Page 80 of Carter

“Whenever you are,” I say, trying to keep my composure.

“Let’s go then.” I get up and we head for the front door. “Oh, hold on. I forgot something.”

I wait in the doorway for him. He comes back with a Tupperware in his hand. He offers it to me. “This is for you.”

I stare at it, then look up at him. “You made me lunch?”

“Well, I made dinner and put some aside for you for lunch.”

My chest gets so tight I can’t breathe again. I take the container. “Thank you.”

He smiles, but I don’t think he really understands how much this means to me. How much all of it means to me, all the little things he’s done and continues to do for me. Taking care of people is what Nash does. But how did I get so lucky that I’m the one he’s taking care of?

Chapter twenty-seven

Nash

It’s late afternoon when I get the call. It’s an unknown number which happens more than not. I hand out my number to so many people hoping they’ll reach out with information or if they need some kind of help. I answer the same way I always do.

“Detective Nash Bennett.”

It’s quiet for a moment. Too long.

“Hello?” I ask. Then I look at the call. It’s still going. “Is someone there?”

“Yes, hi.”

It’s a quiet voice. Small. Female.

“Hi, can I help you with something?”

“It’s Lilianna. Can we meet somewhere?” Her words are rushed and quiet.

“Tell me where,” I say, leaning forward and grabbing my pen.

She gives me the address of a coffee shop on a busy block downtown. I tell her I can be there in twenty minutes. We hang up. As I quickly grab my things, I call Gendreau and Weber.

I speak as soon as they answer. “I’m going to meet Lilianna Travers. She just called. I think she’s going to talk.”

“That’s good,” Gendreau says. “Keep us updated.”

“I will. Be ready.”

I don’t know what for, and they don’t either. But they need to be prepared in case she gives us a name. There is a process we have to go through, like getting a warrant—which I will get as long as I have enough evidence. This is a cold case and they want it solved. Depending on what she gives us, we could really move forward in this case.

And Carter… he’ll finally get the closure he needs.

Lilianna is already waiting in the coffee shop when I get there. I spot her the moment I pull the door open, sitting in the back all bundled up. Either from the cold or from being seen. To not bring attention to myself or her, I order a coffee and then casually go sit at her table once I have it.

“Thank you for calling, Mrs. Travers,” I say.

She nods, her hands wrapped around her to-go cup. I take the lid off mine. Steam billows up and I bring it to my mouth to take a sip.

“I didn’t know someone got hurt,” she starts quietly. “I didn’t know someonedied.” She looks up at me, her eyes red-rimmed. “It’s been eating me alive. Had I known, I… I would have done things differently.”

“You’re here now. You’re doing the right thing. Tell me what you know—tell me what happened.”

She winces, then nods, eyes on her coffee. I wonder if she’s taken a sip at all, or if it’s just there for emotional support.