Читать книгу The Trouble with Truth - Kathy Krevat - Страница 11

Chapter 3

“Murdered?” I blamed lack of sleep for how long it took my brain to understand. “That’s why the police are at Mira’s place? They think she did it?”

Lani shook her head, as if trying to convince herself. “There is no way she did something like that. We have to pick her up near her apartment and figure out what’s going on.”

“What’s the plan?” I asked.

“I’m supposed to text her when we get closer.” She gave a helpless shrug. “Then we’ll go from there.”

I forced myself to take a few breaths to calm myself down. “Did you hear anything else about Dennis?”

“Just that he was killed at one of his properties, that development here in Sunnyside, and it’s being investigated as a homicide,” she said.

“Okay,” I said.

I turned on the radio and kept switching between stations, trying to hear more information, but only the local AM news station was talking about it. Outside, Sunnyside was deathly quiet. Only a few houses even had lights on.

As we were about to make the last turn onto the street in front of Mira’s apartment, we noticed police lights ahead. “Uh-oh,” Lani said and pulled the car over.

My heart started pounding. I texted Mira as Lani turned off the headlights.

She didn’t respond.

“I’m going to walk closer and see what’s going on,” I said.

Lani pulled out her phone. “I’ll stay here and keep trying Mira.”

I got out, and the dome light inside seemed like a spotlight announcing our arrival. Lani dove for the switch to turn it off and I walked down the street. There were no sidewalks this far from downtown Sunnyside, so I kept to the edge of the asphalt.

My breathing sounded too loud during the walk to where the road turned toward Mira’s apartment building. I peeked through bushes and saw several police and crime scene techs searching her apartment on the second floor while neighbors watched from behind crime scene tape.

Whoa. This was serious.

I headed to the car and got in. Just as I was about to tell Lani what I’d seen, the back door opened, causing us both to jump.

Mira slid in. She was wearing all black, with a black beanie over her hair, and she carried a dark backpack. “Thanks for coming to get me.” She looked toward her apartment, anxious. “Can we just go?”

“Sure,” Lani said, and turned the car around before putting the headlights back on. For some reason that made me even more nervous, like we were in the Fugitive movie.

I twisted so I could see Mira. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t do it.” Mira’s voice shook, which made sense since she was practically vibrating with nerves.

Lani reached back between the seats to grab her hand. “I know,” she said with conviction.

“We’ll figure this out,” I said. “It’ll be okay.”

“Let’s get settled at my house,” Lani said. “You can either rest—”

“They’ll look for me at your house!” she said. “I have some money. I can go to a hotel—”

“Mira.” Lani met her eyes in the rearview mirror. “We’ll keep you safe.”

Mira bit her lip.

“Have I ever let you down?” Lani asked.

Mira’s shoulders slumped, as if a huge weight had fallen off. “No.” She closed her eyes. “Okay, your house.”

* * * *

Although my mind was spinning with a zillion questions, we stayed quiet until we pulled into Lani’s driveway. The lights were blazing as Lani’s wife, Piper, peered out a window, holding a mug.

“I hope that’s coffee,” I said, eliciting a small smile from Mira. We both knew that Piper didn’t approve of it, since it aggravated Lani’s chronic indigestion. She was a pediatrician and took better care of Lani than Lani did herself.

When we got inside, Mira hesitated. “Can we, I don’t know, turn off some of those lights?”

It made sense to hide out for a bit until we figured out what was going on, but it still made me uneasy, like we were doing something wrong.

“Sure,” Piper said, looking anything but sure. “Let’s head into the kitchen. We can’t be seen from the street.”

We walked into the kitchen, a serene room filled with white country furniture and blue and white touches. Mira set her backpack down and took a seat. For some reason, the backpack, with its decorations and tiny emoji clips, made my heart clench.

I grabbed the electric kettle. “I’ll make everyone tea while you…get started.”

“Okay,” Lani said. “Let’s talk this through. Do you have any idea why the police were at your apartment?”

“No,” she said. “But I heard about Mr. Franklin.”

We all stayed quiet for a minute.

Lani turned to me. “What did you see?”

“They were searching her apartment,” I said. “Crime scene investigators. You said your roommate let them in, which is actually better than…”

“Than what?” Piper asked.

“From what I know, it wouldn’t be good if they got a warrant that fast,” I said, trying to be optimistic.

Mira turned her hand up as if the thought was crazy. “It doesn’t make any sense. I don’t have any reason to…do that.”

I set the tea in front of her. “Where were you last night?”

Piper took a breath, as if offended.

“That will be the first question the police ask.” I sounded defensive but I knew that from experience.

“It’s okay,” Mira said. “I was out with a friend.”

“Oh good,” Lani said. “Then you have an alibi.”

Mira looked uncertain.

I didn’t like her expression and pushed. “Who was your friend? Where did you go?”

Mira looked down at her mug. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?” Lani asked.

“I don’t want to get my friend in trouble,” she said.

“As much trouble as you’re in right now?” My voice was edgy with impatience.

Lani put her hand on my arm.

Mira looked at me. “Maybe.”

Whoa. How could that be? I changed gears. “Let’s discuss what you can talk about. How did you get home?”

“I rode my bike,” she said.

“He didn’t give you a ride?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I rode my bike to meet them.” She emphasized “them,” not wanting to admit if she’d met a boy or girl.

“Mira,” Lani said gently. “We can help you if you let us.”

She looked up with an expression of hope. Then it faded. “Thank you,” she said. “I just need you all to know that I didn’t do it.”

Piper patted her on the shoulder. “We’re on your side. No matter what.”

Lani cleared her throat. “Okay, we all need some rest. We’ll talk more later today. Colbie, I’ll drive you home while Piper settles Mira in the guest room.”

Mira took a deep shaky breath.

Lani and I were about to walk out the front door when I noticed movement on the street. I grabbed her arm and pointed. A sheriff’s car door opened and out stepped Norma with another officer.

“Shoot,” I said. “What do we do?”

“Don’t answer it,” Lani said.

The doorbell rang and we both jumped, smothering back totally inappropriate giggles.

Piper came into the hallway. “What are you—?”

We both shushed her.

Lani pointed to the door. “Norma’s there,” she whispered.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Piper said. “Let her in.”

“But what’s my reason for being here?” I asked.

Piper pointed. “Go hide in the kitchen for now.”

I quickly scooted back to the kitchen and held my breath as they opened the front door.

“What’s going on?” a voice said from right beside me.

I jumped again and nearly screamed. Mira had crept up behind me. I was so focused on what was happening that I hadn’t heard her at all. I held a finger to my lips and her eyes widened. I could only hear muffled voices.

She bent her head to listen. “Police?”

I nodded. Their voices grew loud enough so that we could hear clearly.

“It’s in her best interests to speak to me now,” Norma said. “We need to know what she knows.”

“They won’t let her back here, will they?” Mira whispered. She looked terrified.

“Of course not,” I answered. “Not until you’re ready.”

We listened to their argument. Norma wasn’t backing down. “Tomorrow morning is too late.”

“Lani.” Piper was using her firm voice. “Mira needs to speak to the police.”

I winced, turning to look at Mira.

She was gone.