“No, they won’t. Detective Hauer knows me,” I said, hitting the speed dial button. “It’ll be fine.”
The phone rang only once before he picked up.
“Detective Hauer,” he barked.
“Detective? It’s Reed Brennan,” I said, clutching the phone to my ear.
“Reed?” He sounded alarmed. Which made sense. When had I ever called him with good news? “Is everything all right?”
“Not exactly. I’m out at Cheyenne Martin’s house, the one on Old Post Road? And I’m pretty sure Ariana Osgood is here,” I said.
In the front seat Noelle hung her head into her hand. On the other end of the line, I heard phones ringing and a door slam, but otherwise, there was silence.
“Detective?”
“I’m sorry. I’m waiting for the punch line,” Detective Hauer said.
I gritted my teeth. “I know it sounds crazy, but—”
“Reed, I don’t even know where to start,” the detective said with a heavy sigh. “Why in hell would you be out at the Martin place on a night like this after what happened to you earlier this evening? And what in God’s name would make you think that Ariana Osgood is there when we both know she’s locked up safe and secure in Virginia?”
Okay. Clearly I shouldn’t have led with the Ariana thing. My brain whirled, trying to figure out how to backtrack, where to start, how to make him believe me.
“I know, but I—”
&nb
sp; “No. You know what? I don’t have time for this,” he said, his voice quickly growing gruff. “I’m too busy filling out the paperwork your last call generated, not to mention interviewing attempted-murder suspects and dealing with their highly irritating New York lawyers.”
“But that’s—”
“Reed, I seriously think you should consider the possibility that you might have a slight addiction to drama, both real and imagined,” the detective said. “If Ariana Osgood jumps out from behind a pillar and tries to whack you, give me a call.”
And the line went dead.
“What’d he say?” Taylor asked.
I was too humiliated to repeat even half of it. I shoved my phone back in my pocket and sighed resignedly. “He said we’re on our own.”
Everyone slumped. I stared down at my hands, feeling seriously deserted.
“It’s not Ariana, Reed,” Noelle said in a reassuring tone. “I guarantee you it’s not.”
“She’s right. I mean, it’s just not possible,” Taylor said. “If she’d gotten out somehow, we would know about it.”
“Taylor?” Noelle said, angling further in her seat. “You haven’t said what you think we should do.”
Taylor slowly looked around at each of us, kneading the knees of her skinny, black chinos in her hands. She bit her lip, screwing her lips up in anguished thought.
“I say we go in,” she said finally. “But Reed and Kiran can stay here if they want.”
“Yes!” Kiran cheered, pumping a fist by her side. “You three have fun!”
“No. No way. I’m not letting you guys go without me,” I said, reaching for the door handle. “If you’re all going, then I’ll go too.”
“Good. Then it’s settled,” Noelle said, popping her door open. “We’ll all go and Kiran the cowardly supermodel will stay here.”
“By myself?” Kiran squeaked.