Page 94 of Wasted

Disappointment pooled in Victoria’s stomach.

The girl looked up, sadness in her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Victoria. But I can’t squeal on him. I don’t want to get him in trouble or anything.” Her gaze went to Cillian as if he might be the cause of that trouble.

He smiled.

Not the expression Victoria had expected.

“Well, I don’t know about Victoria, but with everything going on with this murder investigation, I already have enough trouble to deal with right now. Running down a delinquent boyfriend isn’t top of my list.” He chuckled, sending Victoria a glance.

He was very convincing with his misdirection. And perhaps his tactic was the right one. They’d hit a wall with Sydney but had also given her much to consider. Perhaps she would soften her stance, in time.

“Oh, I forgot about that.” Sydney looked at Victoria. “I saw it on the news. Kathleen and I both agree you couldn’t have killed someone. I mean, anyone who knows you would know that’s nuts.”

Good to know the Life Pregnancy Care Center founder wasn’t doubting Victoria’s character, though she’d already deduced that when Kathleen hadn’t brought up Victoria’s arrest.

“I can’t believe they actually put you in jail.” Sydney pressed her fingers to her bottom lip. “What was it like?”

“Terrifying.” At least Victoria’s wretched experience gave her an opportunity to scare Sydney away from doing anything that would lead to legal trouble. “It is not a place you want to be.”

“That’s for sure. But I heard on the news you’re their number-one suspect.”

“Not for long.” Cillian jumped in before Victoria could reply. “We’re not going to give up like the killer wants. We’re going to clear her name, no matter what it takes.”

“Hey, Syd.” Warren’s quiet voice drew their attention to where he stood just inside the doorway. “I’ve gotta run.”

“Aww, not yet.” She shifted up to her knees, her hand going to Max’s neck. “Victoria wouldn’t mind if you stayed and hung out, would you, Victoria?”

“Of course not.” Victoria smiled at the young man. “Let me put together some sandwiches. I know it’s late, but you must have worked up an appetite with all that lifting.” Surprising how many belongings a low-income teenager could have. Sydney had arrived with many more boxes and suitcases than Victoria had imagined. She didn’t look forward to seeing how congested the guest room must be now with towers of boxes.

Warren rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth. “I gotta work the late shift tonight. Thanks, anyway.”

Cillian got to his feet. “I should head out, too.”

Victoria narrowed her eyes at him. He wasn’t heading out far, if he still intended to camp in his car outside her house.

He pulled something from his pocket and went to Sydney, extending the object to her.

She took it in her fingers. A business card?

“That has my phone number, and I’ve written my address on the back. If you ever need help, and you can’t reach Victoria or someone at the pregnancy center, you give me a call.”

Victoria’s chest warmed. Cillian may be a bit sly and too clever for anyone’s good at times, but sometime in the past sixteen years, he had developed a soft heart for people in need.

That new characteristic might be the most attractive thing about him. It could also be the way, if she wasn’t on her guard, he could skirt around her defenses and better judgment, and persuade her to fall for him once again.

Cillian shifted into a higher gear, lowering his posture on the bike to lessen the wind noise that increased with his speed.

The wind’s chill cut through his glove and jacket, waking him up more effectively than a splash of cold water in the face. The gray morning and lack of sleep couldn’t dim his optimism. Today could be the day he would get the cops off Victoria’s back.

He checked over his shoulder before changing lanes to move around slower traffic on the freeway.

The photos of the papers he and Victoria had found at Thomas’s mansion were stowed on Cillian’s smartphone. He’d be able to show them to Lieutenant Willis, and this could all be over. If Willis had half a brain.

After Torin’s endorsement of the validity of the evidence from a cop’s point of view, Cillian would’ve taken what they’d found to Willis right away last night. But when Robert relieved him to take the second half of the watch on Victoria’s house, Cillian had called the station and learned Willis wouldn’t be on duty until morning.

After four hours of sleep and a shower, Cillian hopped on his bike, choosing the exhilaration of the open-air ride to be sure he was fully awake when he talked to the lieutenant.

At least he wasn’t nearly as stubborn and set against Victoria as?—