I was nervous to talk to the police again. In a perfect world, I’d share everything I now knew with them. But they had bungled the investigation so badly last time, and I didn’t have a suspect to provide yet. I needed one if I was going to bring them all of this. Especially because it directly contradicted what I’d written in my book, given that I was looking for a suspect that was not Gary Hopely. To tell them everything now would just make me look like a liar.
The police station had been renovated since I was last there. Gone were the warm wooden counters and sleek white furniture, steel fixtures and glass in their place. It had the same vaguely clean, tropical smell as the rest of the local government buildings.
My mother was sitting beside Suzannah in the lobby, whispering anxiously. I could see her hands moving quickly. They both looked up when I approached them.
“Thank god,” my mother said sarcastically. Her eyes were bloodshot, with leftover mascara smudged underneath them. She looked like she had been crying all day.
“Sorry,” I said, doing my best to be considerate, though I wasn’t sure if she deserved it. “I had my phone on silent.”
Her lipsticked mouth puckered for a minute, as if she wanted to comment, but chose not to. “Well, it’s good you’re here. Detective Pullman wants to speak to you. He’s in there with your brother now.”
Suzannah grimaced. “I’d rather him than the other one. Detective Newbury was being so rude today.”
My mother looked tense but didn’t say anything. She gave me a long look I didn’t understand.
“Where’s Dad?” I asked, looking around.
“He’s still speaking with Detective Newbury,” my mother replied.
“They’ve been in thereforever,” Suzannah complained.
My mother looked past her, eyes still stuck on me. “Listen, Rose. After they talk to you—”
She was cut off before I could wonder what she was about to say, or ask about the change in her tone toward me. Suzannah got to her feet as Tommy came through some central white doors with Detective Pullman behind him. Tommy looked annoyed. I could see the shadows under his eyes. He walked straight over to Suzannah and grabbed her by the hand.
“I wish you’d let us talk some more,” Detective Pullman said. He was wearing a khaki suit today with no tie, more relaxed. He also looked tired. “It only helps the case.”
“Helpswho?” Tommy asked, so sharply it took Suzannah by surprise. “If you want to talk to me again, you can send a subpoena.”
Tommy turned to me. “Rosie, If I were you, I’d call that lawyer of yours.”
I flinched at Tommy’s tone. It sounded so unlike him.
“Walter?” I asked. I had Will’s lawyer on retainer, but I didn’t think I’d need to call him for this. His time was best spent on Will’s case.
“Call him,” Tommy said again, roughly grasping Suzannah’s hand. He looked at our mother. “We’re going to the house.”
“I’ll stay here for now,” she said quickly.
Detective Pullman was looking at me. “Rose, we’d like to talk to you for a bit. If you have a moment. You are more than welcome to call a lawyer if you choose, but this is about finding your sister. That’s all.”
It was lies. I never believed a word the cops said anymore, but I also didn’t want to waste any time. Besides, I could handle the likes of Pullman.
I went to follow him down the hall, but my mother grabbed my arm. “If you need me, text me,” she said firmly. “I’m going to wait for you.”
Needher? I stared at her in disbelief. We could barely get through a regular conversation anymore without sniping at each other. But she was staring at Pullman with a maternal ferocity I hadn’t seen in years.
She was worried. Forme.
I felt like I was fourteen again as I sat down in the empty interview room. It was the exact same one I’d been in the day they found Alexandria, though the walls were freshly painted now and the furniture was new. There was a camera in the top-right corner, the little light indicating it was on.
Pullman sat down in front of me, settling himself in a casual way that looked anything but comfortable. “Would you like something to drink? Water or a soda?”
I snorted. “Wouldn’t you rather hand me the swab for my DNA? This conversation will be much easier without all the pretense.”
He smiled then, a real smile, dimples and all. “While I admire the directness, I was just being considerate, Rose. I don’t need your DNA. And if I did, there would be no need for a swab. I would crossreference it with your brother’s.”
I didn’t say anything. I just narrowed my eyes and watched him.
