“And is that a problem?”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say it’s a problem, but we’re not in a relationship. Is there going to be someone who’s upset that you’re pretending to be in a relationship with me?”
“No.” My voice is harsher than it should be. “What about you?” I glance at her as I drive out of the estate.
“Look, you more than anyone know that Patrick and I are no longer dating.”
“Why was he here the other day?”
“I don’t know,” she says. “I seriously don’t know. In fact…” she pauses. “I shouldn’t be saying this, but a thought crossed my mind.”
“You shouldn’t be saying what? You’re confusing me.”
“I don’t want to say anything because if I say what I’m thinking, then you’re going to suspect me. But you really shouldn’t suspect me.”
“Gina, tell me what you’re thinking.” I hate these back-and-forth games.
“So one thing I noticed when Patrick and I were kind of dating was that he really wanted me to make introductions to all of my friends who were from wealthy families. Like my friend Emma, who was here the other day, cooking.”
“She’s a Bond, correct?”
“Yeah.”
“I know her brothers,” I say, nodding. “They’re very wealthy.”
“Yeah, they are very wealthy. But anyway, I noticed Patrick seemed to use me for my connections, and I wasn’t really sure why. I mean, I had my suspicions, but?—”
“Get on with it, Gina. What are you trying to say?”
“I don’t think he’s the most honest guy.”
“I could have told you that.”
“I also feel like maybe when he was at the jewelry store that day, he wasn’t looking for a ring for me.”
“Then what was he doing there?” I stare at her. I will not bring up my real thoughts about that day. I don’t want to make her mad at me.
“I felt like maybe he was casing the joint.”
“Casing the joint? Wait, what? You mean like he was going to steal from the store?”
“Yeah.” She groans like she’s in deep pain and shifts in her seat. “I mean, I don’t know why I thought that, but it crossed my mind. And now, he’s shown up at your house, and your grandma’s necklace has gone missing.” She bites down on her lower lip and rubs her palms together. “And all I can think is, what if he stole it?”
“How could he have stolen it? How would he even know about it? I’ve never seen him in the house before.”
“That’s the thing I’ve been wondering myself,” she says. “How did he get in that day?”
“I thought he was there to see you. I didn’t realize he’d been inside.”
“When I got back, he was coming out of the house.”
“Out of the house? Wait, so he had been inside?”
“That’s what I’m saying. He wasn’t here to see me. I don’t know who he was seeing.”
I want to believe her, but it just makes little sense. I’ve been here for months, and I’ve never seen him before. Never. Now, suddenly, my grandma’s necklace goes missing, and Patrick was at the house.
“Let me ask you a question, Gina.”
