Page 50 of Deep Tide

Amelia’s mom had had a dazed, glassy look, and her husband and son had had to practically hold her up as they walked her down the aisle.

The sour ball of guilt that had been in Leyla’s stomach for days was back now. She gazed at the water.

“Leyla?”

She looked at him.

“Don’t do that.”

“What?”

“Look guilty, like somehow this was your fault. Or there was something you could have done.”

“Of course there was something I could have done. It was my place where she was attacked. I should have had better lighting, or security cameras, or—”

“And it could have happened anyway.” He leaned closer. “You didn’t cause this. Someone else did.”

She folded her arms over her stomach and looked away. She disagreed wholeheartedly. But there was no point in arguing.

“Did any of your employees go?” he asked.

She nodded. “Four of them. They drove together.” She stirred her drink with the bamboo swizzle stick. “Siena read a scripture during the service.”

“Siena?”

“My assistant manager. You probably saw her at the wedding. She helps me with the catering business.”

“The tall one.”

She nodded. “And Amelia’s best friend from high school read a poem. Then her twin brother gave a eulogy.”

“She had a twin?”

“Yes. He was very poised. I don’t know how he got through it.” She shook her head. “They were really close, evidently.”

Watching Amelia’s brother had been the hardest part. The man was clearly devasted, but he got up anyway in front of all those people and talked about his sister.

“Did you see a boyfriend there?” Sean asked.

She looked at him, studying his bland expression. It was the second time he’d asked about a boyfriend.

“I don’t think she had one,” she said.

“No?”

“Not that I’ve heard about. Why?”

“Just curious.”

She watched his eyes, somehow certain there was more to the question than simple curiosity. But he clearly didn’t want to go into it with her.

She stirred her drink and looked away. “So, how was your day? You get any work done?”

“Some.”

“I noticed the article on your counter about Luc Gagnon, the tech mogul.”

His guard went up, and she could tell he didn’t like this topic either.

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