Page 66 of The Drummer

“This disaster?” I wave over the mess with a smirk. “This is no one’s job. This is a hazardous waste site.”

She chuckles and rolls her cart into the room.

“Seriously. You’d be doing me a favor. I need something to do.”

She casts a nervous look at the door. “I…”

“If your supervisor sees us, I’ll tell them I’m makingthe mess while you’re following me around cleaning it up.”

Her laugh eases some of the weight from my shoulders.

She shakes her head and sighs. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

I gather an armload of empty bottles off the counter by the fridge. “Where do you want these?”

She points to the bag, and I go back for another load.

For the next hour, I help Cameron erase last night and give us a fresh start.

Lunch arrives shortlyafter Cameron leaves. I’m still opening the takeout containers when Luke ventures out.

I know better than to approach the volatile subject from earlier. Instead of words, I pass him a plate.

He takes a seat at the table and reaches for one of the boxes.

“Food’s good,” I say through a bite of drunken noodles.

He looks almost guilty as he scoops rice onto his plate.

“The room looks clean,” he says, glancing around. “Guess housekeeping was here?”

“Yeah. Cameron. Did you know her daughter plays cello?”

“No. Is she the one with the long brown hair?”

“No, she had short red hair.”

“Oh. Yeah. I know who you mean. Hold on, she has a daughter old enough to play the cello?”

“Right? I thought she was about sixteen when she came in. But no, she’s twenty-nine.”

“Dang.”

I don’t know how much longer we can drag this conversation out, but we’re certainly going to try.

We’re halfway through the roll call of every employee on site, when the door lock hisses with another visitor. Who just walks into his room without knocking?

We shoot our attention to the entrance, and Luke seems relieved when Callie tentatively pokes her head in. I’m glad to see her too, just… confused.

She shuts the door, and Luke waves toward the table.

“Thai,” he says by way of a greeting.

She squints at his plate. “With your hangover?”

“Burns away the alcohol?” His grin is so out of place. It makes no sense with the rest of the morning. He’s a completely different person when Callie’s around. It’s bizarre and…

She has a key.

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