Page 112 of See You Again

She breathed deeply for a minute. Everything was becoming too much all at once. Her mother, Madison, trying to solve Amy’s case, someone possibly trying to kill her… James. She wanted to go back to her own home, crawl under her covers, and sleep for the rest of the day.

That isn’t an option.

Resolve stiffened her spine. She may not have control over what was happening with James, and no matter what she did, she couldn’t seem to help her mother. However, if this was connected to Amy's case, it meant Cami was making progress. Someone was getting nervous.

The file folder slid out easily, and to her shock, she recognized her own handwriting on the label. Was this her missing file? A small note card tumbled into her lap.

I borrowed your file to verify something. I have evidence that proves Matt Crawford killed Amy Hawthorne. Meet me at Superior Golf tomorrow at noon.

Cami’s hands shook as she read the note a second time. Was it a trick? Her mother hadn’t recognized Matt from the photo Cami had shown her, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t hired someone. Whoever sent the note with the file had to have been the person who broke into her house. Why take the file only to return it the next day? Why not simply send the note?

Cami lifted a hand to the ache in her head. She wasn’t sure what to think. Did this person mean her harm or not? Even though the upscale golf facility wouldn't be crowded at that hour, he’d selected a public place. He had evidence.

Did she really have a choice?

Cami was quiet on the drive to James’s mother’s house. She had intended to tell him about the development in the case as soon as she got back to the hotel suite. But when she used the key card he’d given her to access the floor, he was nowhere to be seen.

James seemed almost surprised to find her in a dress, scrolling on her phone when he returned. Now in the car, he was almost surly.

“Is something wrong?” Her patience was wearing thin.

“No.”

She rolled her eyes and looked out the window at the pine trees close to the road. The car pulled into the driveway of an attractive two-story brick home and James turned off the engine. When he didn’t move to get out of the car, Cami put her hand over his on the shifter. She couldn’t face another tense evening. Her nerves couldn’t take it at this point.

“Are you worried I'm going embarrass you? I might not have been raised in luxury like you, but I would hope by now you know me well enough that I know how to behave.”

“What are you talking about?” He studied her face. “Of course, I don't think you're going to embarrass me. If anything, they are going to embarrass me,” he muttered, and then let out a heavy sigh.

He turned in his seat to face her. “It's not you, Cami. It's just the situation. My mother has a chronic illness and stress makes it worse. I didn't want her included in the investigation into my father’s death. Cara opened her big mouth, and now it's all out there. I'm also not comfortable going in there pretending like we are this established couple when...”

She met his eyes, trying to read the emotion clouding the gray depths even as her heart fell to her feet. “I understand, if you want to tell them the truth. I know this is hard for you—to have family involved.” James stared out the windshield. “It's up to you. If you think it's best to say it doesn’t mean—We know the truth about what happened twelve years ago, but does that mean anything has changed?”

The ache in her chest intensified at his continued silence, and she blinked to keep the welling tears at bay. Cami licked her dry lips and tried to force them into an understanding smile. After the morning with her mother and everything else going on, her nerves were raw and she was really sick of always having to be the bigger person.

“Yes.” The word was loud and sharp in the enclosed space. “Of course, it changes things…” James’s eyes were wild, and for a second she thought he’d say more, but then he groaned and waved his hand at a petite, blonde woman standing at the front door waiting for them.

“If I didn’t love my sister,” he muttered darkly, before taking her hand and lifting it to his lips. “I wish we didn’t have to go in there right now.” His eyes bounced between hers. “I’ve wanted to tell you—Fuck! I’m going to kill her!” He turned his head, and Cami saw that the woman was now standing on the front walk.

Practice was the only thing that allowed Cami to lift her lips into her casual everything-is-going-to-be-okay smile. But in truth she wanted to scream. What had he been about to say?

“If any of them make you uncomfortable with their jokes about us?—”

“I'll be fine.”

“I know, but don't be afraid to tell my sister to shut up,” he said, opening his door.

James met her at the front of the car, throwing his sister a dirty look before taking Cami’s hand and interlacing his fingers with hers.

“Good luck, Tig.” James winked at her, and her heart flipped over.

Cara was beaming and bouncing on her feet as she unabashedly observed them. “Hi!” She ignored James and turned her sparkling violet eyes solely on Cami. “I'm Cara, James's sister.”

“It's nice to meet you.” It was impossible not to return the beautiful young woman’s wide smile.

“Are you going to get out of the way?” James said pointedly.

“Oh yeah! Sorry!”