The One I Need

CHAPTERFIVE

Cameron shifted against his car’s leather seats. The name struck him as familiar, but he couldn’t quite recall why. “Sounds vaguely familiar. Should I know him?”

Her face remained carefully neutral. “You went to a party at his house once. Maybe more than once.”

He started to shake his head, then stopped and grinned. “Sly. You used Sylvester, which threw me. I didn’t really know him. He was more a friend of a friend.”

“Was Sly a friend of Anson’s?”

Something about the way Juin asked the question had him hesitating. “What’s this about?”

“My sister, Aubrey Parker, was hit by a car after attending a party in Lakewood hosted by Sylvester—or, I guess, Sly.”

The puzzle pieces fell into place. “I remember that accident.”

Her gaze sharpened. “You do?”

Cameron nodded. “If it’s the one I’m thinking of, I drove by the scene shortly after it happened. Traffic on West Morrison Road was at a standstill. The rescue squad was there, as well as a firetruck and the police.” He rubbed his chin at her expectant look, trying to recall more. “I remember hearing on the news that a woman had died.”

“That woman was a girl, my sister. She was eighteen.”

“I’m sorry, Juin. I didn’t realize that was your sister who died that night. I can’t imagine losing one of my siblings.” Wanting to soothe, Cameron reached over and covered her ice-cold hand with his. “I’m just not sure what Sly’s party has to do with you and me.”

“Do you remember anything else about that night?” Juin leaned forward, but didn’t pull her hand away.

Not because she wanted the comfort, he thought, but because she was so totally focused that she didn’t appear to realize it was still there.

“It was a long time ago.” Cameron tried to bring the party into focus.

“Any detail, no matter how small or trivial.”

If he could help her, he would. There was only one problem. “I honestly don’t remember much about that night.”

“Because you were drinking?”

The question was like a slap of cold water. He pulled back his hand.

It had been a party. The fact that he’d driven home after having a few beers over the course of the evening wasn’t something he was proud of—and certainly not something he would admit.

He’d done more than that back then, things like driving too fast and sneaking out at night. All actions that had caused him to butt heads with his father on a regular basis.

That had been eons ago, though. Despite the time that had passed, he wasn’t about to air past transgressions to someone he didn’t know all that well.

When Juin had begun asking questions about the party, he’d assumed she believed knowing details of Aubrey’s last hours on earth would be a comfort to her mother. He realized now that that had been pure speculation.

He should have known better. In his position with Velocity, he’d learned never to assume he knew what someone was thinking.

“What’s this about, Juin?”

“The person who killed my sister has never paid for their actions.”

He nodded, recalling their earlier conversation. “That has to be difficult.”

“After all these years, the police have never found him or her.” Juin’s chin jutted up. “That’s about to change. I’m determined to find who hit her and make sure that person pays. Then, maybe, my mother will finally have some peace.”

“You’re asking me these questions because you hope my answers will lead you to the driver.” Cameron spoke slowly, wanting to make sure he had the entire picture.

She nodded.