“No, but a couple nights ago…” Clara paused, glancing at Holden before looking back to her brother. “She went out with some people who work at the hospital and took some laced brownies with her.”
Jesse cursed. “That’s why you asked me about them at The Tea House. I’m guessing they didn’t know the brownies were laced?”
“I’m not sure. I haven’t had a chance to ask them. But I doubt it. She wasn’t completely honest with them about her job. I’m assuming because she didn’t want them finding out what she was writing. But then, I don’t think she was completely honest with me about her job either, based on the ethics of how she got her information.”
“We need a background check on her.” Jesse shared a look with Holden. “But tonight, it seems someone might have discovered that she was a journalist who was investigating them. They said too much after being drugged—”
“And needed to silence Scarlett,” Holden finished.
Clara shuddered. “You’re suggesting someone from the hospital murdered her? Oh God, I’m going to be sick.”
She dropped her head into her hands, and Holden barely bit back a curse as he rubbed her back. He hated that this was happening to her.
“We don’t know anything for sure,” Jesse said. “So nothing can leave this room. But Clara…” He waited for her to look up. “I’m going to find out what happened to her.”
She nodded quickly, those tears once again shining in her eyes.
“I want you to come stay with me and Aspen,” Jesse said.
Holden stiffened. No part of him wanted Clara out of his sight. Not after what had happened tonight.
She shook her head. “No. I have clients in the morning. And I don’t want to be scared out of my own home.”
“Cancel them,” Jesse pushed.
“No. I don’t want to. They need their treatment.”
“I’llstay.”
Both Clara and Jesse looked at Holden.
“No,” Clara said again. “You don’t need—”
“I do. I need to be whereveryouare. And if you say no again, I’ll just sit in my truck and watch from the street. I’m not going home tonight.”
There was a beat of silence.
Say yes, Clara. Let me stay.
He didn’t have a problem staying in his truck, but the closer he was, the faster he’d get to any danger that arose.
She swallowed, silent for a few seconds, her gaze boring into him before, finally, she nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
CHAPTER 18
Clara shot up, her chest heaving, sweat chilling her skin. The bedroom was dark, her loud breathing cutting through the quiet.
A dream. It was just a dream.
But it wasn’t. Scarlettwasdead. Clarahadfound her roommate’s lifeless body draped over her desk, and her househadbeen crawling with deputies.
She dropped her head into her hands, trying to quiet her breathing, not wanting to wake Holden.
It didn’t work. She still panted in reaction, and her skin was clammy and cold.
Quickly, she pushed the sheets off her legs and climbed out of bed. She didn’t even realize she was walking in that direction until she stood in front of Scarlett’s closed bedroom door. The brass was cool beneath her fingers when she wrapped her hand around the knob. Then, slowly, she turned it.
Her chest rose on a sharp inhale at the sight of Scarlett’s room. All her things, sitting there, as if she was going to return. Clothes sticking out of closed dresser drawers. Reading glasses on her desk.
