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“We’re still looking into everything,” the officer said. “I hope we didn’t frighten you the other day.”
“I’m not easily frightened.”
“I guess not.” The officer pressed his lips together. “What is that accent?”
“Mississippi.”
“You’re a long way from home,” the officer said. “How did the Waldens find you?”
“I answered an ad in the paper,” she said.
The officer cocked his head. “How is the gig? Are the Waldens treating you all right?”
Rose knew he was prying for the sake of his investigation, but she felt no real allegiance to Mr. and Mrs. Walden. “They’re fine. They treat me like an employee. It’s enough for me. For now.” She swallowed, then added, “I just wanted to leave Mississippi.”
Why did I tell him that? Why do I want him to know anything about me?
“What about Oren Grayson?” the cop asked.
Rose sniffed. “What about him?”
“I mean, what does he seem like? How does he treat you?”
“He’s really kind,” Rose answered. “More human than the Waldens.”
The cop looked taken aback.
Rose felt her lips break into a smile. She hadn’t expected that. “You can’t really think Oren killed his wife. That’s just island gossip. You shouldn’t give in to that.”
“Like I said, we’re just investigating right now.”
“I think you’re wasting your time,” Rose said. “Thefire was a tragic accident. You’re dragging an innocent man’s name through the mud.”
“What makes you so sure he’s innocent?” the cop asked.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment. Rose felt as though they played a mental game of chicken. Who would give in first?
“Anyway, I can’t talk about this,” the cop said, his tone lighter.
“I imagine you can’t.”
The cop laughed. He suddenly looked nervous. But even Rose couldn’t have guessed what he said next.
“What are you doing this weekend?”
Rose bit her lip. It had been a long time since she’d considered the weekend or her potential plans for it.
“I have to work,” she said.
“Yeah, but what about after the kids go to bed?” the cop pressed. “There’s a beach party. Loads of islanders will be there.” He paused, then added, “I’m sure I could get you a different job on the island, too. Something that didn’t require you to live with a borderline-insane and very rich family and a potential murderer.”
Rose’s chest spiked with heat.He’s not a murderer.
“I have to work all weekend,” Rose said. “This is my only day off.”
“More reason for me to find you a different job.”
But Rose didn’t want to be indebted to some cop.
