Page 66 of Sighs By the Sea

She looks even thinner than in her last mug shot. Hollow eyes, collarbones jutting out through her shirt. But it’s the giant round belly that truly breaks my heart.

She’s pregnant. Harry looks at me, his face a stoic mask. “You can wait in the car,” he offers.

I shake my head. I need to hear it myself if I’m going to face Grayson later.

“Suze?” I ask, keeping my voice light.

“Yeah?” Her eyes flicker with fear and distrust as she sizes us up.

“I’m Detective Parker, and this is Detective Ronalds. We have a few questions for you.”

“Fuck off, I’m not doing anything wrong.”

Harry steps forward, his body towering over Suze. “Mrs. Cardenas, we aren’t asking.”

Her eyes go wide, her face paling at the use of her real name. “I need my meds,” she says quietly.

“We can arrange for it down at the station.”

Suze swallows hard but nods. As she steps out of the line, someone behind her follows.

“The fuck is this, Suze?”

Harry holds up his hand, his voice calm. “We just need to talk to her for a bit.”

“The hell you do. Is this fucker bothering you?” The man, a beefy guy in a sweatshirt, puffs out his chest. Behind him, a dozen people wear similar scowls.

I grip Suze’s arm. “Tell him it’s okay. We don’t want anyone hurt,” I whisper.

“No, Jax, it’s cool. I’ll be back tonight,” she says, flashing him a small smile.

Jax narrows his eyes but eventually backs off. “Yeah, okay. If you ain’t, I’ll come looking,” he says. He gives us one last glare before shoving past. The three of us hurry down the sidewalk, leaving the clinic line behind.

“Is this about Axe?” Suze asks. I don’t know what that means, but I nod anyway. If it makes the trip to the station easier, I’ll take it.

Once we’re in the car, Suze buckles up. Harry drives, and I take the back seat to be closer to the woman who has me so flummoxed. She’s really here, alive. Other than the obvious, she seems fine.

We drive in silence until Suze speaks up. “Can we get some food?” Her hand trembles as she picks at her elbow. We need to get her the medication soon. But being hungry is a good sign.

“Sure, anything particular in mind?” I ask.

“Breakfast burrito. Little parasite likes salt, I guess,” Suze says, her voice laced with venom. There’s a hint of sadness in her eyes, but it’s fleeting. If she wants food, I’ll buy her a restaurant if that’s what it takes. A well-fed suspect is easier to get answers from, especially when the meal’s free. Far be it from me to judge—just ask Harry about my donut obsession.

“I’m on it,” Harry says, already Googling the nearest drive-through. We stop and grab the burrito, which Suze devours in minutes. Good. I might not know much about being pregnant, but I know babies need food, and she’s far too skinny.

Once she’s done, she lays her head against the window and closes her eyes. Apparently, being questioned by two detectives isn’t weighing too heavily on her mind. Or maybe she’s just exhausted from being pregnant and homeless.

As we pull into the police station, I shake Suze awake. Her eyes flutter open, looking even more tired than before.

We walk into the station, and Harry arranges an interrogation room. After depositing the now-trembling woman inside, the two of us stand outside the door.

“Fuck, Maggie,” Harry says, running a hand through his hair.

“Trust me, I know.”

“What are we going to do here?”

“I have no clue. We need to ask about Axe and Chewy. She already sold out Axe.”

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