PC Anders, a police officer around my age, held the note in her gloved hands and allowed Thane and me to look at it.
My gut tightened. “It’s the exact same wording,” I confirmed. “From the Lucy Wainwright and Fergus McBride case. This is the same thing Lucy had Fergus write on the first message to Lachlan. It was painted on the wall behind his bed, though, so whoever sent this couldn’t access Arro’s home.” The thought made my hands curl into fists.
“If that’s the situation, we’ll process the note for prints, but we’ll need to pass your case to the detective inspectors involved in Lucy’s case, which means they’ll need to speak with you again, Ms. Adair,” PC Anders said.
Arro nodded. “That’s fine.”
The police departed with evidence in hand, leaving me and Thane alone with Arro.
She still wouldn’t look at me.
“Possibilities?” Thane broke the silence. “People who hate us?”
“Could be a Lucy Wainwright fan, unhappy with the results of the trial,” I suggested. There had been more than a few conspiracy theorists who believed she was innocent and was set up. For what cause, fuck knows. There was no talking sense with blind, infatuated morons.
Thane nodded, but his eyes narrowed on Arro before turning back to me. “What’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing,” Arro and I said in unison. Too quickly. Guiltily.
Her brother looked aggravated by our answer, but sighed and said, “We need to come up with a list of suspects to give to the police.”
“Is there anyone you’ve had an issue with, Arro?” I asked.
Still not meeting my gaze, she shook her head. “No one I can think of.”
“I reckon we get everyone to check their mail. This could be targeted at anyone involved in the case. We should also send someone to the prison to question Lucy.”
Thane’s brow furrowed. “Won’t the DIs do all that?”
“Aye, but I want to make sure we’re on top of it too. I have contacts with the police in California. I’ll get someone to go speak with Lucy.”
“I can’t imagine her talking, even if she knows anything.”
“We have to cover our bases.” I looked back at Arro. Her face was pale, her shoulders hunched over. She looked exhausted.
I wanted to pull her into my arms.
Swallowing hard against the urge, I said, “You can’t stay here alone.”
“Agreed.” Thane nodded.
“I won’t let this person chase me out of my home,” Arro bristled, standing to pace the living room in agitation. My eyes followed her every move.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I offered, determined to do just that. It wouldn’t be the first time. Though it would be since our … falling-out.
Arro shook her head adamantly. “Like hell. I’m fine.”
I tried not to flinch at her vehement rejection.
“You’ll stay in my guest room,” Thane commanded. “Just for the night. For me,” he added.
His sister looked at him and paused, seeing the worry on his face. Her shoulders dropped. “Fine. Let me pack some things.” Arro brushed past me, her perfume teasing my nose. “You can leave, Mac,” she threw over her shoulder before disappearing into the hallway.
The crack widened.
A few seconds later, Thane stepped into my path, suspicion on his face. “What the hell did you do?”
I was ashamed to admit it, would never admit it out loud, but fear had driven my relationship with Arro. It had kept us apart. It had destroyed us. And now it might ruin everything, all the things I’d feared losing in the first place, all the things my fear had pushed Arro away to protect.