“Being good with words doesn’t help me solve this case,” he said.
“I’m not supposed to solve it. That’s your job. I’m just a spectator in this show like everyone else.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you’re as innocent as you want people to believe.”
Harmony laughed. “I’ve never claimed innocence. I have scars that the world doesn’t get to see. The difference between most people and me is that I get to write new stories. I can create any world I want. Then I don’t have to live in reality.”
“Well, you’re in reality now. How would you end this story?”
She grinned. “I can’t tell you that. If I did, it would ruin the ending.”
He studied her again. “Iwillfigure this out,” he said, the words a warning.
“I have no doubt,” she said, meeting his eyes head-on.
They walked back to the lobby in silence. There was nothing left to say. On Catalina, everyone was guilty of something. Some sins were simply darker than others.
Cass sat curled up in the corner of the couch, wrapped in a blanket and holding a hot cup. She was still trembling. Mary sat beside her, eyes sharp.
“I’d like to speak with you next?” Durante said to Cass.
Harmony stepped in front of her cousin. “Do you want a private room to talk to him?” Harmony asked.
“I don’t care who hears. I have nothing to hide. I’d rather stay right here under this cover,” she said.
Durante nodded. He didn’t sit.
“How fast was the vehicle going?”
“Way too fast. Harm’s sleeve got ripped. We almost died. If we hadn’t moved—if the car had been three more inches to the left—we’d have been pushed over the cliff.”
A tear slid down Cass’s cheek. She lifted her cup and took a sip. Mary reached over and rubbed her leg. Cass gave her a thankful look. Mary sat back and glared at Durante.
“Do you know what color the vehicle was?”
“The lights were so bright, it’s hard to tell because nothing about it popped in the fog . . . so maybe white? Gray?”
“That’s possible.”
“Or maybe it was a ghost car,” Cass whispered.
“We’re traumatized when we’re scared, and memory gets unreliable,” Durante said.
Harmony noted how differently he spoke to Cass—gentler, almost protective.Interesting.
“I’ve always been able to handle stress better than most people, but I think the continuation of being stressed twenty-four-seven is starting to get to me,” Cass admitted. “Maybe that’s messing with my head.”
“Do you know if there was one person or two in the vehicle?”
She thought a moment. “I really don’t know. I didn’t see anything but the lights. It happened so dang quickly.”
“Why do you think this happened to the two of you?” he asked.
Another shudder ripped through Cass. “Maybe we’re asking too many questions. Maybe we’re getting close and they want to shut us up.”
He nodded. “You might be right.”
Just then, Efrain walked into the lobby and stopped when he saw them. He looked exhausted. Durante turned immediately.
