“Good idea. I’ll come with you; is that alright, Crane?”
“Huh?” I ask, wondering why she’s asking me for my permission.
“Will you guys be okay?” Mom questions, nodding toward Sierra.
“Yeah, fine. No worries,” I mumble, sinking onto a stool by the counter.
Sierra is trudging back to the house, her expression grim.
“We won’t be long.” Mom smiles, grabbing her purse as she passes me. “I hope she’s okay.”
Mom gives me a pointed look, and I force a smile, not wanting to give away how worried I am.
Sierra enters the house as they leave, and she exhales loudly, dropping her phone to the counter with a clatter.
“You okay?” I enquire, knowing she isn’t.
She’s pale and gnawing at her nails, her eyes barely registering me.
“That was the cops.” Her voice, barely a whisper, cracks with the weight of her words. “They want to speak to me formally about the diamonds.”
My blood runs cold, and I shake my head with a snarl.
“Tell me you’re kidding.”
“No, Crane, I’m not. They’ve asked me to be at the station tomorrow before noon.”
Sierra bursts into tears, and I jump up, wrapping my arms around her like it’s going to help matters.
“Listen to me,” I command, forcing her to look at me. “Declan is desperate. He’s trying to pin these missing diamonds on you, but the chances arehetook them! We know this; we can prove it too.”
What with, flour?
Sierra blinks through her tears, her hands gripping mine.
“They’re interviewing me because they thinkyoustole the diamonds, Crane.”
As her words die on her lips, my phone vibrates in my pocket.
I frown, reaching down to answer the call.
Unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Is that Crane Michaels?” the deep voice on the other end asks, so formally I know it’s the cops calling.
Fuck.
“Yes.”
My eyes meet Sierra’s, and she watches me with bated breath, her shoulders shaking occasionally from her sobs.
“We need to speak to you regarding the theft of jewellery, Mr. Michaels. Are you in the area?”
My mouth is too dry to respond, but the voice presses on regardless.
“It’s serious enough to put out a warrant for your arrest, if it’s a trouble for you to come down to the station today.”
