Like a Sister(95)

“He already did.”

“Because he was surprised. He’ll think it over. Change his mind, and it’ll be our word versus his. But we still can hit him where it really hurts. His bank account.”

“He needs to go to jail. He killed somebody.”

“Lena.”

It wasn’t her decision, wasn’t her sister. I dialed Detective Green’s cell phone. He actually picked up for once. “Ms. Scott,” he said as a group of loud women barged in and surrounded the bathroom mirror like they were the cops. “Where are you? It’s loud.”

“Give me a second.” I hurried into the stall farthest away, leaving Erin at the counter glaring at me.

I quietly gave Green the CliffsNotes version of what I’d found. Even with just the highlights, it took me a good five minutes. Green didn’t say a word until I finished.

“Was he nervous? Like he might leave town?” Green said.

I leaned against the stall, thought about what Erin had said. “Don’t know. If you want to talk to him, I’d do it now.”

“And you have no idea where Desiree might have stashed his laptop? Maybe at your parents’ apartment?”

“I checked her room and didn’t see any computers. Doesn’t mean it’s not somewhere else. You want to talk to Mel?”

He sighed. “I can be there in ten minutes.”

We hung up. I wasn’t sure if he’d believed me. It was good he finally seemed willing to consider something I said. I exited the stall, ready to tell Erin that Green was on his way. That even if we didn’t know who killed Desiree—yet—Naut would be going to jail for killing Kevin House.

But she was gone. So were my bag and pepper spray.

*



Green was wrong again. I spent the entire fifteen minutes he took to arrive alternating between looking around for Erin and texting her. As the number of unanswered texts increased, so did my anxiety. Had Naut done something to her too?

Trevor finished his set and Naut took over. Or at least someone in an astronaut helmet did. I went back to the dressing room. The chaperone stood watch. “Have you seen my friend? White girl? Blond hair.”

By the look she gave me, she barely remembered me, much less Erin. I pressed. “Maybe she went to see Naut. If I can just go in there.”

She moved in front of the door. “No one’s allowed in but staff and performers.”

“But—”

“You shouldn’t even be back here.”

Fine. I’d wait for Green. I stayed right next to her until he texted me, then I left to meet him in the lobby. “I can’t find Erin,” I said.

He looked nowhere near as alarmed as I felt. “When’s the last time you saw her?”

“When I went to call you. She may have tried to speak with Naut again after I left. They won’t let me check his dressing room.”

He placed a hand on my arm to calm me. It worked. “We’ll check. I’m sure she’s fine.”

I hoped he was right. He approached the door backstage. I was just about to follow him when my phone rang. Finally. But when I checked the ID, it wasn’t Erin. Ms. Paterson’s name flashed across the screen. I couldn’t deal with her now. Not until I made sure Erin was okay. I hit IGNORE, but Ms. Paterson called back just as Green noticed I wasn’t behind him.

“Go in. Be right there,” I called out.

He nodded and turned as I hit the button to talk. “Everything okay, Ms. Paterson?”

“Why is that white girl breaking into your house?”





Thirty



Stay or go?

While I thanked Ms. Paterson for the phone call, Green disappeared inside. The question was whether to follow him.

Stay or go?

If Naut didn’t confess to Green, then it’d be my word against his. What if Green had to let him go and he disappeared? I waited a beat. Stared at my phone. Would the alarm company call? What had happened to make Erin take my bag, ignore my frantic messages, and head to the Bronx? Especially when the person she wanted to blackmail was still here? Naut couldn’t have been with her. Ms. Paterson would have told me if Erin had brought company.

Stay or go?

She must have needed my keys. What did she want? Her bag? Desiree’s phone? Something else entirely? If she’d wanted me to know, she would’ve waited. She had played me. Again. Trust and tears were a combination I didn’t share with just anyone. The realization hurt—just like a sister.

I went.

I sent Green a quick text and headed for Mr. Buck’s Caddy before I realized I didn’t have the keys. It was almost 9 p.m. and at least the Uber ride home was short at that hour. I spent the entire seventeen minutes cursing. At jaywalkers. At other cars. At Erin.

I was happy Aunt E wasn’t home, just like I was happy Kitty was. I’d use her if need be.

When we finally turned onto my street, it was deserted, and the lights were off in both Aunt E’s and my apartments. Mr. Buck’s car was parked haphazardly in front of my driveway. She hadn’t even taken time to open the gate. My phone rang just as I closed the Uber’s door. Ms. Paterson.

“She’s still inside,” she said as soon as I answered. “You want me to call the police?”

“I’ll do it.” Later. Besides, Green already knew. Kind of.