“We can’t just waltz into the police station and accuse someone of potentially murdering someone. We have to be strategic about this; we can’t be rash.” Sebastian said, leaning his elbows against his knees.
“The Harvest Festival,” Lilia said, suddenly. “It’s in two days. Everyone in town will be there. It’s public. The police are normally there handing out stickers to kids, that kind of thing. It’s the perfect place.”
Augustus nodded. “So we’ll do it there then.”
“It’s a brilliant idea,” Lilia agreed.
It was a horrible idea.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Eleanor asked, her anxiety evident as they wandered through the bustling crowd at the Harvest Festival.
“Would you calm down?” Lilia rolled her eyes, though her own nerves were frayed. She could feel her stomach churning, on the verge of upchucking her lunch.
They had collectively agreed that a less aggressive approach to speaking with McCall was the best course of action, so it was decided that Eleanor and Lilia were the safest best; they were the least confrontational.
“Stay here,” Lilia told her, glancing around to locate McCall. “I’ll be right back.”
“No, wait. We’re supposed to stick together,” Eleanor called after her, “Lilia!”
The festival was in full swing, the majority of the town in attendance. Booths lined the streets, and concession stands were everywhere. A local band played softly in the background, adding to the atmosphere, while children ran around excitedly, their laughter filling the air. Lilia weaved through the crowd, her eyes panning for McCall. She spotted him near a picnic table, dressed casually, a stark contrast to his usual attire. His hands were shoved into his pockets as he stood beside a woman whose hair cascaded down her back in loose waves.
They were laughing at something, and as McCall moved slightly, Lilia’s gaze fell on the woman’s swollen belly. Her steps faltered. The woman was pregnant. That would mean . . . No, he wouldn’t have. She couldn’t help but wonder if McCall had cheated on his wife with Willow.
He bent down to press a kiss to the woman’s face before moving along the crowd, and Lilia’s face set in determination. She had to find out the truth. She maneuvered through the crowd, keeping her eyes on McCall as he turned toward the porta-potties in a secluded alleyway.
The loud sound of children screaming excitedly filled her ears, followed by the sudden pop of a balloon. She winced, her focus momentarily broken. Shaking her head, she refocused her gaze forward, but McCall was nowhere to be seen.
“Damn it!” she cursed to herself.
“You know,” a voice spoke behind her, causing her to flinch, “following a detective isn’t the smartest move.”
She whirled around to face him. “Detective.”
“Lilia.” He nodded. “Did you need something?”
Well, she thought, here goes nothing.
“What is this?” Lilia held her phone up shakily, the image of him and Willow staring back at him.
His eyes zeroed in on the photo, his jaw tightening. “Where did you get this?”
“It doesn’t matter. What were you doing with Willow Montgomery on the night that she disappeared?”
McCall’s gaze hardened. “You have no right to question me.”
“You have five minutes to answer me before I leak this photo everywhere. Start talking, now.”
He said nothing, his gaze averting.
“Willow got into your car on April 16th, and then two days later, she was missing. You saw her that night and you didn’t tell anyone. You have spent the better half of the last two months pointing fingers and attempting to coerce the public and anyone else who will listen to your lies into thinking that me, and my friends murdered her—that we had some motive to kill her. Why?” Her tone was laced in disgust, her eyes burning with accusation.
“She needed a ride.”
“You’re lying.” She shook her head. “That doesn’t make any sense. There’s traffic camera footage of her going to the Smarty Mart in her own car.”
“That’s the truth.” He wouldn’t budge.
“She was in your car!” Lilia shoved the phone closer to his face, her desperation growing. “You were with her after she left the party.”
