Sylvie felt some of the tension drain out through her toes and into the grass. “Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime, sweetie.” She stood up. “Now, you want to go up and get a closer look at the stage?” The music had started and Rachael’s powerful voice floated over the crowd. She really could sing with the best of them.
“I’m going to walk around for a bit first, but you go ahead and find your friends. Maybe I’ll catch up later.”
“All right. Give Alex a call, show him around.” Cynthia laughed. “Bring the ‘Festival Virgin’ to us and we’ll show him how it’s done.”
“Oh my God, Mom. Never say that again!” Sylvie pretended to plug her ears.
Cynthia only laughed harder and hugged her. “It’s going to be okay, sweetie. I have a feeling you two are meant for each other. And you’ll find your way.”
* * *
Sylvie wandered the festival,keeping her eyes open for Brian Taylor. She checked her phone, and paused every time she wanted to text Alex and do exactly what her mom told her to do. At least this way, she wouldn’t have to answer any questions Alex had if she did find Brian. Carla finally texted her back, saying that she’d been running errands and asking how the meeting with Frank and Tom went.
Shit.
She texted back that she couldn’t talk about it now, but that everything was fine.I’ll tell her tomorrow, face to face when I see herSylvie thought.
Late in the day, Alex finally texted her, saying that he wanted to talk. Sylvie couldn’t leave, not yet, so she texted back that he should come to the festival instead.
You’ll love itshe added, then hit send.
He answered:I’d rather see you at my house. Tomorrow we’ll go?
I’m working tomorrowshe texted back. She looked up, thinking. And that’s when she saw him. Brian was moving through the crowd toward the entrance. Sylvie stuffed her phone into her purse and sprinted after him, slowing down as she came up behind. She didn’t want to spook him.
“Brian,” she called. He turned.
“Hey, Officer, um, Madden?” Brian Taylor looked like death warmed over. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin pale and loose, cheeks hollow. He looked worse every time she saw him, which was usually during a bust. Definitely getting high off his own supply, and that supply wasn’t weed.
“Can I talk to you?” she asked, giving him her most disarming smile.
He fidgeted, his eyes darting around the crowd.
“Sure, but, private,” he said. Brian walked past her through the crowd and headed for the trees near the long row of food stalls. She followed him until they were behind the buildings.
“What do you want to talk to me about, officer?” His eyes were never still.
“Your sister, Brianna.”
His gaze finally came to hers and held it. The ghost of a smile crossed his thin, chapped lips. “Yeah. I’m here with my mom and dad to watch her play the fiddle. She’s really good.” She lost his attention again as Brian kept looking over her shoulder, back the way they’d come. She glanced back, half expecting someone to come up behind her.
“I’ve heard that about her,” she said. “You must be proud.”
His smile returned as he looked at the ground. “Yeah, I am. Real proud. She’s uh. She’s not like me.” His eyes flicked up to hers, but she couldn’t tell if he was looking for confirmation or damnation. The corner of his mouth twitched—a nervous smile. “I haven’t been good for her. I’ve messed things up.”
“The word on the street, Brian, is that Glass has a vendetta against your sister. Do you know anything about that? Anything about him?”
He shook his head. “No. No, he’s uh. Look, I’m gonna turn everything around.”
Shit. Sylvie wished she was in an interrogation room with him, recording this. “Tell me how you’re going to do that, Brian.”
He picked at a scab on his arm. “Candi says you were trying to help her. At the arrest.”
“How do you know Candi?”
“She’s a friend.” He moved on to a different scab. “We’ve hooked up. She’s not a bad person.”
