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“Let me know how it works for you and I’ll bring you more,” he says, before turning away.
“Will do.” I slam the door and sink against it. Hot tea splashes against my chest, but I don’t even flinch. I can’t move.
The man I thought I loved. The man who broke my heart is in the bathtub…floating?
What? I sprint to the bathroom and shut off the water as Justin’s foot floats over the edge.
Snatching out the plug, I stand there in shock, watching each drop of water disappear. Who would want to kill Justin? And why did they do it in my apartment?
The drain splutters and I look up. Justin’s foot is still hanging over the edge. Should I put him back the way I found him?
Caleb told me not to touch anything, but does it still apply if I’m trying to put him back the way I found him?
I don’t have a chance to decide as I accidentally kick over a stray dog dish and summon the animals I thought I locked in my room. Shawn and Gus sprint into the bathroom, vaulting themselves into the tub.
I scream, as Shawn goes straight for Justin’s shoes and Gus knocks the open canister of bath salts off the edge of the tub. The bottle goes flying, and white salt crystals rain down on everything, including Justin.
Shawn immediately dives in to lick Justin clean.
I’m going to be sick again.
“Shawn! Gus!” I yell, clapping my hands, but the dead guy holds more magnetism than I do. They never liked him when he was alive but now they love him. And now Shawn’s peeing on him. That’s so very Shawn and Gus. To ruin a crime scene like this.
“No!” I lunge forward, grabbing at Shawn’s collar. I wrestle both dogs free and pull them yipping and fighting back to my bedroom, ensuring the door is properly shut, and locked this time.
My legs give out and I fall back against the wall. This is so bad. Should I clean Justin off? I feel awful leaving him in that mess.
I’m so sorry, Justin.
Chapter 27
Caleb
My heart beats at an unsteady rhythm as I sprint up to Amelia’s apartment. What is going on? Her ex-fiancé is dead, in her home? The same day a museum gets broken into, most likely by the guy who's been asking Amelia out? Coincidence? Or connected?
More importantly, is she okay? Did the killer come back after her neighbor left? I called her a hundred and one times but each call rang and rang.
What am I going to find in there?
I reach her door and turn the knob, cursing when the door falls right open.
Well, that explains how the killer got in.
“Amelia?” I yell, desperation clinging to my voice. Where is she?
A vacuum shuts off.
“Caleb!” She runs out of the bathroom, eyes red-rimmed and frantic, and right into my arms. I tuck her against my chest, trying to calm my own frantic heart rate. I breathe her in, the smell of flowers and salty waves soothing my tangled emotions. She’s okay. But what if she hadn’t been?
What’s wrong with me? Eight hours ago I was convinced she was part of Liam’s business, and now I want to hold her, comfort her, save her.
“Are you okay?” I whisper into her hair, pulling back enough to ensure she isn’t hurt. I should check out the situation, but right now this is all that matters. She’s the only thing that matters.
“I’m fine.” She shakes her head and steps out of my embrace.
I miss the feeling of her against me, but my brain jumps back to the present. To the dead guy. There’s a flipping dead guy in her tub and I’m smelling her hair?
I try to take a step around her, but she stops me with a hand to my chest.