“No, there’s not.”
“What about you? Are you single because you have some secret fetish?”
“No, I’m single because I’m a terrible boyfriend.”
“Did someone tell you that?”
“More than one someone. I’m not good at relationships.”
“Maybe because you look at everything as being temporary. No woman wants to think she’s just good for the next few minutes or days or weeks.”
“Unfortunately, my past career didn’t allow me much time to build anything longer than that.”
“You’re not a Marine now. You can put down roots. You can hang a picture—if you want to.”
“I knew you were judging my apartment décor,” he said with a gleam in his eyes.
“Décor? You had nothing in your apartment, Wyatt. Certainly nothing that would count as décor.”
“Well, I might consider hanging a picture, once this is all over.”
“Maybe something from the Nova Star gift shop—with the stars, the moon, Mars—they sell some amazing and wonderful photos.”
He gave her a smile that sent a little shiver down her spine, and some of the cold in her heart seeped away.
But as their gaze clung for seconds too long, she felt uneasy, wondering what she was doing. How could she even be thinking of Wyatt as a man when she was sitting in a mortuary about to figure out funeral arrangements for her best friend?
Although, she could almost hear Noelle saying, I get it—he’s hot—and you’re still alive. Don’t waste your life.
But was that Noelle? Or was it her own voice?
The door opened, and she stood up as Kari Price walked in. Her hair was a darker red than she remembered, and Kari was very thin, wearing a loose sweater over black leggings. Dark glasses covered her eyes, but as she stepped forward, she removed them, revealing red-rimmed eyes. She held out her arms, and Avery ran into her embrace as they exchanged a long, sad hug.
“I’m sorry,” she said, gazing into Kari’s eyes.
“Our girl is gone. I can hardly believe it. All the way here, I kept telling myself it was a dream.”
“I know the feeling.” She felt tears well up within her, but she needed to keep them at bay.
“Are you Noelle’s boyfriend?” Kari asked Wyatt, who had gotten to his feet.
“No,” he said quickly. “I’m Wyatt Tanner. I worked with your daughter.”
“He’s trying to help me find out what happened to Noelle,” Avery added.
“Thank God someone is looking for my daughter’s killer. The police just told me the FBI has taken over the case but no one from the bureau is calling me back,” Kari said, anger in her eyes. “Shouldn’t someone have some answers for me by now?”
“I’m sure they’ll be in touch,” she replied. “But let’s worry about that later. Are you ready to discuss arrangements?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure what to do. I don’t have any idea if Noelle would want to be buried or cremated, and where she would want any of that to take place. I’m hoping you might know, Avery.”
She shook her head. “We didn’t talk about any of that.”
“Of course not. Why would you? My baby shouldn’t be dead,” Kari said, sobs taking over the last part of her sentence.
Avery put her arm around Kari’s shoulders as the director, a serious-looking man in his mid to late fifties came out of a back room and suggested they move into his office.
“I’m going to wait for you here,” Wyatt said quickly, a pained expression on his face.
She nodded, thinking it would be better to do this with Kari on her own. But it wasn’t going to be easy, and there was a part of her that wished she could stay in the reception area, too.
But she needed to be there for Noelle’s mom. Noelle had always hated when her mom was unhappy. She’d often felt personally responsible for it, as if it was up to her to make up for her dad dying. If Noelle was looking down on them now, at least she’d know that Avery was taking care of her mother. It was the last thing she could do for her friend.
Chapter Seven
Wyatt was happy to wait in the reception area while Avery and Kari discussed funeral arrangements. Just being close to their raw emotion had made him feel uneasy. It had also made him realize how little emotion he’d let into his life the past few years.
Everything was about work, and in order to do his job well, he couldn’t let emotion into it. Most of the time he had no problem staying on track, but talking to Avery about her friendship with Noelle, her childhood, her life, had reminded him that once upon a time he’d had friendships too, real friendships. He’d also had a family and a home.
Frowning at the direction of his thoughts, he pulled out his phone and checked the time. He could hardly believe It was almost five. The day had passed in a blur, and it wasn’t over yet.
He felt a restless urge to connect with someone, but it couldn’t be someone from his distant past. He walked outside, drawing in several deep gulps of fresh air before punching in the number Bree had given him.
“Just wanted to check in,” he said. “I saw the news about the fire in Venice Beach. Are you at work? Can you talk?”
“I am in the office. Hold on one second,” she said.
He perched on the edge of a brick planter outside the mortuary and watched the traffic for a few moments until Bree came back on the line.
“Sorry about that,” she said.
“No problem. I probably shouldn’t be calling you, but I thought you might have more up-to-date information than Flynn.”
“It’s fine. I just got off the phone with the fire investigator. The blaze was set in Noelle Price’s apartment. Witnesses at the scene mentioned an earlier fight involving you, Ms. Caldwell, and the man with the tattoo on his neck.”
“No one else was seen at the apartment after we left?”
“Not that anyone remembers, but it was a chaotic scene. The fire spread quickly. People were focused on getting out of the building with a few personal items and their lives. The only thing we know for sure is that whatever was in that apartment is gone. The fire investigation is just beginning. I’m sure we’ll know more in a few days.”
