Page 58 of See You Again

Cami laughed. “I'm not insulting you. Most boys that age are arrogant, and you had a good reason to be.”

“Did I?”

She pursed her lips. “Puh-lease. Don't pretend like you don’t remember how every female threw herself at you. You were handsome, smart, rich… You were a catch and you know it.” She shrugged as if she’d stated an obvious fact.

The words “is that why you joined the study group” burned on the tip of his tongue, but he didn't want to spoil the mood. It was ancient history and didn’t matter anymore. Probably best if they just avoided that conversation entirely if they were going to make it through the next month.

“What made you choose your current case? The young woman that was murdered—Amy?”

“Her older sister, Tara, was in the same graduate program as Madison and I. We aren’t close but we kept in touch. I remember when Amy went missing. Tara was devastated. When her sister’s body was discovered, as much as it was a relief to the family, there was a renewed dedication to bring her killer to justice. It seemed like the perfect fit for us.

“It’s a small town. Someone has to know something. As years go by, people get drunk, inmates brag to their cellmates. We thought that with the attention our podcast was getting, someone might come forward with what they knew.”

“Have they yet?”

“Not yet. We’ve only aired the first few episodes which are primarily background on Amy and the people directly involved. The next episode is more about what happened the night she disappeared. Hopefully, someone will either send us an email or call into the tip line.”

James’s brows rose. “You have a tip line?”

“Uh huh. Most people contact us either through email or comments under the show notes. That’s how we found the lead about the husband’s secret girlfriend in the Alvarez case. What are you working on?”

“Nothing as high stakes as murder. At the moment, mostly white-collar crimes. Luke calls it paperwork warfare. After the hearings I had today, I doubt any of them will go to trial.” James frowned. After her impassioned speech, what he did sounded dull.

“What made you change to the defense side? I mean, I know Luke's been doing it for a long time. Did you want to work with him? I remember in college you talked about going into practice together someday.”

James wiped his mouth with the napkin to buy himself some time. He’d forgotten how direct Cami was. Growing up, he was accustomed to people asking everything but the question they actually wanted the answer to. People were always trying to learn about him and his family in order to find an angle to weasel their way in.

Cami had never been like that. She asked the questions she wanted the answers to without hesitation. Something tickled at the back of his brain.

Cami had always been direct, which is why now, the more he thought about what Justin claimed she’d said to him, it seemed less and less believable. Cold unease spread through him.

Had he made a mistake all those years ago?

“James?” Small lines had formed between her eyebrows.

Now wasn’t the time to figure it out.

“Yeah… um…” What had she asked? “I had some family obligations in Atlanta that I need to be home for.”

Her tone was careful when she asked, “Because your father died?”

The server placed the bill on the table, and James busied himself with pulling out his wallet while he decided what to say. “There was that, but also my sister Cara had moved here. My mother has some health issues, and I wanted to be close in case she needed me. Plus, the workload at the prosecutor’s office meant I rarely got time off to come see her.”

Cami’s face softened. “I can empathize. My mother has some health issues as well, and it’s hard trying to build a business while also being there for her.”

“What about your dad? I know you weren’t close but could he help?”

She fiddled with her fork, her eyes finding something over his shoulder. In college, Cami had told him about her parents’ divorce and that it was the reason why she didn’t like going home, but the look on her face now made it clear it was more than just being away from home for the first time.

Her tone was light, but James could hear the hurt. “He isn’t in my life anymore. I haven’t seen him in several years.

James searched his brain for something to say that would bring her smile back. Cami reached for her purse, but James handed his card to the server.

“James, let me pay for half.”

He ignored her.

“Tell me about this restaurant opening we're going to.”