Page 48 of Forever Golden
“Don’t make me fucking regret this,” she snaps. “I’ve got a paying tenant in the spare room and I ain’t screwing up that arrangement foranyone.That means Scarlett will be on the couch and she and Hank can share the guest bath. If things don’t work out,she’llbe the one to go.”
Hank—a strange man I don’t know from thenextguy.
Under the same roof with my sister.
“…Thanks,” I force out. “Can you text me the name of the local school district when we end the call? So I can get the enrollment process started? I’ll likely be bringing her to you early next month.”
“Shit. How the hell didyourproblems becomemyproblems this morning?” she says. “I’ll get to it when I get to it. I’m going back to sleep.”
With that, the line beeps in my ear. She hung up.
I stare at my phone when the call ends and I’m sick to my stomach at the thought of… well,allof it. My grandmother being my sister’s sole caretaker, Scar being so far away.
Hank.
I take note of the time and toss my phone to the bed. I’ve got the breakfast shift this morning and Ireallydon’t need this shit.
I pull my hair into a ponytail and drop my towel, slipping into the powder-blue uniform I’ll be wearing until at least three this afternoon. It’s freezing outside, so I slide on a pair of leggings I’ll take off when I get to Dusty’s. I’m nearly done, swiping on some lip gloss when my eyes dart to the phone again. Grandma Riley isn’t my only option. Hell, she isn’t even thebestoption, and I’m starting to think I know who might be.
Before I can overthink things, I dial the Cypress Pointe Police Department and ask for Detective Roby. I’m on hold for what feels like forever, but that’s mostly my impatience making it seem that way. By the time I hear a familiar voice on the other end of the line, I’ve lost my nerve.
What if he can’t be trusted?
“This is Detective Roby,” he says for a second time.
Just talk to the man. You know him. He’s a good guy. At least he used to be.
“Good morning, Detective. This is… Blue. Blue Riley.”
He’s quiet for a moment and I don’t know how to read his silence.
“It’s been quite some time, Blue,” he says. “You doing all right?”
I’m shaking so bad I can hardly hold the phone, listening to the ambient chatter and shuffling of paperwork in the background.
“I’m good.”
“I stopped into your uncle’s diner a few weeks ago. He said you’ve been waitressing for him.”
“I have. Headed there in a few, actually,” I say. “How’s Dez?”
“She’s well—graduated from Everly with honors last spring. Now, she’s having a great first year according to the grades she’s bringing in. I don’t hear from her much now that she’s all grown up,” he adds with a laugh.
“And Mrs. Roby?”
He pauses this time. “She passed away a few years back. An aneurysm. Completely unexpected.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m so sorry.”
“You couldn’t have known,” he reasons. “Is there something I can help you with this morning?”
The spotlight’s back on me, I guess.
“Actually, yeah. I saw your interview on the news the other night and I… wondered if we could talk about that. You mentioned that you’ve formed a task force just to look into the missing girls.”
“I did,” he says. “It’s been an uphill battle, but we’re making some headway now. I suppose I still don’t understand what this is about. Were you friends with one of the girls who’s disappeared? Do you have some information you think might help?”
I’m losing my nerve, but it’s either Detective Roby or Grandma Riley.