Page 48 of Riding the Sugar High

Connor hesitates for a long moment, studying his partner. The obnoxious smacking of his lips drives me crazy, but I’m much more concerned about Logan’s reaction to the possibility of him questioning me.

Please say yes.

“Fine, Lawson. But this is theonefriends-and-family discount you get.” He spits his gum in a nearby bin, and the noise gives me shivers. “Ask for preferential treatment again, and I’ll tell the chief to take you off the case.”

“You got it.” There’s a quiet exchange between Logan and Josie as he and his lawyer follow Connor into the corridor. Then, clenching his fist, he glances at me.

Be strong.

I assume that’s what he’s saying, but I’m mostly thankful the lawyer will be with me throughout the interrogation.

Once they disappear into one of the rooms facing the corridor, Josie offers me a friendly smile. “Okay. We’ll be in room two. This way.” She leads me into the same corridor, then stops three doors away from Logan’s and enters a small, poorly lit room. Naked walls, a table, three chairs, and a small window from which the sun struggles to filter through.

It’s an actual interrogation room.

This is it. I’m going to be sick.

“Don’t be nervous,” Josie says as I step in.

Is it so obvious?

She closes the door, then sits at one side of the table, gesturing at the chairs on the other side. “You’re not under arrest. I’ll ask you some questions about what happened last Friday, and your lawyer will be with you the whole time.”

He holds a hand out to her. “Peter Miller.”

“Nice to meet you.”

We all sit, falling into an uneasy silence as Josie sets a folder on the table, then laces her fingers together. “So...You and Logan. How did you meet?”

I watch Peter as I he instructed this morning, and he nods. Though we spent all morning preparing for this, I still don’t feel ready. How could he have prepped me for every possible scenario in just a few hours? But he swore he’d intervene if I were asked something unexpected, and god, I hope the money I’m paying him is well spent.

My life is quite literally on the line.

“Uh, we met in Roseberg a couple of months back.”

“But you’re from Mayfield, right?” When I nod, she taps her pen on the stack of documents. “That’s a long way from Roseberg. What were you doing there?”

“Work. I travel a lot because of my social media. I’m lucky enough to collaborate with many businesses.”

“Who were you working with at the time?”

I release a breath. Peter and I discussed all of this at length this morning, and besides the part about me meeting Logan, everything else is true. “Sodatron. They’re a sugar-free soda producer who worked on a sour candy limited edition.”

“Oh my god.” Her eyes widen. “I love sour candy.”

When I smile, she does too, then writes something down. “And your relationship has been long distance since then?”

“Yes.”

Her eyes narrow. “But Logan doesn’t have a phone, does he? How do you manage that?”

I check the lawyer’s expression, and he offers a subtle bob of his head.

“He uses Kyle’s phone to call me every day,” I say. Peter promised we’re making it harder for them by claiming we’ve been communicating through someone else’s phone.

“Oh, that’s cute.” She writes something else. Her eyes focus on a spot behind me, and with a hum, she continues. “Tell me about Friday. What happened?”

My heart palpitates, but I try to keep my casual smile unbothered. “Uh, Friday, yes. I finished my job in Roseberg—I was hired to assist a cookie company with their social media—then drove here.”