“What about anybody else?” May pressed.
“Nope.” Ophelia sighed and wiped her hands clean. “Nothing that sticks. And we’ve looked.”
The table went quiet for a second. The clatter of dishes and low hum of conversation filled in the space.
“We need to find exculpatory evidence and soon.” Daisy shifted back into lawyer mode. “We have Ace’s preliminary hearing tomorrow afternoon. The judge is being reasonable and letting us do it via teleconference.”
May’s temples began to ache. “I’m glad.” A preliminary hearing didn’t sound like fun, and no doubt Ace didn’t want to deal with it. She couldn’t blame him. She turned toward the window, more out of habit than intention, and froze.
Across the street, outside Bob’s Bait and Outfitters, Kyle Mercer stood with Peter and Jack. All three were dressed down in jeans and outdoor jackets, posing beside the massive, mounted fish near the door. One of them held up a camera while the others laughed. They were really pushing Kyle’s fake environmental agenda, now weren’t they?
Amka followed her gaze. “When do you suppose they’re leaving?”
“It’s got to be soon,” May said, her jaw aching.
“They’re leaving Friday morning,” Ophelia replied.
May jerked. “Oh?”
Ophelia’s mouth curved. “I’ve been doing my research. They’ve got a big rafting trip tomorrow night and have been posting about it all week. Then they head out first thing Friday.”
Relief moved through May so suddenly she almost slumped with it. “Good.” She hadn’t realized how much space Kyle was taking up in her mind until the idea of him leaving created room to breathe.
As if sensing her attention, his head turned. Even from across the street, she felt his focus. His gaze locked onto hers, his eyes hard and assessing.
Then he smiled.
A chill slid down her spine.
Daisy eyed her. “What?”
“Nothing,” May said automatically, but her fingers gripped her water glass.
Ophelia twisted in her seat and glanced out the window. “Oh.”
Amka’s posture shifted almost imperceptibly. “He looks like he’s enjoying himself.”
“He always does,” May replied.
Across the street, Peter snapped another photo. Jack clapped Kyle on the shoulder. They looked carefree and perfectly staged.
But Kyle didn’t look away from her. He held her gaze another second, then finally turned back to his friends.
May let out a slow breath.
“Hey,” Daisy said gently. “He’s leaving.”
“Yeah,” May answered. Yet she couldn’t settle. The bell above the Green Plate’s door jingled as someone else walked in. Knife’s Edge carried on.
Amka reached across the table and squeezed May’s hand. “You’re not alone.”
May looked at her friends. Daisy with her quick mind and steady resolve. Ophelia already building timelines in her head. Amka grounded and calm. “I know,” May said softly.
Across the street, Kyle laughed at something Peter said, and caught her eye again.
May looked away first.
Chapter Thirty-Three
