Page 71 of The Rookie's Second Chance

I finished my coffee and thanked Rosie, stepping back out into the cool night air. The sun was slowly falling from the sky as the afternoon slipped away, a silent audience to my turmoil.

Chapter Thirty-Two

KAYLA

The morning light poured through my window, casting long shadows across my desk, where I sat hunched over, squinting at my laptop screen. I was trying to dig up anything I could on Mandy, but every search led me to a dead end. It was like she was a ghost before arriving in Silver Creek. Frustration gnawed at me—I knew I'd have to pull some strings at work to get any real info, but that would have to wait.

Needing a break, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my contacts, stopping at Sarah's name. It had been ages since we last caught up. Sarah was one of those friends who drifted in and out of your life, not because of any falling out, but just because life got busy. She had five kids and lived in the next town over, while my life was a constant whirlwind of work and now, this case.

I dialed her number, half-expecting her to be too swamped to talk. To my surprise, she answered on the second ring.

"Kayla? Is that you? It's been ages!" Sarah's voice was a welcome change from the tense tones I'd grown accustomed to lately.

"Hey, Sarah. Yeah, it has. Look, I was wondering if you're free for lunch today? I could use a change of scenery," I said, trying to sound casual.

There was a moment of shuffling on the other end, probably Sarah managing one of her little ones. "I can make it work. Let's do it. There's that new cafe just off Main Street in my town. Meet you there around one?"

"Perfect, see you then," I replied, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips. It felt good to make plans that didn't revolve around the case.

I spent the rest of the morning half-heartedly scrolling through social media, trying not to think about Jake, Mandy, or any of it. But as the clock neared one, I grabbed my keys and headed out, eager for a distraction.

The drive to the cafe was short, and I found Sarah already waiting at a table outside. Her face lit up when she saw me, and I felt a wave of nostalgia hit me.

"Kayla! You look great, but tired. Are you okay?" Sarah asked as we hugged.

"Yeah, just work stuff. You know how it is," I said, sliding into my seat.

We chatted about this and that—her kids, the latest town gossip. I steered clear of anything related to the case. It was a relief to talk about normal things for a change. When the waitress came to take our order, I opted for a chicken Caesar salad while Sarah went for the quiche of the day.

As we waited for our food, I found myself venting about the frustrations of work, carefully omitting any details about the case.

"You always were the hardworking one, Kayla. Don't forget to take a break now and then," Sarah advised, her eyes filled with genuine concern.

"I know, I know. I'll try," I replied, offering her a wry smile.

The quiche and salad arrived, the aroma of fresh herbs and baked crust mingling pleasantly. For a moment, I was distracted from the swirling thoughts in my head. Sarah's eyes, however, were locked on mine, full of curiosity and concern.

"So, tell me about this case," she prompted, cutting into her quiche.

I hesitated, picking at my salad. "It's... complicated. There's this person who might have information we need for the investigation. But I can't shake the feeling there's more to it."

Sarah leaned in, her voice dropping. "Do you mean they're a suspect?"

"Not exactly," I replied, swirling a crouton around my plate. "More like they might know something crucial. But there's a catch."

Her brows knit together. "What's the catch?"

I sighed, fiddling with my fork. "This person... they've shown a clear interest in Jake."

Sarah's eyes widened. "Wait, Jake? As in the same Jake who—"

I cut her off with a nod. "Yeah, that Jake. We're... back together."

She whistled softly. "Wow, Kayla. But what does this have to do with the case?"

I took a deep breath, my salad suddenly unappealing. "The thing is, this person, Mandy, she's been really possessive over Jake. And now she might be tangled up in all this mess. I don't know if I'm being paranoid because of our history or if there's actually something to it."

Sarah chewed thoughtfully for a moment. "That's a tough spot. Jealousy can cloud judgment, sure. But your gut feeling in cases like this... it's usually not wrong."

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