Page 13 of A Sublime Casualt
“Holy heck,” I moan as I help her out of the truck on our way to the Silver Fork, an all-American restaurant that claims fusion with just about anything. I offered to take her wherever she pleased, and we finally narrowed it down to this place. It’s casual. And it’s in Wakefield, so no reservations needed. “You look amazing.” It takes effort not to wink. In no way do I want her to think I’m not telling the truth.
“Thank you.” Her brows bounce. Her lips are painted a heavy shade of crimson, and it brings out the red highlights in her hair. On an average day, Charlie is a beauty, but add a little night magic, and she outshines every woman who’s ever lived. My heart is going off like a semi-automatic bent on destruction. I don’t ever recall feeling this nervous, this aroused by a woman. I’m sure my ex would love to hear that. Speaking of which, she sent a text this afternoon, inviting me to dinner. I told her I was busy and she suggested another night. I haven’t answered her back. Ashley is tenacious. She may look as vicious as a poodle, but she’s a pit bull in disguise. Once she clamps down, there’s no hope of her letting go.
We head in and a waitress leads us to a table that overlooks the pond out east. The sun is getting ready to set, and the sky is washed gray with the threat of rain looming heavy on the hoizon.
We peruse our menus and hem and haw before sliding them to the edge of the table. The waitress comes back with water and we put in our orders.
Charlie shifts in her seat, a quirky grin twitching on her lips. “I have a confession.”
“You do realize who you’re speaking with.” I can’t help but swallow down a laugh. “Shoot.” I take a quick drink, never taking my eyes off hers. Lemon yellow, hazel surprise. They glow with those long, dark lashes. Everything about Charlie glows.
“I had an interesting talk with your ex yesterday.”
Water goes down the wrong pipe, and I choke for the next few seconds. “Ashley?” There is no other ex. It’s been so long, the others don’t count. Shit. “How did this happen?” More importantly,why?My stomach explodes in a vat of acid. Is that why she’s talking to me out of the blue? She’s jealous?
“Gabby happened.” Charlie runs her finger over the rim of her glass, shrugging in that cute way that makes me want her ten times more. Everything about Charlie is endearing to me. I want to help her, protect her. And for the love of God, I want to get her a phone of her own to help keep her safe. And so that I can communicate with her whenever the hell I want.
She sighs and it sounds like an apology. “I told her I was headed to the library, and she mentioned that your ex worked there. Anyway, she told me her name, and low and behold she popped up and asked if she could help me find a book.”
“Huh.” Seems innocuous enough. “Did she help?”
“Sort of.” Her teeth graze her cherry-stained lips, and everything in me approves. “Anyway, it was odd, and I didn’t know what to make of it. I didn’t mention you orthisor anything in between. She seems nice enough.” She shrugs again, but this time she’s asking a question. I can read body language with the best of them.
“She is nice. But she’s not for me. I’m not sure she ever was. It was comfortable and over, all at the same time. She and my sister were pretty close. I don’t know, it never felt natural. But Lizzy was our biggest cheerleader. She wanted us together sometimes more than I think we wanted to be together. Everyone got along. It was great in that sense.”
“I bet your sister took the breakup pretty hard. Oh, wait, was she around? I mean, did she know before she disappeared?”
“She knew. In fact, there was much ado about nothing in my opinion, but she and Ashley weren’t getting along because of it. Once Lizzy disappeared, Ashley took it pretty hard. I know she feels remorseful over the fact they let something so petty get between them and then that happened. It just, sucked. I guess there’s no better way to say it.”
“That does suck.” Her hand glides over and covers mine, warm and soft. “Go ahead and tell me about your sister, about the investigation. I’m here for you, Theo. Anything you want to share. I’m all ears. I’m ready and willing to listen. I know what it feels like to be alone in your pain. I don’t want you to feel like that around me.”
The wordsI know what it feels likering out like a gong. She’s said them before. Without realizing it, Charlie is highlighting her grief over something that’s happened in her own life. I hope one day she’ll be comfortable enough to share that with me.
“It was July seventh, a Tuesday. Miles saw her last, mentioned they had a fight about the water bill. Lizzy liked her baths, and she was staying at his place the month before. By that time, I think they were on the skids and she was back in her apartment. She ping-ponged between it and our mother’s. Anyway, Neil says a couple of coeds saw her at Conrad. She was talking to some people, seemed in good spirits, then headed for the parking lot. End of story. Beginning of nightmare.”
The waitress drops off our food and takes off. Steak and potatoes for me. Chicken with mac and cheese for Charlie.
“That’s all you have?” She shakes her head in disbelief. “That’s all this Neil guy has?”
A dull laugh pumps through me. “Trust me, I’m not impressed either. And I promise you, Neil is as sharp as they come. If there’s any information out there, he’s going to get it. He’s cracking cases left and right. He’s assured me a breakthrough will come.”
Her eyes flash wide. “How can he assure you that? I mean, unless he’s psychic, there’s no telling, right?”
A hard knot settles in my gut. “Right. I guess Neil is more like family, and he hates leaving us disappointed. He wants to think the best for Lizzy, and I do, too.” A ripe anger percolates in me. All of the pain, the boiling cauldron of rage begins to course through my veins. “I just”—my voice breaks—“I need to know who did this to her. There’s a monster out there, and I swear to God, when I get my hands on him or her, they will beg for mercy that will never come.”
Charlie groans as she digs her fingers into my flesh. “I’m so sorry. I never meant to do this to you. Please, we don’t need to go on.” Her grip tightens over my wrist, and I offer the idea of a smile.
“No. I want to. It feels good to talk about it. But if you’re uncomfortable.”
She shakes her head emphatically.
“Then ask me anything,” I offer. “But don’t let your food grow cold.”
We start in on our meals, and she blinks to the ceiling between bites. “You said Miles and your sister had already broken up. So, what do you think his motivation is behind these horrible revelations?”
“Celebrity. He liked his fifteen minutes the last time he had them. He and my sister really lit the gossip train on fire. And now he’s gunning for another round. Neil checked it out, and it was all bullshit. Miles has lost so many brain cells tweaking, he doesn’t know shit about reality. Sorry about that.” For some reason, it doesn’t feel right letting the expletives fly in front of Charlie. Not that I don’t think she can take it, but because it feels strangely disrespectful, and above all else, I want to respect Charlie. A visual of Jackson shoving a box full of condoms under my pillow flits through my brain.
She nods as if approving of my thoughts. “I think we need to probe Miles again. Go over his story. He’s my prime suspect.” She winces. “And not to be a troublemaker, but I think Ashley is an interesting character, too. Gabby mentioned to me privately that she’s obsessive—possessive.”