Page 54 of Such a Good Girl

Only Violet knew the real truth of why I’d moved to Los Angeles, and why I didn’t follow the news, celebrity or otherwise. There were way too many unexpected triggers. I missed my little sister like people missed their phantom limbs. It was an overwhelming ache that never faded. I just forced myself to move on in spite of my heart being torn and bloody.

Dee was only sixteen when she’d gone missing on her way home from school. I’d just moved away to college a few hundred miles away, and the news of her disappearance had shaken me to my very core. They found her body weeks later, viciously dumped in a river by some monster that was never caught.

My family was never the same.

I was never the same.

I’d been studying to be a veterinarian, but Dee’s death changed everything. I changed my major and got a criminal justice degree instead. I became a cop, with the distinct goal to become a homicide investigator.

That’s why this case was so important to me.

I may not be able to find Dee’s killer after all this time, but I may be able to find others.

Seeing Everleigh’s and West’s love for each other made me miss my sister. I pushed away thoughts of her, as I’d learned to do many years ago, so I could move on with my life. She was never far away, though.

There were days when I felt like she was right by my side.

I excused myself for a moment to the find the ladies’ room. I passed by the photo with the two women again and smiled at the thought that I could cross West off the list of potential suspects.

Once inside the stall, I sent a quick text to Hoskins to let him know what I’d discovered. He’d threatened to take me off the case way too many times recently, and I needed him to know I was making progress.

The thought of leaving West now, just as we were getting to know each other, was something I wasn’t quite ready to do. I couldn’t help but wonder if tonight was the night we’d find a way to finish what we’d started. Something had gotten in the way every single time and I was ready to take the next step. Whatever that meant.

I was nervous as I walked back into the gallery, wondering how we’d find a way to extricate ourselves from everyone. My answer was clear once I returned. West guided Everleigh out of the gallery, his expression clearly apologetic.

“Everleigh had a little too much wine. I’m going to drive her home,” he said. “I’m sorry, Rosie. I was hoping to spend some time with you later.”

“Oh, that’s fine, I understand,” I said. “Everleigh, are you okay?”

“I’m…fine! I’m fine! My brother is way too overprotective,” she said, before swaying, stumbling and then tumbling to the ground. “Oh!” She collapsed into a pile of giggles.

West pulled her up, shaking his head. “You’ve always been such a lightweight, kid.”

“I said I’m fine!” she insisted, still giggling. “It’s these shoes!”

“Sure it is,” he said, patting her back. “Rosie, raincheck, please?”

“Of course. See you again soon, I hope, Everleigh.”

“Oh, my god, yessss! You’re so cute! And Violet, too! Let’s be friendsssss!” she insisted. “Get my number from West!”

“I will,” I said with a reassuring smile.

As he began guiding her towards the door, I glanced around and spotted Theo watching darkly from the corner, his brow furrowed in disapproval. There was a story there, obviously, and I was intensely curious. I made a note to myself to ask West about it later.

ChapterSixteen

WEST

Bright sun bore down on the top of my head, the pool in front of me sparkling under the bright rays. In and around the pool, the very scantily clad Hollywood elite partied and danced to the loud music streaming from Theo’s house.

I’d tried to avoid the party altogether, but Rian and Theo had insisted I come. That didn’t mean I had to engage, though. I had way too much work to do.

I sat on a lounge chair in the corner, working as much as I could on my phone, and doing my best to avoid the constant distractions.

Joey sat beside me, flipping through his phone to show me the photos of a gothic looking mansion he’d found in Bel Air.

“It’s the perfect place to shoot, West. It’s on the market right now and completely empty. We could easily rent it out for the film.”

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