Page 151 of Faultlines

“No.”

I run a hand through my hair. Fantastic.

“So, we basically don’t have any more information than we had last night?”

“Pretty much.”

Silence settles over the room, punctuated only by the low hum of the computer as the video begins replaying. Eventually, Marisol breaks it. “Do you think it could have been Jake?”

Claire’s expression hardens, and I look between the two women, with a prickle of unease.

“Who’s Jake?” I ask.

Neither answers right away.

Marisol glances toward Claire, who continues staring at the monitor.

“Claire.”

She finally exhales. “He’s Heidi’s boyfriend—or hopefully ex-boyfriend.”

My brow pinches as I look between them. “The one who was responsible for her needing stitches?”

“Yes, among a few other things,” Marisol says.

“I’m going to need someone to elaborate.”

Claire rubs her forehead. “It’s complicated.”

“Then uncomplicate it.”

She gives me a look of pure ice. My tone was a mistake, but I don’t particularly care. My temper is starting to rise. “What is going on?”

Neither woman seems eager to answer.

“Heidi started seeing Jake again,” Claire says.

“What?”

“On and off,” Marisol replies.

“She started sneaking out to see him again a few weeks before I returned,” Claire says, reaching across her desk and turning off the security footage that’s been playing on a loop.

“I’ll be back to pick you up. Don’t leave without me.” I turn and walk out.

I’m so angry with myself that I was so far up my own ass that I didn’t know what was going on here. The morning sun feels oppressive as I drive to the office.

When I stomp through the front doors, Reid looks up from his desk with pinched brows. I hear his concerned voice, and realize he followed me into my office. “Well, that’s not good.”

I toss my keys onto my desk and drop into my chair. “What isn’t?”

“Your overall demeanor.”

I rub my eyes. “I always look like this.”

He snorts. “No, you don’t. This is your special edition face.”

I look at him. “My special edition face?”