“I’m Scottish.” Kieran slams a hand onto the steering wheel.
“You?” There’s a teasing shimmer in the attendant’s eye as if Kieran were kidding. He laughs. “Níl.”
“No, huh?” Kieran stares at the man.
I let out a nervous chuckle. The Irishman too. “Kieran, pay the man. Let’s go.”
Lips pulled tight, Kieran pulls out his wallet and counts off money. At the glare he tosses me, I know he’s offered the Irishman more money than necessary.
Oye, what’s his next move?
The attendant separates more than half the cash to hand back. “Eh, t’much.”
“Take it,” Kieran assures him. “I’m gonna head inside. Get a cold drink. Ava, what would you like?”
With a twisted gut, I reply, “Skip the drink, Kieran. If we don’t catch up withmycousin soon, we’ll drive around all night.”
The attendant finally pockets the king’s ransom.
Kieran waves a hand. “Nah. I’ll look around. Ava, stay.”
Hesitancy churns through my veins. If I complain, will Kieran send me back to the house? I reach over and stop Kieran from leaving.
Soft regret laces in my tone as I whisper, “We need to find Kiera.”
Kieran whispers back, “He might know more than he’s letting on.” Ending the discussion, he slips out, closing the driver's side door. I eye the attendant who’s already walked back into the store.
Oye, Kier, I’ve met the best in you, no back sliding,por favor.
35
Ava
Kieran strolls outside a few minutes later, which doesn’t feel like long enough to kill someone.Ava, murder’s not a science!But in less than two-hundred and forty seconds, the rain has ceased from falling, leaving a fresh, emerald earth. I breathe in the clean air, settling back into the seat.Kiera, please come back to us.
Getting into the SUV, he exhales slowly, spine rigid.
I ask, “Did you—”
“Aye, with my bare hands.”
“What of the surveillance cameras? Did he have anything else to tell you?”
“He was useless. I already made the call, though. The lad’s in the cleaning supply room.” Kieran gestures toward the three SUVs parallel parked at the edge of the woodlands across the road. “Hide the body, wipe the cameras. I’d say some of them can redeem themselves.”
I massage a hand over my taut throat. Still, I’m incapable of hiding the ribbon of emotion in my voice. “This must be so easy for you?”
“As you can see, I’m gutted over my sister’s disappearance. Hold off on thebullshite.”
“Disappearance, my ass. Whose fault is it sheleft, huh?”
“Mam!” he growls.
Tilting my head, I scrutinize Kieran for a few seconds. “Did you call me,Mom?”
“No.” He kicks up the blinker, making a smooth left turn onto another street.
“You called meMom.” I insist, softening my voice sympathetically. “Earlier, you let it slip about your mother too, right?”