking into what happened.”
“I don’t want to get Beau involved for that reason. He’s made a home here. I don’t want to get him fired. Then he’d have to work away somewhere.”
His heavy sigh sounds conflicted. “Just don’t do this alone, for heaven’s sake. I don’t want your dad to revoke my Godfather status.”
“Didn’t he already do that when you gave us those sour Haribo’s?”
He sniffs. “He didn’t mean it. He knew he deserved it after getting me drunk and putting me in that rubber dinghy on the river. I woke up to two swans going at it and no idea where the fuck I was.”
A burst of laughter slips free before I pull myself together. “I won’t go alone, I promise.”
“Take Landon. No one will think to fuck with you then.”
As much as I trust my brother to take care of me, I couldn’t put him in that position.
Ever since the moment I felt him die, I’ve worried constantly about him. I could survive the pain of losing anyone, no matter how it hurt or what they meant to me, but if I ever lost one of my brothers, I would die inside. They’re a part of me in a way no one else could or ever would be. We’re triplets.
“I’ll see if he’s free,” I lie.
“Okay, I need to get going, so I’ll speak to you later.”
“All right. Love you, Uncle Liam.”
“Love you too, kid.”
After ending the call, I take stock of the ice cream tubs and junk food wrappers littering my table.
I’m pathetic.
It’s enough to get me off my arse and to my feet. I don’t mope. I don’t dwell. And this story isn’t going to write itself.
I know exactly who can go with me, since they were meant to be coming over here at two.
*** *** ***
Slamming my car door shut, I then lock my car, hating that I have to leave the warmth of my car heater.
We always park outside Lily’s house when we visit Charlotte. Her driveway is down a small lane between Lily’s and the library Charlotte owns on the corner. It’s a small cul-de-sac of some kind hidden behind the houses and other buildings next to the library.
Since Charlotte only has room for one car, we all park here and use Lily’s garden to get there. It saves us having to walk down her shitty lane that has potholes and mud puddles when it rains, and from getting stung by the overgrown stingers to the side.
Blanche slams the lid on her bin down when she notices me.
“Why are you here?” she yells, her voice like nails on a chalkboard.
“Why are you? Aren’t you past your expiry date?”
A gruff growl escapes her. “You are the spawn of Satan.”
I shudder. “If it wouldn’t offend my beauty, I’d say that made you my mother.”
“I’m going to get you banned from coming here.”
I shrug, knowing it will never happen. “Try.”
“Is everything okay?” Lily’s soft, musical voice asks.
She steps outside, wrapped in a long beige wool coat and a matching set of brown gloves and a hat. Jaxon steps out behind her, shutting the door with a smirk on his lips when he’s sees who I’m talking to.
Prick.
I sigh. “Blanche was trying to get me to set her up with someone.”
Lily smiles, her entire face lit up with happiness. “That is so amazing.”
“She’s lying. Stay away, evil child,” Blanche growls, slamming her door shut behind her.
“Were you coming to see me? Lily asks, chewing her lower lip. “We were on our way out.”
The guilt on her face has me reassuring her quickly. “I’m just going to see Charlotte, but I will catch up with you when you’re free.”
She lets go of her lip, visibly relaxing. “I’d really love that.”
“I’ll catch you both later.”
“Wait, who are you setting Blanche up with?”
My gaze flicks from Lily to Jaxon, who looks smug as fuck.
“Jaxon’s granddad.”
I leave him with his mouth hanging open and race up the garden to the small gate Maverick installed a little while ago to make it easier for us to come back and forth.
Letting myself in, I hear sobbing and head towards the sound. What’s she got herself into now? As I pass a set of shelves in her hallway, I see a flicker of movement and duck in time to miss her cat taking a swipe at me.
The thing hisses, so I hiss back, baring my teeth. “Don’t make me lock you outside,” I warn it, before stepping into the front room.
The scene before me doesn’t surprise me. Charlotte has always been nutty—it’s why she’s my favourite. But what does surprise me is the gruesome scene on the television.
“You got scared to tears again?”
Jumping, Charlotte spills her bowl of popcorn. “Oh, Hayden, it’s so sad.”
I glance at the television to check I’m seeing this right.
I am.
My brows draw together. “What is?”