Page 74 of Whispers of Wisteria

Bryce barely looked at him. “He’s the lead detective.”

“But, J-Julian…”

“That’s for your quintet to deal with.” Bryce sighed. “But Joe isn’t afraid of his grandson.”

Why would anyone be afraid? “What would Julian do?”

Bryce didn’t answer. He was still trying to get me to change my mind. He stepped closer. “Let’s leave. I’ll take you out for ice cream right now—”

“Can we not?” I interrupted.

I couldn’t look away from the ruins. My stomach was already turning, and my hands shook. I might actually be sick.

“Well, can I take you later anyway?” Bryce asked.

I looked at him. “What?”

“I want to do something together,” he said, as if that were perfectly normal for us.

I opened my mouth, then shut it, and shoved my gloved hands into my coat pockets.

“Okay,” I muttered, returning my attention to the scene.

This was just a building. I could keep this factual. If I could keep the worst of it locked away, I could get through this.

Damen, Titus, and Uncle Gregory approached with the others close behind.

Damen stepped between me and Bryce and cupped my cheek. “Baby,” he said, his voice firm. “You don’t have to do this. No one’s forcing you.”

“It’s fine,” I said. There was nobody else whocoulddo this.

“Are you sure?” His sharp gaze roamed my face. “You look worse than normal.”

I scowled, and Damen’s brows shot up. “I meant—”

I batted his hands away and stepped forward. “Let’s—let’s just get this over with.”

“This is the only entrance we were allowed to use.” My voice was steady, my nerves dulled into something distant. “Mr. Richards wouldn’t let us near the front door.”

The mood shifted.

I hesitated before stepping up the crumbling stairs. The railing was gone, but my fingers instinctively reached where it should have been.

“The front door was for clients,” I said.

Detective Kohler’s tone is direct but even. “Do you remember any names?”

“It’s not…” I tightened my arms around myself, turned from him, and looked at the stairway. My fingers twitched against my sleeves. The railing should have been here. It wasn’t anymore.

“We weren’t told anybody’s full name.”

The silence stretched.

Uncle Gregory spoke next. “When you say ‘we’… who else do you mean?”

My stomach clenched.

Damen shifted beside me. I could feel his stare.