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“Chief,” Sienna says coldly.

I straighten in my chair and hurriedly wipe the remaining tears from my face.

“Sienna. Maxine.” His stare settles on me. “Wish I were seeing the two of you again under better circumstances, but here we are.”

“Here we are,” Sienna echoes, shooting me a sideways glance that delivers a silent order loud and clear.

Keep your mouth shut and pull yourself the fuck together.

Keeping my mouth shut, I can do. Pulling myself together, though? That’s going to be a lot harder than she realizes. Especially when Chief Neptune turns his full attention to me.

“It looks like you’ve already heard that Delaney Merrill was found dead near last night’s reunion bonfire.”

“I just told her,” Sienna answers before I can say anything, conveniently allowing him to assume my tears are for Delaney rather than Mr. Collins.

“I can see that.” His gaze lingers on my face long enough to make me uncomfortable. “If it’s all right with you, Maxine, I’d like to ask you a few questions. We’re verifying everyone’s whereabouts last night.”

“Everyone?” Sienna cuts in. “Then I assume you’re here to speak to me too. Right?”

“Not at this time.” Chief Neptune’s jaw sets. “And if it’s all the same to you, I’d prefer to speak with Maxine alone.” He looks back at me. “If you’d follow me to the station, I promise I won’t take up much of your time.”

I start to push my chair back, but Sienna’s hand lands firmly on my thigh beneath the table, stopping me.

“Whatever you need to ask her, you can ask her here.”

“Sienna, this is a formal investigation. We’re following every lead. You’re in law enforcement. You know how this works.”

Sienna leans back in her chair and drapes one arm over the backrest, looking completely at ease.

I wish I could say the same.

“You know what else I know, Chief? That the Fairhope Police Department has a pretty shitty track record when it comes to investigating anything that doesn’t fit their narrative.” Her tone hardens. “So forgive me if I’m not eager to hand my friend over as your convenient suspect just because you need to wrap this thing up nice and easy before another body drops into your lap.”

Chief Neptune’s nostrils flare. “We’re doing the best we can with the resources we have.”

“Not good enough,” Sienna counters without missing a beat. “If you want to ask Max a question, by all means, go ahead. But like hell she’s going to the station with you unless you have an actual reason to take her there.”

For the briefest second, his composure slips.

It’s subtle. Barely there. Sienna catches it, too.

And when the corner of her lips threaten to lift, I know she came to the same conclusion I did.

He doesn’t have a credible lead. All he has is gossip. Maybe a few people pointing fingers in my direction, but that’s about it. Nothing that gives him an actual legal reason to haul me down to the station.

I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Fairhope ruin my life again because this town loves a good fucking rumor.

Chief Neptune reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small notepad. “Where were you last night between eleven p.m. and two this morning?”

Shit.

“In her room,” Sienna answers smoothly. “Writing. That’s what she does, you know. She writes.”

I turn my head slightly toward her, but her attention is solely on the Police Chief.

Chief Neptune’s jaw ticks as he writes something down. “And you were in your room that entire time, Maxine?”

I open my mouth again, only for Sienna to beat me to the punch.