Ah, crap. Rory took a deep breath.
“Did you break into the hardware store?” Serenity asked, her voice shaking.
Brandon frowned, his lighter brows drawing down. “Break into the hardware store? Why would I do that?”
“Brandon,” Rory said softly. “You’re going to want to listen to me for a second.”
The teen immediately turned his attention to Rory and pushed back into his chair as far as possible. “I’m listening.” His voice trembled.
“Good. Answer my questions, and I won’t hurt you. Probably.”
The kid gulped, his focus entirely on Rory.
“Have you been bringing Serenity flowers?”
“Yes,” Brandon said, color finally swirling into his face. “She’s pretty and seemed sad lately. I wanted to cheer her up.”
Oh, the kid definitely had a crush. Yet how bad was it?
“Have you been—?” Serenity started. Rory held up a hand, and she stopped. One thing he knew how to do was interrogate somebody. Brandon obviously had decent instincts because he hadn’t looked away from Rory’s face.
Rory let the killer show in his eyes. “How long have you been leaving her flowers?”
“About a month,” Brandon said. “Just once in a while. Daisies are her favorite, so I try to leave one for her when I can.”
“What about the phone calls?” Rory asked.
Brandon blinked. “What phone calls?”
“Have you called her and just breathed?”
“No,” Brandon said, frowning. “Why would I call her and breathe? That’s sinister.”
It could be argued that leaving the flowers was sinister, too, but obviously, the high schooler didn’t think so. Rory shook his head. “How many burner phones do you have?”
Brandon chewed on his lip. “What’s a burner phone? I don’t burn phones.”
Hana snorted and instantly slid down on the couch, curling under the blanket. “I’m out,” she said, turning her face to the back of the sofa. She was asleep in less than a heartbeat.
Rory studied the kid. “You say you haven’t made prank phone calls. I’m going to ask you this once, and if you lie to me, you won’t like the results.”
The kid remained so still it didn’t seem like he was breathing.
“Did you, or did you not, break into the hardware store last night?”
“Not.” Brandon’s voice rose. “I mean, come on, man. I can’t do much with this bum foot.”
That was fair.
Serenity cleared her throat, and Rory nodded. Then, almost instinctively, Brandon looked at her. “I’m really sorry. I was just trying to cheer you up, Serenity. Like I said, I think you’re amazing. I know I’m young, but...”
“No.” Serenity held up a hand. “There’s no but. You are young, and while I appreciate the thought, it kind of scared me, Brandon, especially when you burned the flowers.”
He drew up, looking taller. “Burned the flowers? Why would Iburnflowers?” He looked at Rory and then back at Serenity. “That’s crazy.”
Rory ground his back teeth together and ignored the headache crawling from his shoulders to his skull. “So, youdidn’tburn the flowers?”
“No.”
