“I didn’t do it!” Glen exclaimed. “I swear I didn’t.”
“They probably know you own several antiques,” Luke said.
“Hey, whose side are you on?” Glen huffed.
I looked over my shoulder at him, but instead of looking accusing, he was deep in thought.
“If they do, it wouldn’t be a long stretch for them to jump to thievery. But you have proof of ownership, of course,” Luke continued.
“They belonged to my grandmother. My parents can vouch for it. There’s probably paperwork, but only God knows where it is. Haylee’s mum can find out, though, if needed. Can’t she, Haylee?”
I pressed my teeth in a tight line, squeezing my eyes close, too. I didn’t like this. I didn’t want to be part of this. I just wanted to go back to kissing Luke and pretend the rest of the world didn’t exist.
“She probably could,” I muttered.
“What was it? A vase?” Luke studied the letter again, his arm coming around me and pulling me to his chest.
Glen, not able to stand still, started pacing the living room. “That’s what it says. I haven’t even seen the thing. Chelsea Porcelain? I would have noticed that around the shop if they’d had it.”
Luke nodded. “Sounds like they’re trying to get some money out of the business before it closes. They’re desperate.”
“Again, Haylee’s mum can help with that. Hallie?”
“I don’t—” I pinched my thigh and gritted my teeth. I didn’t want to. Okay? I really didn’t want to, even though I knew it was the right thing to do and Glen needed me. I just wasn’t quite ready to ask for her help after the last time I’d seen my mother.
“Would it be easier if I called her instead?” Luke’s breath tickled my ear and rose goosebumps all over my skin.
It would be easier if this entire situation disappeared. “You would do that for us?” I croaked.
“Anything, remember? Anything I’m able.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Lisa Walker, right?” Luke asked.
Glen stared at him wide eyed while I simply bit my lip and nodded.
“Okay, give me a second.” Luke fished out his phone and scrolled through his contacts.
He had my mum’s number? The solicitors’ firm worked at all hours, but surely, they wouldn’t patch anyone through to her if it wasn’t something extremely important. Mum would be home right now, cooking. She no longer worked overtime.
Having found what he was looking for, Luke cleared his throat and raised the phone to his ear. I gripped at his other hand still around me as we waited for anyone to pick up. Eternity passed by until someone finally did.
“Luke, it is unlike you to call this late. Don’t tell me you ran into a problem this close to utilising the system,” my mother’s voice rang out through the speaker, and I flinched at her strict tone.
“Nothing of the sort Mrs Walker. I’ve got a rather personal request, actually.”
“And it can’t wait until tomorrow?”
Luke sighed. “It probably can, but I wouldn’t sleep well knowing it was still hanging by a thread, unresolved.”
“What can I do for you, Luke?”
It made me feel only a little better that she talked to everyone in the same clipped tone. Just a little, though.
“I assume you know Glen Buckley, so I’ll jump right into the matter. She is accused of stealing from the antique company she worked at before they went bankrupt. They are very serious about the charge and threaten to go to court.”
“And how does that affect your sleep quality, exactly?”
