Page 343 of Faking the Goal

"Miss Lewis," he says evenly, "this is important. The Conrad you're referring to..." He pauses just long enough to make sure he has my full attention. "I need you to tell me everything you know about him."

I close my eyes.

God...

How do I even begin?

I swallow hard, trying to gather my thoughts.

"He started working as a bouncer at the Velvet Lounge about a year ago." My voice sounds distant, like I'm listening to someone else speak. "Everybody liked him. The girls did, the customers did... he was always polite. Respectful. If someone got too drunk or crossed a line, he'd step in before things got ugly."

The detective gives a small nod.

"And how did he treat you?"

I blink.

"The same... I think."

"You think?"

"I..." I hesitate, my eyes falling back to the photograph. "He never made me uncomfortable. He never flirted with me or crossed any boundaries. He was..." I trail off, the word suddenly feeling strange in my mouth. "...kind."

The room falls quiet.

"Actually..." I murmur, more to myself than anyone else. "Maybe a little kinder to me."

Kentaro's grip on my hand tightens almost imperceptibly.

Detective Matthews notices.

"In what way?"

"I don't know." I shake my head. "Nothing that stood out at the time." I frown, trying to sort through memories that suddenly feel different. "He'd check on me more often than the others. Ask if I was doing okay. Walk over if a customer was making me uncomfortable. But..." I look between the detective and Kentaro. "He did that for the other girls too. That's why I never thought anything of it."

"So there wasn't anything that made you uncomfortable?"

"No."

I let out a shaky breath.

"I honestly thought he was just... a genuinely nice guy."

The words taste bitter now.

"What did the two of you usually talk about?"

I don't even have to think about it.

"His girlfriend."

Detective Matthews' brows lift slightly.

"He talked about her all the time," I say quietly. "She lived back in his hometown. Every conversation somehow circled back to her."

I pause.

"Last Sunday..." My stomach twists. "He told me they were taking a break because he thought she might already be seeing someone else."