The Night Shift(63)
She doesn’t think Chris broke any laws by representing Jesse, though it does seem like a conflict of interest. Ella feels peculiarly angry at him. At the same time, the prism through which she’s seen things has changed. If Jesse is Katie’s child, then who’s the father? Would that person have a motive to kill Katie and her friends? And who was Katie fighting with in the parking lot? Everyone thought it was Him. But maybe it wasn’t. Maybe they’d seen Him earlier and just assumed that’s who Katie was fighting with. A memory of that night floats in her head.
* * *
Ella stands at the back door to the break room. She’s hugging herself from the chill. And she doesn’t like him seeing her in the stupid uniform.
He’s holding a flower. A sad specimen of a flower, but still.
“I want to see you tonight—celebrate the New Year together,” he says.
“I’m supposed to go to a party at Brody’s with Candy and the girls after work.”
“Cool, I’ll meet you there.”
“I’m not sure … Katie…”
“You haven’t told her yet?”
Ella shakes her head. “She’s been upset about something.”
“About what?”
“I don’t know.” Ella gives him a look. “Maybe that you haven’t called her?”
“We hung out just a couple times. And I swear, I think her ex keyed my car. Too much drama.”
“How do you know I’m not dramatic?”
“Good point, you are hiding me away from your friends.”
On cue, someone comes into the break room. Ella glances behind her, and it’s Stevie grabbing some paperwork. He disappears back into the store.
“Meet me tonight,” he says. “Depending on my dad, I should be able to get there around eleven. Or if you’re worried about your friends, it doesn’t have to be at the party.”
“No, I need to tell her. I’ll see you there,” she says, guiding him outside before anyone sees him. She leans in and their lips touch. She feels electricity through every part of her. When they pull away, he has a dopey look on his face. He inhales through his nose, like he’s taking in the moment.
“Nirvana,” he says quietly.
“What?”
“Never mind, I’ll see you tonight.”
* * *
The questions return. Did he really see Katie right after that kiss? Did they really get into an argument? Did he come back at closing and kill her, and Candy, and Mandy, and Stevie? Had Ella been spared, the only one of them with a nonfatal wound, because he liked her? It all never made sense. But they found the knife in his locker.
“Hell-o.” Layla bounces into the office. Her patient’s in good spirits. Layla’s smile fades. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Ella says, pasting on a smile.
“You look like you were crying.”
“Just allergies,” Ella says.
Layla narrows her gaze.
Ella doesn’t like lying to this girl who’s bared her soul to her.
Ella says, “You know what? That’s not true. I was crying. This week has been a shit show.”
Layla smiles. “I’m glad you said that.” She plops down on the sofa. “It’s exhausting, isn’t it?”
“What?” Ella says.
“Pretending all the time. Faking the smiles and cheerfulness, so everyone stops worrying about you.”
Ella says, “Then let’s stop doing it. Fuck it.”
Layla smiles, a genuine one this time. “Yeah. Fuck it.”
CHAPTER 57
KELLER
“What are we waiting for?” Atticus asks.
They’re in Keller’s Volvo, parked down the street from the McKenzie home. Far enough away not to draw attention, close enough to see the comings and goings of the McKenzies. The sky remains gunmetal gray—the sun hasn’t appeared in three days.
“I’m hoping to get Katie’s mother alone.” Keller shifts in her seat. She feels pain in her pelvis. An uncomfortable feeling, but not uncommon during her pregnancy. She’s not due for a few weeks, so it’s nothing.
“You okay?” Atticus asks, seeing her discomfort.
“Yeah, it’ll pass,” she says, taking in a deep breath. She’s certainly not having twins in her pre-owned Swedish automobile, much less having them delivered by Atticus Singh.
“Maybe we should go to the door,” Atticus says.
“You know what happened last time. We need to get her away from her husband or we’ll just get the door slammed in our faces again.”
Atticus looks uncertain, but he doesn’t say anything.
An hour passes. She’s got to pee and is starting to think that maybe Atticus was right—they should just go pound on the door. The thought is interrupted when Atticus says, “At last.”
Ms. McKenzie walks down the front steps to her car. She’s carrying what looks like a sheet cake. She puts the cake on the passenger seat, gets in the car, then pulls out.
They follow at a discreet distance.
Ms. McKenzie is a cautious driver, never exceeding the speed limit. In light traffic, it’s a struggle to keep a safe distance to avoid Ms. McKenzie spotting them.