Page 12 of These White Lies

Luke shakes his head. “It’s immaterial to his job.”

“What’s the problem, Luke?” I won’t release his gaze. “I’m going to have to hear it eventually. If they bring me in forquestioning, they will probably ask me about it. Isn’t it better for me to stay consistent?”

“She’s right.”

Luke lets out a heavy sigh, pulls out his phone, and lays it on the desk.

My voice fills the air. Or at least, Ithinkit’s my voice. The shaky, choking noises sound nothing like me.

Brady doesn’t say anything. Neither does Luke. I can feel their eyes on me, and somehow it’s worse than what their words might be.

My spine locks, and I force my arms to stay still.

I willnotfall apart. I won’t.

My chest is tight, my throat raw, and my vision blurs for a moment. I dig my nails into my palm again, harder this time. Willing myself not to show weakness.

Brady’s jaw flexes. “We’ll figure out who did this, Elizabeth.”

We.

I haven’t been a ‘we’ in a long time.

I don’t even know if I’m still capable of it.

4

BRADY

Elizabeth is doing her best to give off an unworried vibe, but the fisted hand under her leg, and the tense muscles at the corners of her mouth give away her stress.

Frankly, I’d be more concerned if shedidn’tseem worried. Still, I’m watching her every movement. The tiniest nuance can be an excellent indicator of someone’s guilt or innocence, and one amazing night doesn’t mean I know this woman.

Even if it feels like I do.

When the 911 call plays, Elizabeth’s lips part, and a tiny puff of air escapes at the distinctive sound of heavy breathing coming from the recording as the dispatcher picks up.

Her face crumples. The vulnerability she’s been working so hard to hide is on full display. It takes everything in me to stay where I am as we listen to the panicked, desperate woman on the phone.

I can’t go to her. Can’t give her the hug she looks like she so desperately needs. She’s a client, and I can’t blur those lines on the basis of a memory.

It’s not as if she’d welcome comfort from me, anyway.

Which raises another question. Why is she so hostile?

“Are you okay?” Luke asks gently when the playback ends.

Elizabeth is visibly shaking, but Luke’s words appear to sink in, because an impervious mask slips over her features.

She swipes angrily at the tears slipping down her cheeks. “I just didn’t remember it that way.”

A dull ache throbs behind my sternum. I tell myself it’s only empathy. The same thing I’d feel for any client…

Luke clears his throat. “We can request additional forensics today. I know people who can put a rush on it.”

“I’ll reach out to my contacts and see if anyone has heard anything,” I offer.

Luke and I look at each other, giving Elizabeth the minute she needs to steady her breathing and bring herself back under control.