Page 95 of Three for a Girl

Wheels scrunched on the gravel outside. Chad pocketed his phone and waited for her to beat her fist to the door.

“Romeo.” Chad hissed, but he didn’t move.

The door pounded. “Chad! Open up.”

Romeo took his time, flexing his jaw as he retreated out of the backdoor, leaving it ajar.

“Chad!”

“I’m coming.”

Ally flung open the front door and stopped in front of him in the kitchen doorway. The last time he saw her she’d refused to look at him, hands on her hips, shaking her head, but she didn’t seem mad at him anymore, she looked energized, and gripped his t-shirt with both hands.

“We know who the killer is.”

“What?”

She shook him, her wide eyes swallowed Chad’s. “And we know where he is. Get dressed, I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

“I’m not—I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“It’s over, Ally. I can’t do it anymore. I’m notthatdetective anymore.”

“You wanna catch the bad guys, right? So get in your suit, now.”

“But—”

“I’m not leaving without you.”

She looked away from him for the first time, her eyes found the table, and her lips popped open.

Two coffee cups—two fucking coffee cups. A vice tightened around Chad’s chest and left him breathless.

“Ally…”

The ajar door whined with the wind, and her gaze snapped up. She pushed Chad’s hand off her arm, strode over and stuck her head out.

Chad gripped onto the back of a chair to stay on his feet.

“Did you have company?”

“She’s gone.”

“She?”

“My therapist?”

Ally furrowed her brow. “A home visit?”

“Yeah, I needed her, I needed someone to talk to get my head together.”

“And did you?”

“Yeah. She left hours ago.”

Chad swallowed, praying Ally would come back from the door. She stared at him before flashing a look at the cups.

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