Page 64 of What We May Be

Chapter Seventeen

Charlie was halfway down the station’s front steps, on her way across the street to Pearl’s, a twenty-four-hour sports bar and pool hall that was a favorite of cops and college kids alike, when her sister’s car swung into one of the visitor spots in front of the station.

“Hey, A,” Charlie greeted with a smile. “What’re you doing here?”

“I brought another bag for Trevor.” Annie returned her hug, then drew back with a wry grin. “Don’t take this the wrong way, sis, but you look beat.”

Chuckling, Charlie ran her fingers through her sister’s waterfall of white-gold hair. “No offense taken. I’ll sleep better once this case is over.”

Annie stepped away and reached into the back for another of Trevor’s duffels. “Any developments?”

That familiar wave of guilt rose up, for worrying Annie and for not keeping her updated. “Federal marshals picked up our prime suspect in Georgia an hour ago. They’re going to drive her here in the morning.”

“Her?”

“Beth Martin. She teaches French at HU. Do you know her?”

Annie shook her head. “Not personally, but I saw her around the hospital and the library from time to time. She gossiped a lot, and then a couple weeks ago, she started harassing Trace.”

“About Julian’s affair?”

Her sister nodded.

A thought occurred to Charlie, a way to silence the doubt still lingering in her mind. “Hey, can you do me a favor?”

“What’s that?”

“Pull her library record. Electronic and hard copies. I want to see if she’s checked out any Shakespeare lately.”

“I can do that,” she said. “Just get me a warrant.”

“Will do.” Charlie grasped her sister’s free hand. “Thanks, A.”

Annie smiled, squeezing back, but her smile disappeared, and she lifted the bag. “So Trevor doesn’t need this? Is he even here?”

“He’s at Pearl’s with Sean.”

Annie lifted a brow.

“We’re talking things out,” Charlie said with a laugh. She slipped the bag from Annie’s hand. “I’ll take this. Make sure he gets it.”

“Is he okay?” Annie asked.

“He’s had a rough few days, but I promised him this case would be solved today, and it looks like we’re on our way.”

“Good, I’m glad.” Annie leaned against the side of her car. “Did Sean say yet why he left? What kept him away?”

Charlie’s smile dipped. She had hope, but she was still missing answers. She sensed Trevor had maybe a few more than her, but in the chaos of the case, some of the details between her, Sean, and Trevor had gotten lost. Details that needed to be sorted before they went any further. “We’re going to talk about that tonight,” she told Annie. “Good thing you brought this. Might turn into an all-nighter.” Red slashed across Annie’s cheekbones, and Charlie reconsidered her words. Then blushed herself. “Shit, I didn’t mean it that way.”

Annie giggled. “You go get ’em, sis.”

Charlie laughed out loud and threw an arm around her sister’s shoulders, kissing her temple. “You want to come to Pearl’s with us? Jaylen will be there.”

Annie blushed harder as she pulled away. “We’ve got a date tomorrow. I think I’ll take tonight for myself.”

“If you change your mind,” Charlie said as she tossed Trevor’s bag into the Mustang, “you know where we’ll be.”

“Sounds good.” Annie stopped in the open doorway of her car and turned half-around, her smile gone. “We’re all we’ve got. Be good to him.”

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