June swallowed. Her throat felt tight. She thought of Trevor, of the way grief changed the air in a room. She thought of other losses she did not say out loud.
“Life is strange,” June said quietly.
“Very,” Holt agreed.
He glanced at his watch, and his eyebrows shot up. “Goodness,” Holt said. “Look at the time.”
June blinked and checked her watch as well. They had been at the diner for nearly two hours.
She couldn’t believe it. It felt like they’d only just sat down.
They paid and walked back outside.
The sunlight was brighter now. The air warmer. And the world was louder as the day was in full swing.
Holt opened the passenger door for her again, and June slid inside. She felt calmer than she had in days, and that frightened her a little. Because she hadn’t expected Holt’s presence to steady her the way it did.
As they drove back toward Sandpiper Shores, June’s mind returned to the case like a tide returning to shore. The note, the rush crush, the missing car, and Victoria’s name burning through it all.
They reached the police station mid-morning, and the parking lot was fuller now. June felt the old tension return to her shoulders as they parked.
Holt shut off the engine and glanced at her.
“Remember, we can’t say a word about this to anyone,” Holt warned.
“I won’t,” June assured him.
“I think we keep any discussion of this outside of the police station,” Holt suggested.
“I agree,” June confirmed.
They stepped out and walked toward the entrance. June had barely made it to the first step when a voice cut across the air, smooth and sweet and sharp underneath.
“Well, hello, Holt and…June,” Victoria said. “Have the two of you been on a road trip?”
June’s shoulders stiffened instantly as she turned toward the woman.
Victoria stood near the entrance as if she belonged there, dressed perfectly, hair flawless, sunglasses perched on her head. She wore a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
June forced her own expression to remain neutral, but her pulse quickened. She felt Holt’s body shift beside her, subtle but immediate, like a door closing.
Holt’s tone stayed polite. “We were going over the accident that Lacey Peltz had yesterday,” Holt said.
June watched Victoria’s brows lift, and there was no expression in the woman’s eyes.
“Oh,” Victoria said. “What happened?”
“You didn’t hear about it?” June asked, and she kept her voice calm, though she wanted to test Victoria’s reaction.
Victoria shrugged as if it meant nothing. “I don’t bother with the twins,” Victoria said lightly.
June felt her stomach tighten. Even for Victoria, that was cold.
Victoria turned her attention fully to Holt, ignoring June as if she were a piece of furniture.
“Could I have a word with you, Holt, darling?” Victoria asked.
June’s eyebrows rose slightly, but she said nothing.
