Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

“No,” he pushed out with more emphasis.

“To Jayne?”

“Again, no,” he hissed.

“You said you were familiar with the meaning of the black orchid because of your mother.”

“Yeah. So?”

“We spoke to your mother to confirm your alibi for the time of Chloe’s murder.”

“She told me. And I was at home sleeping.”

“That’s what she said too.”

“Then I don’t get the problem.”

“I was your age once,” Amanda began, feeling a pang for her youth. “It’s rather easy to sneak out of the house without parents knowing. Especially if you’re determined.”

“You think that I… that I…”

“It is possible.”

“But I didn’t kill her, or Jayne. Stephanie just said she was with me during the time you asked about this morning.”

“And this is something your parents could confirm?” She dared bringing them up again, even though the last time had struck a nerve.

“Ah, no. She snuck into my room during the night.”

Huh.“She loves you. More than you care about her.” It was in the way Stephanie’s eyes softened when she looked at him, how she was ready at his defense.

“How could you know—”

“It’s in your body language, the way you look at her and talk to her. I think you’re still in love with Chloe.”

Seconds ticked off in silence. Luke didn’t fill the void.

“Where did you get the black orchids, Luke?” She was going at him hard, but she was beyond frustrated with him. And this case. Two young women murdered within days, and she had no answers. On top of it, the cold case felt like it was looming overhead—even if it wasn’t hers to solve or in any way related to Chloe’s or Jayne’s murders.

“I need a lawyer,” he mumbled.

“Is that a formal request? If you have something to hide, it’s a good idea, though.”

He met her gaze, his eyes cold and dark. “I have nothing to hide.”

“Could I see your right hand and arm?”

“Why?”

“Just in the name of nothing to hide.”

He huffed but rolled up his sleeve and held out his right arm.

She pointed to a bandage on the side of his right index finger. “What caused that?”

“I tend to pet stray cats and one bit me this morning.”

“May I see?”

Luke peeled back the bandage and revealed a bright red wound. Not human.

“Looks painful. Where was the cat?”

“In the back garden beneath my bedroom window.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, but would file it away for now. “You can cover it again if you wish.”

Luke did so and pushed his sleeve back down.

“Do you know Ashton Chambers?” She watched him for any tells. His face was blank, as was his body language.

“Who’s he?”

“What about the car service app, Pick Me Up? Have you heard of it?”

“Sure.”

“Have you used them?”

“No, I have a car.”

“Could I have a tech colleague of mine look at your phone?” It was a reach, but if he handed over his phone willingly, a legal warrant would be very easy to obtain. Going this route would also let them know if he’d been behind the spoofed messages faster than going through the cell service provider.

“No.” Luke crossed his arms.

“All right. We’ll go about it with a warrant, then.” She moved to get up.

“Fine, I’ll hand it over, but your colleague isn’t going to find anything.” He gave her his phone and the password to unlock it.

She got up. “Thanks again for your cooperation.”

“Am I good to leave?”

She shook her head and left, despite his protests that it wasn’t fair he was being held.

Malone stepped into the hall from the observation room next door. “Kid’s got a temper.”

“Yeah, and motive and lack of a solid alibi for Chloe.” She held up his phone and said, “At least we got this.”

“Uh-huh. Speaking of the whole spoofing thing…”

“Right. I guess you need some updating.” She went on to do just that.

“Huh. He could have killed Chloe. This Stephanie girl could be lying about this morning. She might not have been with him.”

She nodded, the thought definitely occurring to her. “People who love someone will say a lot of things.”

“Well, she’s still here. I sent her into the cafeteria to calm down. She was crying and shaking when she left the interview room.”