Page 10 of Half the Summer's Night

“Yeah, of course. It’s a good thought, actually.” Rowan flashes me a grin. “I’m surprised the police didn’t ask about it.”

I’m not. I keep my mouth shut, though.

Rowan slides behind his desk and taps away on the keyboard. My heart is pounding furiously with anticipation, with the hopethat this will give me something. Even if I can’t investigate any further on my own, it might be enough to get Kaplan to actually listen to me?—

“Ah, nope,” Rowan says, blinking at the screen. “Mr. Nielson was the last one to get a key to the room. Nobody came asking for a replacement.” He looks over at me. “I’m sorry. It really was a good idea.”

I nod, swallowing down my disappointment. A dead end. Anytime I try to investigate these deaths, that’s always where I end up. I shouldn’t be surprised that this time is any different, even if I put in the effort of talking to people.

“Well, I appreciate you checking it out for me.” I plaster on a smile, hoping I don’t sound too fake. I do appreciate Rowan’s help. I just wish I could catch a break.

Because Iknowthere’s something more here. Those marks on the bodies aren’t some weird coincidence. Not after seven of them, for fuck’s sake.

“Is there—is there anything else I could help you with?” Rowan looks up at me through a curl of hair that’s fallen across his eyebrows. I want to say yes, even though I don’t know what it could possibly be. “Do you want me to call Julia in? She might be busy, if that’s why she didn’t come up to see you?—”

“It’s fine.” The words come out too quickly, and they taste bitter on my tongue. I doubt she’ll have anything, either.

I can just hear Kaplan mocking me, asking me in that snide way he has if I really think I’m the best person for the coroner appointment.

Rowan frowns. He looks like he wants to say something, and I’m suddenly afraid he’s going to mock me, too. Crack a joke at my expense.

“Thanks for your help,” I say, stepping backward toward the door. “I, um, I don’t want to take up any of your time, but Ijust thought—” I swallow, not sure what to say. “I guess I was mistaken. I hope I didn’t scare any of your emp?—”

“You didn’t,” he says, pushing his chair back so he can stand up. We stare at each other from across the office. “I was happy to help. Do you want…” His voice kind of trails off, and he looks over at the Blood Raiser poster. “I can give you my number.”

My heart leaps, stupidly.

“You know, in case you think of anything else.” He looks back over at me, his big brown eyes drinking me in. “And maybe… You can give me yours?”

Is he flirting with me? He can’t possibly be flirting with me.

“Yeah, I can do that.” My voice comes out kind of high-pitched and squeaky, and I slide my phone out of my purse, heart hammering.

“I’ll give you my number,” he says. “And then you can call me, okay? To make sure I have yours.”

He wants to make sure he has my number.

“In case I need to follow up on anything,” he adds.

Of course. He’s just being helpful. I told him I thought a murder took place in his hotel.Of coursehe wants to have my phone number.

Still, I punch off the number he rattles off to me. Then I presscall,and his phone lights up on his desk.

“There you are.” He grins at me, and my heart starts fluttering stupidly again. “I’ll, um—” He stops, almost like he’s hesitating. “If anything comes up, I’ll give you a call.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

We stare at each other. If Penelope were here, she’d tell me to ask him out.Just go for it, she’d say.The worst he can do is say no.

But I can’t bring myself to do it, even though the question is on the tip of my tongue. A coffee date at the little shop on the beachfront. A five-minute walk from here. Nothing, really.

Rowan blinks at me.

And I just duck out the door.

4

ROWAN