Page 32 of Fake It True

It felt like time was flying by, as if I was on a high-speed train, watching the scenery in a blur. In the midst of it, our crew got called out to a fire. The interior of Alaska was largely unsettled. There were some Alaska Native villages scattered within the wilderness, along with some remote outdoor resorts and hunting cabins. This roaring wildfire was visible from the road that cut through the central part of the state and led up toward the Arctic Circle.

Dora squeezed me hard before I left. She said she’d miss me, but my parents had plenty of things planned for her and she was excited for all of it. I stopped by Firehouse Café to see Casey before I left. We had time for a quick, fierce kiss in the back before I had to go. My heart ached when I left.

I was going to miss her. Ever since our appointment the other day and her meeting Dora, we had stuck to the plan of one night a week together. And now, I wouldn’t even have that. Our hotshot crew would likely be out for a week or more.

I couldn’t quite pin it down, but I sensed Casey was worrying about something else and holding back. I would have to wonder until I returned.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

CASEY

I zipped through making coffees for a rush of customers. Janet and I had settled into a good rhythm of working together. She usually did a lot of the chitchatting and handling the register and food. She insisted I was much faster than her with the espresso machine. I tended to agree, but I knew it was mostly because she was starting to get arthritis in her hands. Every time I thought about that, it made my heart hurt a little bit.

Maybe I had only lived in Willow Brook for a little while, but I adored Janet. She had welcomed me into this town so warmly. I just wanted everything to be good for her, for always. I didn’t want her to have arthritis.

I glanced around, moving on auto-pilot and prepping to make another drink when Janet tapped me on the shoulder. “What?” My ponytail whipped around as I turned to look at her.

“Hon, no more customers. You can breathe now.” She glanced at the clock on the wall, shaking her head as she chuckled. “We have not had a break for two hours straight. Why don’t you head in the back and sit down?”

Resting my hands on my hips, I shook my head. “I’m not taking a break unless you take a break.”

Josie came through from the back. “How about you both take a break?” She tied an apron around her waist. “I’m here for the afternoon.”

Janet grinned when Josie clasped her by the shoulders and aimed her toward the swinging door into the back. “Go sit in the break room.” She glanced my way, narrowing her eyes. “Make sure she actually sits down, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am!” I teased.

As we were walking through the door, Josie called, “Should I bring you two some coffee?”

“Yes, please!” Janet tossed over her shoulder.

Janet went to the restroom, and I stepped into the small break room at the back corner of the kitchen. It was tiny, but it had all the things, including a small round table, a refrigerator, and its own coffee machine, which was completely redundant. There were cubbies for staff to tuck jackets and things. I reached into the cubby and fished out my phone, just to check it.

When I saw there was a voicemail, I tapped the speaker and began to play it. My mouth dropped open as I listened.

Ms. Houston, this is Officer Blankenship from the sheriff’s department in Carteret County in North Carolina. I’m calling to find out if you would be willing to talk to me. Nathaniel Smith is under investigation and we think you might have information that could be helpful to our case. If you could please call me back as soon as possible, I would appreciate it.

Janet arrived in the break room with Josie on her heels. Josie thrust two mugs at us, saying, “Fill me in later. I have to deal with customers.”

Janet eyed me, pulling a chair out and practically shoving me into it. “Why do you look so scared?” she asked as she sat down across from me.

Janet knew the outlines of what happened to my sister, but I’d kept the details vague. Not because I didn’t trust her, butbecause it hurt to talk about. I quickly filled her in, ending with, “And now, the police are investigating him. What should I do?”

“Call him back!” She slapped her palm on the table for emphasis.

“Right now?”

Janet rolled her eyes. “ASAP. I know you’ve been ordered to make sure I stay in the break room, but if you’d like some privacy, it’s all yours,” she added.

“I could use the moral support.” Before I could chicken out, I called the police officer back.

Fully expecting to get his voicemail, I was startled when he answered. “Officer Blankenship here. Thank you for calling me back so quickly, Casey.”

Janet patted my elbow when I cleared my throat nervously. “Of course,” I replied. “I’m not sure how I can help you, but you can ask me anything.”

“I’ll try to keep it brief. Nathaniel Smith is a suspect in an investigation regarding another ketamine-related death. In the interviews our team has conducted, your sister has come up more than once. It appears he was the primary dealer for your sister and that they were dating. I don’t know how much you know about this, but ketamine is a national problem. Dealers strengthen their products to increase the likelihood that people will become addicted. Those addictions provide a long-term source of income for dealers. While they may not be actively trying to kill the people they’re selling to, more and more people are dying as a result. We believe that’s what happened to your sister.”

I took an uneasy breath, swallowing through the anxiety, grief, and anger that felt strangling inside my throat.

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