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“All day and all night,” Sienna answers. “If you want timestamps from her manuscript or computer to corroborate that, you’re welcome to get a warrant. I’m sure you know how those work.” Her smile widens.

I can never get over how Sienna’s smile seems to appear at the most peculiar times. You never really know when she’s going to flash one at you.

Right now, I’m ridiculously grateful for her. Even if she’s unknowingly lying through her teeth for me.

Chief Neptune looks from her to me, his pen hovering over the page.

“Anything else you’d like to know, Chief?” Sienna asks sweetly.

He opens his mouth to respond when one of his deputies rushes into the dining room. Whatever he has to say must be important, because he doesn’t bother introducing himself before whispering something into Neptune’s ear.

The deputy keeps sneaking glances at us, his obvious suspicion putting me even more on edge.

“I see,” Neptune says when the deputy finishes.

He looks down at me again, but whatever mild irritation had been there before is gone. Now there’s something far more focused in his stare.

“Tell me, Maxine. Did you leave the B&B at any point last night or early this morning?”

“She already answered that question,” Sienna says.

“No. You answered that question,” he counters without taking his eyes off me. “I’d like Maxine to answer for herself.”

Sienna’s posture stiffens beside me.

Chief Neptune slips his notepad back into his pocket. “Where were you at approximately five o’clock this morning?”

“Why?” Sienna asks, the challenge in her voice giving way to genuine curiosity.

“Maxine, please. Where were you at that time?”

I look at Chief Neptune and then at Sienna.

The truth sits right there on the tip of my tongue.

I was at the lake.

I spent the night there with Milo.

I didn’t come back to the B&B until less than an hour ago.

All I have to do is open my mouth and say it. After all, it’s the God-given truth.

But instead, for the first time in my life, I look Sienna straight in the eye and lie to her.

“I was asleep in my room.”

Something flickers across her face, but it disappears so quickly I almost convince myself I imagined it.

Chief Neptune doesn’t react at all.

“Can anyone verify that?”

“Don’t push it, Eli,” Sienna snaps. “Tell me what the hell this is about. Delaney was killed last night. Why are you suddenly asking where Max was at five this morning?”

His attention remains fixed on me.

“Because I’m afraid there’s been another death.”