Page 163 of The Darkest Chase

It still has some battery life, and it only takes a few clicks to navigate to the gallery.

It’s been completely cleared out.

“Fuck!” I drop the camera, letting it hang from my hands. “Somebody already emptied the archives. They deleted everything. It’s been wiped. Digital forensics might be able to do something with this, but…” I hesitate.

But I’m not working this case for Redhaven or Raleigh PD.

For now, I’d rather keep them out of it.

“…but it might take too long,” I finish lamely.

Talia rounds the table to lean against me, peering at the screen. She tugs on my wrist until I lift it again.

“What’s that?” She points at something in the upper right corner.

I frown.

It looks like an account management icon, next to an email address. I read the address out loud, cocking my head.

“SighinBrian. Huh. It’s an email.” As I tap the icon, the account settings open, and I inhale, going stiff. “Looks like it was synched to the cloud.”

Talia blinks at me, perking up a little.

“So the data was backed up? Oh, but we don’t have access, do we? Can you get like, I don’t know, a warrant or a subpoena?”

“No need.” My determination hardens. “Because I know who might be able to get us in.”

If we’d been an hour later, we might have missed Ariana Lewis.

When she opens the door to her room at The Rookery, it looks vastly different from last time. Restored to hotel condition, all her belongings—and his—packed up and piled next to the door, anything personal swept clean.

She’s dressed plainly in jeans and a cardigan.

It’s not hard to tell the grief has been taking its toll on her, judging from the creases under her eyes to the way she’s shed weight. But she still finds a pale smile for me as her eyes warm with recognition.

“Officer Ainsley,” she whispers, looking past me at Talia, who wouldn’t even entertain staying behind. “And girlfriend?”

“Um, no, we’re—” Talia makes a flustered sound.

“Yes,” I cut her off. “Ariana Lewis, Talia Grey. Talia, Ariana.” I can’t explain our relationship to Talia, let alone to Ariana, and I’m not about to try.

This is easier.

That’s why I say it.

That’s the only damn reason.

Even as Talia goes silent, staring at me with her wide-eyed, delicate blush, I move on quickly, offering Ariana my practiced Officer Friendly smile.

“Sorry to bother you, but I’m glad we caught you. I know this is a hard subject, but you may be able to help us with Brian’s case.” I stop short of saying death, a word the grieving never want to hear.

Ariana’s smile fades, hurt flickering in her eyes, but she nods and steps back. “Come in. If I can help, it’s my pleasure. I just need to make my flight in six hours.”

I cock my head. “Your sister didn’t make it?”

“Oh, she couldn’t find anyone to watch the kids, so she’s been yelling at me nonstop to come home ASAP.” That weak smile flutters over her lips again.

She leads us inside, gesturing to the dining table. While Talia and I sit, Ariana starts making tea. She seems like the type who needs to keep her hands busy.

---