I cover my eyes with my arm as both Jalen and Cameron turn to look at me. “I’m sorry. I thought it would get me off the hook.” I keep the part about how I still don’t quite understand why it was such a bad idea to myself.
Cameron comes over to sit down next to me and speaks as if I said the secret thought out loud. “Jalen was right to stop youfrom doing it. The only surfaces that would have given a solid print in the house are glass or metal, and you touched a ton of that just by doing the dishes alone. If whoever did this used, say, a glass or plate to knock Delaney unconscious, there is a good chance your print would be on the murder weapon since you dried all of them yourself.”
The cut in my thumb aches right on cue as if it knew we were talking about it. “But wouldn’t the killer’s print be on the glass, too, then?”
“Not if they were wearing gloves,” Jalen says.
I look between them. “Now you’re saying there’s a chance this entire thing was premeditated?”
Jalen keeps his mouth shut and defers to Cameron. “Who knows, but it’s a good thing you didn’t give your print, just in case.”
“They can still compel her to,” Jalen adds.
Cameron winces. “We’ll take it one step at a time.”
My phone buzzes in my purse, and my heart nearly stops when I see the caller ID.
“I have to take this.” I rush into my room to answer before it goes to voicemail. “Scott, oh my gosh. How are you? Is he here?”
“He’s here!” Scott exclaims. “He was born thirty minutes ago. Eight pounds, six ounces, and both he and mom are doing great! They had to do an emergency C-section, so she is getting all sewn up, and then they will call us back to meet our baby and let us do skin to skin.”
Tears of joy stream down my face at the relief that, while I am going through an absolute nightmare just a few states down, Gabe, Scott, and the baby remain unaffected and in their own perfect bubble. “Congratulations to all of you. I can’t believe that my brother is officially adad.”
“I know! And you are officially an auntie. I can’t wait for you to meet him. Can you still come up after the retreat is over tomorrow?”
I hesitate. I’m not sure I’ll be allowed to leave tomorrow with how fast the case is changing.
“Drew, did I lose you?”
“No, sorry. I’m here. Yes, I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“Well, don’t leave early. I’m not sure if we will be able to take him home tonight, and I want you to finish the retreat. Call me as soon as the weekend wraps up, though, and we will get you on the first flight up here. I’ll text a million pictures between now and then too.”
“Enjoy every second and give Gabe the biggest hug for me.”
“I will. I love you so much, Drew. I’m so thankful that you will be here soon to help us. I am scared out of my mind.”
“Don’t be.” I swallow to keep myself from descending into uncontrollable sobs. I’m not sure I will make it up there tomorrow. Or ever. “You will both be perfect. I love you too.”
The call ends, and I sink onto the floor against the edge of my bed. Jalen and Cameron are still arguing.
“. . . talking to Valentina? Need I remind you that she is also a suspect in this case?”
“Oh, come on. There’s no way that she did this.”
“That is the exact kind of thinking that has made you weak and ineffectual your entire career. If you had just listened to a word that Dad taught us—”
“I did listen, and I worked with him just as long as you did since you left us to start your own firm. And I’m not weak—”
“You are, though. You can’t even put aside your feelings for Drew to actually do what’s right to protect her, and now you are putting her and yourself in even more danger by openly talking to Valentina and Ollie—”
“That’s enough,” Cameron says. His tone sends a chill down my spine.
It’s silent during what I imagine is another intense standoff, and I close my eyes to try and block it all out. There is a knock at our adjoining door a few minutes later, and I call out weakly for Cameron to let himself in.
“Was that Monika who called?” he asks, tentatively.
“No, my brother. My nephew was born a half hour ago, and he’s perfect.”
