Page 70 of Playing for Keeps

Rhys released my arms, sliding around behind me, hand on my back as if offering me support. And I needed it. The police officer stood over me, shoulders broad and eyes cold as they glanced between my boss and me.

“Are you the Jen Lucas that was dating Aaron Parker?”

I fumbled my answer, but Rhys cut me off. “Can we go somewhere private to talk?”

The officer gave a curt nod. “Of course. This way.”

There were conference rooms further back in the building, away from the bustle and beady eyes of my coworkers. Rhys kept his hand at the curve of my back as we followed the officer down the halls and into one of the rooms. He took a seat next to me and the officer eyed me across the table, making me feel like I’d done something wrong.

“What’s going on?” I repeated after a moment of silence.

“When’s the last time you saw Aaron Parker?” he said instead of giving me an answer.

In my lap, my hands clenched tight. “Thursday night. Why? Is he okay?”

“Jen,” Rhys said, placing a hand on my knee. “Aaron is dead.”

“What?” I shot out of my seat, stumbling to my left and nearly tripping over my chair. I shook my head frantically. “That can’t be.”

“It’s true,” Rhys said. “I’m sorry.”

“What happened?” I asked, collapsing into another chair, putting space between me and the men. My hand trembled at my mouth, my lungs searching for air as my heart tried to escape my chest.

Rhys glanced at the cop, a frown riding his lips as a crease cut deep across his brow.

“Ma’am, where were you on Saturday night?”

“I—I was at my brother’s wedding,” I said before telling him the location of the reception hall.

“And you were there all night?” he asked, glancing up from the little notepad in his hand.

“Yes,” I said before realizing that was a lie. “I mean, I was for most of it.”

“What time did you leave and where did you go afterward?”

My eyes shot to Rhys. To my boss.

To Aaron’s friend.

“Around nine, I think.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, my eyes peeking up from the table to Rhys. “I, um... I went home with a friend.”

The officer nodded, writing something in his notepad before turning his eyes on my boss. They lingered there a moment, then he turned and looked at me.

“I’d like you to come down to the station, Ms. Lucas. I have some more questions for you, and I think it’d be better if I asked them there.”

“I can come with you,” Rhys offered, hand extending toward me on the table. “If you want. Just let me know.”

Rhys didn’t see the look the cop gave him, but I had a feeling he and I felt the same. I didn’t want Rhys to come with me. I didn’t want to talk about where I was over the weekend with Aaron’s friend. Not after what happened that night with Aaron. I wasn’t sure what Rhys knew, but I didn’t need him to find out about it this way.

Especially if Aaron was... dead.

I swallowed hard, clutching at the ache in my chest.

“No,” I told Rhys, chancing a glance at the cop. The corners of the man’s lips twitched up. “No, it’s okay. I, um, I can go alone.”

Rhys’s hand clenched before he pulled it back to his side. He gave a curt nod, pushing back in his chair. “Alright. You let me know if you need anything. Anything at all. I’ll be here for you, Jen.”

“Thank you.” My voice barely came out. My legs trembled as I rose from the chair and followed the officer down the long hall. My cheeks burned as I trudged past my coworkers’ watchful stares, and my shoulders slumped as the doors to the elevators closed, locking me in with three cops.