Page 159 of Not Quite Dead Yet

Jet shifted around the guitar case, felt Billy’s gaze on her.

‘You know,’ he said, gripping the wheel with both hands, even though they weren’t going anywhere. ‘I think this has been the worst week of my life, because I’m going to lose you, and I don’t want to lose you.’ He cleared the lump in his throat. ‘But, it’s also been the best week of my life, because I got to spend it with you.’

‘Me too,’ she said again. Same words, completely different somehow, another language.

‘Good.’ Billy clicked his tongue. ‘Glad we agree.’

‘Yep. Same page.’

Billy caught her eye and Jet smiled, just out of one side.

He caught the other half, turned the key in the ignition.

‘So. Whaddya want to do tonight?’ he asked. ‘Should we go solve a murder?’

Jet scrunched her nose, glanced down at her nonexistent watch. ‘I think we have time.’

‘Where to, Detective?’ Billy did up his belt.

‘Luke,’ Jet said, losing the smile. ‘He’s the one who took that photo of my truck, sent the police after me. But if he was there at that time, it means –’

‘– He’s the one who set the fire,’ Billy finished. ‘Tried to kill you the second time. But we know it wasn’t him on Halloween, he was with Henry Lim at the same time.’

‘No.’ Jet nodded. ‘Luke didn’t murder me. But he might have murdered Emily. I have to know, Billy. My whole life … I just have to know, before …’ She coughed. ‘Where’s your phone?’

Billy pulled it out of his pocket, handed it to her.

Jet scrolled through his contacts, looking forLuke Mason.

Found it, just aboveMom.Pressed the call button.

It rang.

Three times.

A click.

Jet didn’t wait for him to speak first.

‘Where are you? You at home?’

‘Jet?’ Luke’s voice at the other end, low and gravelly.

‘I’m out of jail, by the way. Thanks for that,’ Jet spat. ‘Are you at home?’

‘No. Not home.’

‘Where are you?’

Luke hesitated, the cold rattle of his breath.

‘I’m at Mason Construction.’

Jet nodded, clicked for Billy’s attention. ‘You’re at Mason Construction.’

Billy started reversing out of the spot.

‘OK, stay there,’ Jet said into the phone. ‘Do not move, Luke. I’m coming.’

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