“I’m not sure we have a few days. With the satellite launch coming up on Tuesday, Noelle’s murder, and now the fire, everything is ratcheting up.”
“Which should make Nova Star more interested in cooperating with us, but Joanna said while your boss expressed concern about Ms. Price’s death, he didn’t believe it was connected to the company. He said his security is also looking into the matter, which I guess is you and your team at Nova Star.”
“Yes. But Hamilton is not quite as confident as he would have you believe. He is determined to protect his family, and he thinks Jonathan is being set up for a fall.”
“Then he needs to help us prove that.”
“Well, he’s got me to do that. Are you spending the whole weekend at work?”
“Maybe. Nathan went back to Chicago for a few days, so I figured I might as well keep busy. By the way, Vincent Rowland showed up in the office a few minutes ago and whisked Joanna off for a drink.”
He was surprised. Vincent Rowland was retired FBI and the father of a former friend. “What is he doing in LA?”
“He’s here for his daughter Cassie’s engagement party.”
“That’s good. I’m glad the Rowlands have a happy event to celebrate. That memorial a few months back was kind of rough.”
“I really wanted to be there for that.”
“Work comes first.”
“Yes. But I’m not sure Vincent would agree with you. He was very short with me. I think he’s still angry that I wasn’t there.”
“You had a good reason. You were looking for a missing child. Vincent understood that. He’s just a reserved man. I wouldn’t take it personally.”
“I just wish sometimes I could talk to him about Jamie. I cared so much for his son, but sometimes I think he blames me for Jamie’s
death. He once told me that Jamie’s penchant for falling in love distracted him from what should have been his true priority.”
“Jamie’s death was an unfortunate accident. Everyone agrees on that.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “Sorry to bring all that up. I just got rattled when I saw Vincent. Anyway, let’s get back to you. What’s going on? Where are you now?”
“I’m at the mortuary with Avery Caldwell. She and Noelle Price’s mother are making funeral arrangements.”
“That’s depressing.”
“Very. Have you been able to ID the man at Noelle’s apartment this morning?”
“Not yet, but we’re working on it.”
“All right. I’ve moved Avery to a safer location just in case anyone is interested in going after her. I’m going to stay close to her this weekend, which will actually work in my favor. There’s a dinner party tomorrow night for her father’s birthday, and the entire Tremaine family will be there. I’m going to get myself on the guest list.”
“That should be an interesting party. I saw Ms. Caldwell’s photograph. She’s very pretty.”
“Which has nothing to do with anything,” he said bluntly, hearing the teasing note in her voice.
“I know you’re always professional on the job.”
“Exactly.”
“And she’s definitely not your type.”
“I don’t have a type.”
“Well, you don’t usually date rocket scientists, do you?”
“Maybe I would if they looked like Avery.”
“So, you are intrigued,” she said knowingly.
“I’m not blind, but I’m not going to do anything about it. She’s terrified and grief-stricken, and I would never take advantage of that. Plus, she has no idea who I really am.”
“Do you ever get tired of the undercover life, Wyatt?”
He would have normally answered that question very easily, very quickly. Going undercover was what he did best. But today, all he could see were a hundred shades of gray. “I am a little tired,” he admitted. “But I’ll be fine.”
“Sometimes changing your job isn’t a bad thing. I did it.”
“I change my job all the time—every assignment.”
“I mean change your real job.”
“I don’t think I could go back into an office at this point.” He paused as a car turned in to the lot and a man got out. “I have to go. Looks like Noelle Price’s boyfriend just showed up.”
He stood up, slipping his phone into his pocket as Carter Hayes hurried across the lot, wearing jeans and a button-down shirt instead of the suit he usually wore to work.
In his early thirties, Carter had sandy-brown hair, fair skin, and a boyish look that was strained and frazzled today.
“Mr. Hayes,” he said, stepping in front of him.
Carter gave him a surprised and blank look. That was understandable. While he had seen Carter numerous times on the security cameras at Nova Star and had also begun to look into his life since Noelle had shown up at a restaurant with Jonathan Tremaine, Carter had no idea who he was.
“Yes?” Carter said. “Who are you?”
“Wyatt Tanner. I’m in security at Nova Star.”
“Oh. You’re here with Avery?”
“Yes. She’s inside with Noelle’s mother. I’m very sorry for your loss. Avery told me that you’ve been seeing Noelle for several months.”
“I have,” Carter admitted. “And I can’t believe any of this. It’s a nightmare. I spoke to Noelle just a few hours before she went to the pier with Avery and then she’s killed, stabbed by some crazy person? How does that happen?”
“I don’t know,” he said somberly, seeing what appeared to be genuine horror in Carter’s face.
“Do the police have any idea who killed her?”
“Not that they’ve told me.”
“They won’t tell me anything. I think they consider me a suspect. I spent half the night at the police station answering questions and an hour ago, I got a call from some FBI agent who wants to talk to me next, but I have no answers. All I know is that Noelle went to meet Avery and ended up dead.”
He nodded. “That’s rough.”
Carter hesitated, giving him an odd look. “Is there any chance you can turn down the heat on me? You said you’re in security, right?”
