The Lover’s Game (No Exceptions #2)(38)
Author: J.C. Reed

“I can’t believe it either.”

“And to think, we used to date before I met my current girlfriend.” She shook her head in disbelief, and a tear ran down her cheek.

I turned to face her. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“No one did.” Thalia shrugged and wiped a hand over her tear-stained face. I hugged her, because I couldn’t stand seeing her in pain. It was always sad when someone died. As short as my meeting with Gina had been, and in spite of the questionable drinks, I had still liked her as a person.

Her death was such a tragedy, and it had come out of the blue. It felt surreal to know we had seen her less than twenty-four hours ago; my memories of the redhead were still fresh in my mind.

“She must have gone back to the La Rue bar,” Thalia whispered.

My attention snapped in her direction. “What do you mean? Why would she do that?”

“After you hooked up with that guy, Gina and I had one more drink together. I got a headache and called it a day, but she decided to stay, so I left, figuring she’d be all right,” she said, barely able hide her remorse. “I should have stayed. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened. Maybe she’d still be alive.”

Or maybe they’d both be dead.

“Did she meet anyone else?” I asked, keeping my true thoughts to myself.

But Thalia didn’t hear me anymore; she simply walked away mumbling, “I have to tell him.”

I followed her and stopped a step behind, listening to her conversation with Grayson.

“Jenna, Gina and I visited the La Rue bar yesterday,” she said. Silence fell over the room as everyone turned to look at her. “We had a few drinks together before we moved on to the HUSH HUSH club. That was the last place we saw her.”

Grayson’s face remained an impenetrable mask. “Just the three of you?” he asked, and Thalia nodded.

His forehead creased into a frown as his gaze swept over the shocked faces around him, then settled on Thalia’s again. Finally, he turned. Following his line of vision, I realized the guy he had been talking to before hadn’t left with the rest of the guests. He was standing in the background, near the wall, hidden in the shadows, observing us all along.

I frowned.

“I’d like to introduce you to Detective Barrow,” Grayson said grimly. “He’s leading the investigation.”

As the man stepped forward, my heart spluttered in my chest and skipped a beat.

Oh, my God.

Oh. My. God.

It was in that instant that I recognized him as the guy from the hotel. The guy with the newspaper. The guy who had glanced at me. My breath remained trapped in my throat, and my knees began to shake, threatening to buckle beneath me.

What was he doing here?

“I’m afraid I’ll have to keep you girls a little longer,” I heard Grayson say. “Detective Barrow will want to ask each of you a few questions, but no worries. In spite of the disruption in our work schedule, you’ll still be paid your usual fee for the night. Feel free to leave after the detective’s done with you. Any questions?”

I shook my head, but not because I didn’t have any questions.

My heart pounded in my chest, and my blood rushed hard as I stared at the man from the hotel, my mind circling around one single thought.

What are the odds?

The End