Ellie turned, spotted the cop, and immediately doubled over laughing. “You’re kidding.”
“Do I look like I’m kidding?”
She was still laughing uncontrollably. “I can’t breathe—oh my gosh. Is this karma?”
I pulled over. The old truck shuddered like it wasn’t thrilled about the sudden stop. Me fucking either.
Ellie smoothed her hair down, which was hilarious, given we’d just sprinted out of someone’s backyard like teenagers skipping class.
“Do we lie?” she whispered.
“Lie about what? That we broke into a stranger’s house to chase down the ghost of a woman from a seven-year-old closed case?”
“Okay, when you say it like that, it sounds bad.”
“Because itisbad, El!”
She giggled again, and I could feel my soul leaving my body. The truth was, I couldn’t be mad. She was radiant—bare-faced in a hoodie, her cheeks pink from the cold.
A cop approached the car, early thirties with a serious expression and a name tag I couldn't make out. He tapped on the driver's side window, and I rolled it down.
“Evening,” he said, glancing between us. “I’m Officer Lynch.”
I gave him my friendliestplease don’t arrest me in front of my fake girlfriendsmile. “Evening, Officer.”
“I got a call about a break-in out on Delmont.” He tapped on the top of the truck. “Two suspects were seen leaving the property in a vehicle matching this one.”
I looked down at my hands on the steering wheel, as if maybe I could pretend I wasn’t here.
“Break-in?” Ellie asked sweetly. “That’s such a strong word.” She pouted her lips.
The cop narrowed his eyes.
I jumped in. “Look, totally a misunderstanding. No harm done. The door was open, and we thought the house was empty.”
He did not look amused. “So you admit to entering a home that doesn’t belong to you?”
“I mean…technically, yes.”
“But like, respectfully,” Ellie added.
“Respectfully trespassing?” the officer repeated.
I tried to salvage it. “Listen, this is Ellie Miles.”
He blinked. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”
I gestured toward her liketa-da!“Ellie Miles. As intheEllie Miles. Big star. Real famous. You gotta know her, right?”
His face remained blank. I started singing one of her biggest hits, and he frowned.
“Please stop,” he said, watching us both, totally unimpressed.
No dice.
I glance over to Ellie, who raised her eyebrows and mouthedrudeat me.
I tried again. “Okay, okay, if she’s not ringing any bells…” I pointed two thumbs at my chest. “I’m Sawyer James.”