“Yes, but there’s nothing I can do to stop the FBI from investigating, and I’m sure you want to find who killed Noelle.”
“Of course. But it wasn’t me. And I’m up for a promotion at Nova Star. I’ve been working really hard for it. If the Tremaines get wind that I’m a suspect…well, I don’t want to be fired. I’ve been at the company for three years. I’m a loyal employee.”
“I doubt anyone is looking to fire you,” he said, although it seemed like Carter’s concerns at the moment were very self-centered for a man who had just lost his girlfriend.
Carter shifted back and forth, digging his hands in his pockets. “I’m sorry. I’m wound up. Too much coffee, not enough sleep.”
“I can understand that.”
“I don’t want to be here, but when Noelle’s mother called me, I couldn’t say no. Is she inside?”
“She’s with Avery. They’re meeting with the director now.”
Carter hesitated. “What’s her mother like?”
“You haven’t met her?”
“No. I’ve just heard Noelle argue with her on the phone. Her mom has been having money problems, and she has been asking Noelle for help. But Noelle hasn’t been on the job long, and she doesn’t have extra cash.” Carter paused. “I’m a little afraid Noelle’s mom is going to hit me up for money, and that’s why she wants me here.”
Now Carter was worried about money as well as his job? Noelle was getting pushed further and further down his list of concerns.
“You think she’d do that now?” he asked.
“Maybe. Noelle says her mom is terrible with money, that she always has to bail her out. On the other hand, I know how much Noelle loved her mother. I feel like she’d want me to help her.”
Carter’s words echoed what Avery had said earlier. Maybe he needed to look more closely at Kari Price. If Kari had had money problems, had Noelle done something to get the cash her mother needed?
He stepped back and opened the door for Carter. “After you.” For a split second, he thought Carter might bolt, but the man drew in a breath and stepped inside the lobby.
Wyatt had no sooner followed him inside when Avery joined them.
Relief flashed through her brown eyes as she saw Carter.
“Carter.” She gave him an emotional hug. “Kari said you were coming down.”
“Sorry I’m late. It’s been…a lot.” Carter ran a hand through his tousled hair.
“I know. I feel the same way.”
“Where’s her mom?”
“Kari is still meeting with the director. If you want to join her, I’m sure she’d be okay with that.”
Carter swallowed hard. “Maybe I should just wait.”
“All right. She’s almost done.”
Carter nodded. “Is, uh, is Noelle’s body…is it back there?”
“No,” Avery said quickly. “Her body hasn’t been released by the medical examiner yet, but Kari doesn’t know how long she can stay in town, so she wanted to start making arrangements.”
“Is she taking Noelle back to Florida?”
“I think she wants to talk to you about it.”
Carter appeared panicked by Avery’s words. “Me? I don’t know what to do. I mean, I loved Noelle. I did. But we haven’t been together that long.”
“It’s okay, Carter,” Avery said, putting a hand on his arm. “I know how shocked and upset you are, because I feel the same way.”
“I am shocked,” Carter echoed. “I don’t know how we got here.”
“I don’t, either.”
“The police said you found Noelle, but why weren’t you with her? Why was she alone?” Carte
r asked.
“She wanted to go into the funhouse, and I didn’t, so she went without me. When she was taking too long, I decided to look for her. I’m so sorry, Carter,” she said, her eyes filling with tears.
“You’re not to blame, Avery. I know you cared a lot for Noelle. She was happy the two of you were friends again.”
“I was happy, too.” Avery took a breath. “So, getting back to what needs to be done now…Kari is very concerned about the financial burden of a funeral. I don’t think she has much money.”
“From what Noelle said, she doesn’t,” Carter said, his lips drawing into a tight line. “She was always calling, asking Noelle to send her some cash. She was sending her a check almost every other week, but it never seemed to be enough.”
“I didn’t realize things were that bad,” Avery murmured.
“Look, I can contribute something toward this funeral,” Carter said. “But I don’t want to talk to her mother. I have to go. If you need help, call me.” He pulled out his wallet and handed Avery a business card.
“Please, don’t go, Carter,” Avery said. “I know Kari would like to see you.”
“She doesn’t know me; I don’t know her. I’ve just said hello over the phone. It’s better this way.” Carter whirled around and dashed out the door, leaving Avery with a stunned look on her face.
“Well, I didn’t expect that,” she said, turning back to him. “What did I say?”
“Nothing. Carter was amped up before he walked in here. He said the police gave him a grilling last night. He’s worried he’s going to be accused of Noelle’s murder.”
Avery stared back at him. “Really? He’s worried about that? I know boyfriends and husbands are often people of interest, but that can usually be cleared up pretty quickly.”
“Maybe Carter is overreacting to whatever the police asked him.”
“He has to be. I don’t believe Carter had anything to do with Noelle’s death.” She paused, frowning. “Do you?”
“I wouldn’t think so, but I’ve learned never to count anyone out. So, what’s going on back there? Is Kari planning a funeral?”
“No. I don’t really know what she’s going to do. She kept bursting into tears every few minutes, especially when she heard what things might cost. The director asked me to let him speak to her alone, and I was fine with that.”
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