Page 54 of The Last Close Call

“Homicide.”

Bryan glanced at Jack, startled by the answer. He hadn’t thought Jack was ready to reveal that yet.

“You don’t look surprised,” Jack said.

“Wish I could say I was.” George shook his head and looked down at his dusty work boots. “Damn case has been eating at me for years.”

ELEVEN

Skyler lay sprawled on the rug with her feet propped on an old camp trunk. Rowan stepped over her legs.

“Want another mojito?” Rowan asked her.

“Sure.”

She held up her glass, and Rowan grabbed it as she went into the kitchen. Lila stood by the sink, where she’d converted the one square foot of counter space into a bar. She’d brought her favorite cocktail shaker and was using a special tool to make spiral-shaped lime peels.

“These are good,” Rowan said.

“Too strong? I’m experimenting with a new recipe.”

“They’re perfect.”

Lila refilled drinks as Rowan cut the last half of the pizza into squares and slid them onto a plate.

“Want some?” she asked.

Lila made a face.

Rowan returned to the den with the plate balanced atop the glasses. “Last of the pizza,” she announced, setting everything on the camp trunk that she used as a coffee table.

Skyler sat up and plucked a pineapple chunk off the top of a piece. “Good thing Dara’s not here. More for us.”

“I don’t know how y’all eat that.” Lila sank down on the sofa beside Oscar. “I can’t stand sweet pizza.”

Rowan settled on the floor by the table and grabbed a piece.

“Am I the only one who’s worried about her?” Skyler asked, snagging another pizza square.

“No. I am, too,” Rowan said around a mouthful of food.

“What’s to worry about?” Lila asked.

“We’ve barely seen her in two weeks,” Skyler said. “And she only just met this guy.”

“Oh please. She’s a freaking PI.” Lila reached for the Cheetos bowl. “She runs criminal background checks for a living.”

“So?” Skyler asked.

“So, I’m sure she scoped him out.”

“Okay, but how’d she miss that other one? Trevor?” Skyler rolled her eyes. “What a douchebag.”

“She didn’t,” Rowan said.

Skyler frowned. “What do you mean?”

“She knew he had a history of forged checks when she went out with him.”

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