Page 73 of Nothing Breaks Like A Heart

"We don't know," Ethan replied without showing any emotion. "Do you have reason to believe it wasn't an accident?"

"She works on construction sites all the time. She knows how to be careful. It seems suspicious."

"Her death will definitely be investigated," Ethan said.

"What's going to happen now?" Andrew asked.

"The sheriff's office is trying to locate her family. Do you have any contact information you can share?"

"No. Alli didn't talk to her family. Her parents were divorced. As far as I know, she hadn't seen them in years."

It was weird hearing him call herAlli. He'd never shortened her name before, but maybe that's because he'd finally let down his guard.

"I—I need some air." Andrew walked through the living room and out the double doors leading to the deck.

"He's shocked and upset," I said to Ethan.

"He seems that way," Ethan agreed, but his tone was so pragmatic I didn't know if he thought Andrew's reaction was real or just really good acting.

"He wouldn't have told you he thought it was suspicious if he'd had something to do with her death." I paused as my phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was Megan reminding us we were meeting in thirty minutes.

"Andrew and I need to get ready for our spa date." I let out a sigh as I met Ethan's gaze. "It feels wrong to go on with these photo shoots like nothing happened."

"Until you're told otherwise, that's exactly what you should do." He lowered his voice. "Don't press Andrew, Lauren. Leave the questions to the police, to me, to everyone else but you."

I shivered at the look in his eyes, the warning in his voice. "You don't want me to try to get information?"

"No. I want you to stay safe. Did you tell Andrew about Allison's phone call to you last night?"

I shook my head. "I haven't had a chance."

"Keep that to yourself for now."

I looked at the man standing out on the deck, the man I'd married a few days ago. He had his hands on the railing, and he was looking out to the ocean. I couldn't see his face, but I could feel his tension, his distress. "I don't think he killed her, Ethan."

"Until we know who did, you can't trust anyone, not even your husband."

ChapterEighteen

After Ethan left, I joined Andrew on the deck. His face was tight, his eyes somewhat bleak. He didn't look like someone who'd killed his ex. He looked like a man who was grieving.

"Are you all right?" I asked quietly.

He drew in a deep breath before turning to look at me. "Not really. I know you didn't like Allison, that you were suspicious of her, but I can't believe she's dead. I don't understand how this could have happened."

"I know. It's terrible."

"Terrible?" he questioned. "I'm sure you don't feel that bad."

I was a little taken aback by his sharp tone. "I wanted her to leave the island; I didn’t want her to die."

"Well, it looks like she won't be bothering either of us anymore," he said harshly. He turned back to look at the sea, his jaw set in stone.

"Do you want me to tell Megan to push things back at the spa or cancel?" I asked quietly.

He didn't answer right away. Then he said, "No. We can't do that. We made a commitment. We have to honor it."

"These are extreme circumstances. You lost a friend."