“Medium coffee, black,” Brooke said to the next customer, ignoring Livi entirely.
The morning only got worse from there.
Every customer seemed to have an opinion about Tyler, about the murders, about Brooke’s involvement. Some were subtle—meaningful looks, careful pauses in conversation. Others were direct.
“You need to be careful,” Mr. Landers said when he picked up his order, a caramel breve extra hot. “A man like that, with his history...”
“I appreciate your concern,” Brooke said, her jaw tight.
“Just saying. You were friends with that lawyer girl, too, weren’t you? The one who got herself mixed up in all that trouble?”
“Have a nice day, Mr. Landers.”
Between customers, Brooke stepped into the kitchen and pulled out her phone. Three texts to Tyler last night. Two this morning. No response.
He’d tried to call her last night, but she’d been napping. Who was she kidding? She wasn’t napping. But she was in the bedroom and had left her phone in the living room with the ringer silenced. She needed time away fromeverything. Time to think. When she’d seen the missed call, she’d tried him. Twice. Both went to voicemail.
Gina had texted around seven:I heard what happened!!Tyler left the station around 6. Not arrested. Just questioned.
So, he was free. He was out there somewhere, not in a cell, not being held. Just not answering her. She’d texted Gina back, letting her know she was calling a rideshare and going home. She was well enough to be on her own. And it was true. On top of that, she couldn’t handle the idea of discussing what happened with Gina or anyone at that moment. She needed to be alone. To process.
If Gina was right, Tyler had left the station fifteen hours earlier, and she still hadn’t heard a peep out of him. What did that mean? Brooke typed another message:Please call me. I need to know you’re okay.
She hit send and shoved the phone back into her pocket.
“Brooke?” Becky appeared beside her. “You’ve got someone asking for you.”
Tyler?“Who is it?”
“Your reporter friend. Joe Monroe. Says he needs to talk to you. Said he’s going around to the alley.” Becky gave her a look that Brooke couldn’t quite interpret.
“Thanks.”
Brooke found Joe standing next to her car.
“Hey.” Joe nodded when he saw her. “Ouch. That looks like it hurts.”
“Some.” That was a flat-out lie. Her entire body ached. She should’ve stayed home, stayed in bed and let herself heal. Let herself cry.
“Thanks for coming out.”
“I can’t stay long. We’re slammed.”
“I noticed. Thought about sitting out front, but your place is a zoo. Good to have the business, I guess.”
She frowned. “Do you know why it’s so busy?”
“Monique,” Joe said.
“Yeah. And Tyler and me and . . . ” She sighed.
“I’ve been looking into it...the story, I mean, ever since it came over the scanner yesterday morning that there was another body. Then, when I heard it was Monique, I did some digging.” He flipped open his notebook.
“You knew Monique?”
“Some. Met her when she was with Sheila once.”
“I didn’t know you knew Sheila.”
