Page 91 of Wasted

Cillian nodded. “Black pickup. I think it was a Ford, but I can’t swear to it.”

“So that wasn’t the curator?” Treese’s tone didn’t hold any triumph this time, and her eyebrows lowered with what looked like concern.

“I’ll see if he has a pickup registered under his name as well as the silver Mercedes.” Torin took out the notepad he seemed to carry with him at all times, and Spring handed him a pen. “I’ll also run down the vehicles owned by Ryan and Brenda. Maybe we’ll find a match.” He glanced up. “Did the responding officers find any evidence to ID the shooter?”

Cillian lifted his shoulders. “Well, considering McCully showed up when they were investigating, I don’t think we’ll ever know.”

“That snooty detective?” Treese paused with a carrot halfway between the bowl and her mouth. “Didn’t that make him see Victoria isn’t guilty?”

“One would have thought so.” Victoria answered in her calm tone. How she didn’t sound the least bit frustrated was beyond Cillian. “But he hypothesized Cillian and I may have hired the shooter to make me appear innocent.”

Her siblings scoffed and voiced their frustration while Cillian smiled at Victoria. There it was again, pairing him with her. Did she notice they were sounding like a couple?

She didn’t look his way, but a hint of pink colored her cheek in profile.

“This has gone too far.” Treese set the bowl beside her on the ottoman. “Dad would be furious if he knew the police were letting you be in danger.”

Victoria stiffened. “No one will tell him about this, is that clear?” She held up a finger as she stared at her siblings. “He doesn’t need to know at this point, and his interference would only make things more difficult for me with the police. He won’t be told unless he asks or a situation arises in which it’s necessary to inform him. Understood?”

Her siblings slowly nodded, reluctantly but like they didn’t dare cross her. Pretty obvious how they’d turned out so well. Victoria had been a strong leader for them and still was when needed.

“There’s one thing we need to take care of ourselves then.”

All eyes swung to Robert as he dusted chip crumbs off his hands.

“Vicki shouldn’t be alone until we figure out who the killer is, especially at night.”

Cillian lifted his fist in triumph. “Thank you. I’ve been trying to convince your sister of that. Now maybe she’ll listen.”

Robert exchanged a smile and glances with his siblings.

“That’s ridiculous.” The rigidity seemed to fade from Victoria’s posture and voice, despite her protest. Seemed like there was more room to negotiate on this one than her stance about her father. “I will not have you disrupting your lives for some ill-conceived notion that I’m unable to take care of myself.”

“Then I’ll do it.” Cillian leaned forward to catch her attention. “I’m already planning to stay with you until this is over.”

The siblings’ attention latched onto him. Some with eyes widened.

“On the sofa.” Cillian gave them a Duh look even as a grin sneaked through.

Victoria turned her head toward him, pinning him with a disapproving stare.

“Or in my jeep.”

“Great.” Robert jumped in before Victoria could respond. “But you can’t cover every night. Hank and I will take shifts.”

Victoria opened her mouth, likely to protest.

A musical tone stopped her.

“Excuse me.” She narrowed her eyes at Robert before she reached for her purse on the floor and pulled out the phone. “It’s Sydney. I need to take this.” She stood and walked to the dining table as she answered.

“Sydney?” Treese lifted her eyebrows.

“A teen girl she mentors at the pregnancy center.” Satisfaction filled Cillian’s chest as he answered. He could get used to this, knowing Victoria even better than her siblings. Or at least some of them.

“I need to go.” Victoria hurried toward the group as she lowered her phone.

Cillian’s pulse picked up speed at the hint of urgency in her tone and the worried set of her mouth. “What is it?”