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Halo giggles.
“Trust me, he brings his fair amount of problems,” I point out.
I don’t mean it, though. I’d take all the problems and more when it comes to Spike. I love him in a way that’s terrifying. Knowing that things are better between us heals something inside me. I don’t like a world where we aren’t perfect.
He has gone back home to be with the kids, and I’ll return tomorrow, then we’re going to work on figuring this out so that I can get back on with my normal life. I know the police are going to come knocking again soon, mostly because they have zero other suspects. Whoever Alyssa was seeing, she kept him well hidden because nobody seems to know who he is.
Even the police.
Arriving at the restaurant, we find a park and then make our way in. I can see why they came here. It is surrounded by beautiful gardens, with paths that wind through, flowers blooming in full color and tables in multiple different locations that you can sit and enjoy the crisp sunshine and fresh air. The inside is just as nice, with rustic wooden booths, warm lighting, and soft music.
It’s gorgeous.
“Can I help you today?”
A woman in her early twenties with slicked back blond hair and a bright smile greets us.
“Hi, we were wondering if you could help us by telling us if you might remember this girl coming in here?”
Halo is straight to the point, and she turns her phone around to show the girl a picture. She takes the phone, studying it for a minute, then looks back up at us. “I don’t, but I’m only new here. My friend works most days, I’ll get him.”
“Thank you.”
She turns and we wait patiently as she goes and gets her colleague and returns with him by her side. He’s around Paulie’s age and has a boy next door smile and scruffy brown hair. His eyes are as light as the sky and a scattering of freckles across his nose gives him a boyish charm that is hard to ignore.
“I’m Gray. Can I help you?”
Paulie nudges me with his shoulder, and I glance at him as Halo asks Gray the same question. Paulie fans himself and then nods at Gray. I smother a smile and shake my head, before focusing back on the conversation.
“Oh, I remember her alright.”
My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat. “You do?”
Gray nods. “That day they caused such a scene. They came in all happy and lovey, had some lunch and took photos, and then this argument broke out. I don’t know what it was about, but he was yelling at her and telling her that he couldn’t keep doing this, that she was too much, and he wasn’t ever going to give her what she wanted. There were a lot of tears, and then she stormed out.”
Halo glances at me, her eyes sad.
“Do you happen to remember what he looked like?” I ask.
Gray thinks on it. “To be honest, not really. I remember he had dark hair, but that was about it.”
“Did she say a name? Do you have a booking?” Halo questions.
Gray nods. “Let me check.”
He flicks through the bookings in a large book at the front counter and runs his finger down the page. “This was them, Alice and George.”
I frown. Fake names. Of course they were using fake names, they didn’t want anyone to know who they were.
Fuck.
“Was there anything else that stood out, anything at all?” Paulie asks, smiling as he leans against the counter staring at Gray.
“He was really cold to her when she started getting upset. She was crying, and he just kept yelling at her and telling her to calm down, but he showed no compassion at all. It was like he was ashamed of her and just wanted to get her out of there. He kept pulling and urging her to leave.”
Because he didn’t want anyone to recognize him.
It’s something, but it’s just not enough.
