Page 48 of As the Rain Falls
“L’Impasse is not the issue here. There’s no proof she got drinks from the bar.”
I groan, “Because she had older men buying it for her.”
And how is it not the issue? Everybody knows that’s one of the places kids manage to buy drinks from. Lucia had been partying there all night long before she tried to come home.
“Let’s just say the municipal council isn’t very thrilled about our completion rates as of late.”
A bitter laugh finally comes out of me, derisive and mean.I feel my body shake with anger.
“No offense, Thomas, but the council is rarely ever happy.” I rise from the chair, sizing the redhead idiot up. “So what if Lucia is rotting seven feet under, right? She doesn’t matter anymore now that she’s dead. Nobody is at fault but…”
Me.
I’m the responsible one.
I’m the oldest brother.
“Beckett, please.”
Thomas swallows hard, but his face stays unreadable. I can’t tell if he is on my side or not, which means that he might be against me after all.
“I understand that this is a difficult time for you, and this might be tough to hear, but your sister died months ago. It’s time to move on. We need to finish the paperwork.”
Paperwork? Like, closing this case is just the next step.A box to check.Something to be done.
Lucia was my only family.
She was my whole world.
“This is just another way for you guys to keep sweeping things under the rug!” I point to the stack of paper, voice rising. “Really, how is that even legal? You’re the cop! You’re supposed to want to get to the bottom of this!”
“Tell that to my boss, Evans!”
I flinch, but so does Thomas, realizing what he just said sounds completely unprofessional. But he did mean it, exactly like it came across. He knows there is some validity to my suspicion, but the truth of the matter is that what I’m thinking isn’t the most obvious answer.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, but your sister wasn’t a child. She was nearly eighteen, wasn’t she?”
But being eighteen doesn’t make you an adult. It takes a lot more than that, actually. Never mind that Lucia was almost eighteen; she was still a little kid. Clueless, innocent. She deserves far more than this town is giving her.
“She knew what she was doing, Beckett. Or maybe she didn’t, but Lucia still made a choice that night. I mean, you read the autopsy, right? She got drunk.”
“My parents are not coming home,” I say quietly, not wanting the entire office to hear me. “My mother is back with her family, and my dad’s off with this new girlfriend, you see? So, they’re very busy people.”
That makes him hesitate. For a split second, Thomas has the decency to almost look surprised.
“Too busy with traveling to take care of their only son?”
Don’t worry, dude.
You’ll get used to it.
I know I did.
“I’m grown.” I shrug, waving my hand around dismissively. “They don’t need to take care of me anymore.”
“But you’re only, what, about to turn nineteen? You shouldn’t be handling all this alone.” Thomas shakes his head, massaging his temples like this is giving him the biggest headache. “Look, I know it feels like I’m your enemy right now, but I’m not.”
I smile sarcastically. “Right.”
