Mitchell’s return interrupted his thoughts, poking his head back into the room. “Someone will be by to get those handcuffs off you in a minute. You’re free to go.”
“That’s it? Not that I’m complaining.”
“Yeah. That’s it. You’re officially no longer a person of interest.”
“Wonderful. Tell Julia I’ll be right out.”
Mitchell hesitated, his features pinching. “Unfortunately, it won’t matter for her.”
“What? Why?”
Mitchell’s jaw clenched as he heaved a sigh. “The reason you’re no longer a person of interest is because they’ve got a new prime suspect.”
“Okay. So, what does that have to do with Julia?”
“Grant,” Mitchell said, his expression consoling, “the suspect is Julia.”
Grant’s world tilted on its axis as Mitchell said the words. His stomach plunged at the words, his eyes going wide. A fleeting remembrance of Julia’s troubled behavior earlier raced across his mind. He hadn’t thought much of it at the time, but now, it took on a sinister hue. A gnawing doubt tore through him despite his best attempts to dismiss it. Could Julia have had anything to do with this?
CHAPTER 14
JULIA
Julia’s jaw clenched as she slid her eyes closed, Alex’s words hanging heavy over her. Tears stung her eyes, and she pressed her lips together until they hurt.
A warm hand grasped her shoulder. “Sunshine,” Alex said, his voice soft, “whatever the answer is, it doesn’t go beyond this room.”
She clasped his hand in hers, drawing strength from it. She blew out a long breath, forcing her eyes open as she sniffled and flicked away a tear that had escaped to her cheek.
“I didn’t kill her,” she whispered.
Alex flicked his eyebrows up before he nodded. “Okay, well, that’s good. Though, I wouldn’t have judged you either way. That woman has made your life a living hell. I can understand–”
“No,” she said with a vehement shake of her head. “I didn’t do it. But I’m afraid of who did.”
“Peak Princess,” Alex whispered as he collapsed into his chair.
Julia nodded, tears filling her eyes again. “She was the last one there. When we told her…she…” Julia swallowed hard. “She didn’t have much of a reaction. She…didn’t even seem shocked.”
She pushed away from his desk and paced the length of the room. “That footage can never get out.”
“And it won’t,” Alex promised. “No one needs to know but us.”
Julia bit her thumbnail as she spun and crossed back toward him. “I have to do something, though. What if someone saw her there? What if they heard her?”
“A witness?”
Julia nodded as her mind raced through scenarios. She had to protect her family, no matter the cost. “Besides that, Grant’s at the station now. And there’s no way he could have done it.”
“Sunshine…” Alex began before he shook his head.
She lifted her eyes to his, worry etching itself into every line of her features. “Alex, I have to tell them I saw Lydia aliveafterGrant was there. Without that video, which we can’t let them see, Grant can’t be cleared.”
“Kid, that’s a bad idea. Let the old man fight his own battle. Clearing him may implicate you.”
“I don’t have any other choice. I’m not going to admit to anything, but I have to clear Grant. And I have to make the police look anywhere but Sierra.” She crossed to the door, determination filling her stride.
“But Julia,” Alex said as he rushed behind her, smacking a hand against the door so she couldn’t open it, “this puts you in a very bad position. Let it play out. Maybe nothing will come of it.”
