“I read your book cover to cover,” Pullam continued. “I could read between the lines. Myers was the teacher, right? And he was inappropriate with you too?”
I said nothing. I didn’t have to. Pullman understood. His expression softened. “I’m sorry,” he said slowly. It was the most compassionate I’d seen him since I met him.
“I wasn’t there about that,” I continued. “I needed to know if he killed Alex.”
“So you went alone to the house of a man you suspected of murder?”
“I needed to talk to him,” I said, reeling from how stupid it sounded. Not that I’d give Pullman the satisfaction of admitting it.
Pullman rolled his eyes. “I gathered that.”
“Then why did you ask?”
“Because I don’t understand, Rose,” he said, putting his hands down on the table. “A couple hours ago you were screaming at me, telling me that you wanted to help your sister—only to immediately put yourself in harm’s way. It’s reckless and unhelpful.”
His outrage was understandable, but also infuriating.
“I’m an adult,” I reminded him. “I don’t have to explain myself to you, Pullman. I have my reasons.”
“Except you do. Because I’m the police.” Pullman fixed a firm gaze on me. “It’s my job to look into these things,” he said finally. “Not yours. You’re a writer, Rose, not a detective.”
I took another sip of my drink to keep from rolling my eyes. “I couldn’t risk telling you and waiting to see if you would act on it,” I snapped, aware that nearly half my drink was gone already. “I don’t trust the police after what happened to Will.”
“That isn’t fair,” Pullman said, giving me a look that bordered on hurt. Suddenly I could see him as he was outside of work. Someone’s brother. Someone’s boyfriend. It was unnerving. I didn’t want Pullman to be a real person. I preferred to hate him like every other inept cop I’d ever dealt with. “I have been completely devoted to your sister’s case. I’ve followed every lead, including all of the insane ones you’ve suggested.”
I scoffed and Pullman sighed, leaning back against the booth, his arms crossed in frustration. “Well, turns out Bradley wasn’t involved,” I said, deciding not to wait for him to continue his lecture. “He has a solid alibi. For both Hazel’s disappearance and Alex’s murder.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll be confirming both of those.” He took a handful of tortilla chips from a basket that had just appeared and pushed it toward me begrudgingly. “You know this whole investigation would move a lot faster if you trusted me with information.”
I cocked my eyebrow. “Right. Because your department is so receptive to my suggestions?”
Pullman shook his head. He looked frustrated with me, and I guess I couldn’t really blame him.
“I want to ask you a question,” he said. “And I’d like it if you were honest with me.”
I snorted. “Is this an interrogation, Detective?”
He rolled his eyes. “Hardly. This would never hold up in court. We’re in a restaurant for one, which is inappropriate. Combine that with you being under the influence, and nothing you say would be admissible in any way.”
“I don’t think one drink qualifies as ‘being under the influence.’”
“It does in a courtroom, and besides, that’s not the point,” Pullman said. “What I meant is that this isn’t an official meeting. I could already be sanctioned just for being here with you. It’s a conflict of interest.”
This intrigued me. “So why did you suggest it?”
Pullman chewed on his lower lip. “Because you’re not exactly a regular witness, are you, Rose? So I’m not going to treat you like one. I’m hoping we can be more upfront with each other about the case. Okay?”
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier.”
“You’ll need to be more specific.”
“About Will’s potential innocence,” Pullman said. Was this a trick? Why would Pullman suddenly start listening to me? I stared at him, trying to figure out where he was going with this.
“You think Will is innocent?” I asked in disbelief.
“No,” Pullman said. “But I have some things I want to run by you. Some questions about back then. I think your perspective could be helpful.”
