Page 2 of Treasured By Them
Detective Spalding’s gray eyebrows rise high on his forehead. “No.”
“Okay, well are you going to take notes on anything I told you, so you can pass it on to whoever’s working the homicide case?”
He sighs. “Write down what, exactly? You remember being at Danish Lake Summer Camp fifteen years ago when Britney Gardner disappeared. So were countless other young men and women.”
“I remember someone drowning her.”
“And…?” He sounds mocking. “Do you remember who this someone is?”
I look away from his stupid face. No, I don’t remember who drowned her. The face, the body—all details are completely blank.
“Do you even work in homicide?” I ask.
“Does it matter?” He leans back in his chair, utterly at ease. I notice he’s wearing long sleeves—the AC isn’t affecting him.
Coming here was a mistake. I’m cold and cranky, and I feel like an idiot for trying to share what I think is important information, only to be dismissed by Detective Dingbat Douchewad.
He offers me what should be a sympathetic smile, but comes off as smug. “If you don’t have anything else…?”
“Nope.” I can take a hint. They probably get a thousand false leads and even false confessions on the daily.
I know what I saw, though. Someone holding her down. And it’s so visceral, it’s almost like I was her.
I guess it’s possible I dreamed the whole thing….
Detective Spalding shakes my hand at the front doors of the police station. “Thank you for coming in, Miss Montrose.”
“Thank you for listening to what I have to say.” I keep my voice syrupy sweet. If he can be insincere, so can I.
When I open the glass door, Edmund and Troy stand up from the bench where they waited for me. Detective Spalding does a double-take. “You came with them?”
“Edmund is my fiancé.” For the first time, I actually like how it sounds. It’s not just that I’m used to it, that our families have worn me down—I like it. No, I don’t want to marry him at the end of the month like our grandfathers are planning. But someday I probably could. I resist the urge to gaze at my engagement ring. I’m starting to understand why Edmund has been so obsessed with it.
“Oh, I didn’t realize…” Spalding trails off. “Well, Miss Montrose, if there’s anything I can do going forward, to help you. Or if anything else comes to mind, please get in touch.”
“Right.” He was a dick until he realized I’m connected to the Laytons. Fantastic.
I leave him behind and meet Edmund and Troy on the front steps.
“How did it go?” Edmund leans in to kiss my cheek.
I like the feeling of his stubble against my skin. “Terrible. We can talk in the car.”
I walk ahead of them, stewing in my emotions. When they try to catch up, I walk faster. Spalding the Spankstick didn’t respect me until he saw Edmund. As I go down the block to where Jon parked, I barely get a second glance from people passing by. It’s like I’m invisible. But I bet Troy and Edmund get second glances. I bet they get respect. I bet they?—
Oof.
A solid wall of muscle pins me against the car. Troy. His warm, clean scent is a balm for my irritation.
“Why are you ignoring us, Dani?” He opens the door for me, then helps me into the back seat, following behind me.
Edmund gets in on the other side of the car.
I’m sandwiched between the two of them—the best place to be.
“So?” Edmund touches my leg. “I think Troy asked you a question, angel. I’m curious about your answer.”
“Ignoring you?” I shake my head. “I wasn’t ignoring you. I was just lost in my thoughts.”
