City of the Lost (Rockton 1)

I have no idea what we talk about. I answer her questions on auto-reply and ask some of my own without processing her answers. Finally, when she's calm, I say, "You have to leave, Di," as gently as I can.

"Leave?" She's still foggy from the drugs and her face screws up. "You mean move? Because of Jen? She complained about my screaming?"

"No, Di. You have to leave Rockton."

"Wh-what? No." She sits abruptly. "I didn't kill Mick. I swear to God, I didn't. Just think about it, Casey? Why would I? Even if I was drunk enough to hit on him, Mick doesn't mess around on Isabel. Girls have tried. They all fail."

"They're kicking you out because you violated the terms of your agreement."

She stares at me and then says, "How? By having sex? Getting drunk? Using dex a couple times? Hell, by those standards, you and that fucked-up sheriff are the only people who still belong here."

"You came here under a pretence."

She stops. Her mouth opens. Shuts. Then, tentatively, "A what?" as if she's hoping she's wrong about the meaning of the word.

"A false reason. You and Graham staged your attack to prove your life was in danger."

"What? No. How can you even--? You honestly think--?"

She can't get the rest out, and I should seize on her horrified sputtering as proof that everyone else is wrong. But it's exactly that sputtering that tells me they aren't.

"You've seen how he treats me," she says. "To even suggest I'm lying about that...?"

"Oh, I know Graham treated you like shit. I also know that you can't quit him. You reunited again, and he convinced you to solve both your financial situations by stealing from your employer."

Her mouth works again. "S-steal?"

"We have proof."

"You mean he has proof."

I don't need to ask who he is. I shake my head. "Di, don't do this. It isn't Eric--"

"So it's him over me?" She gives a harsh laugh. "Typical. The new boyfriend doesn't like your girlfriends? Dump them. God, women can be such bitches to each other."

I struggle for calm. "First, Eric is my boss, not my boyfriend. Second, I have never, ever, ever thrown you over for a guy. Which is more than I can say--" I stop myself. Won't play the blame game. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but--"

"God, you're such a cold bitch. You don't give a shit about anyone but yourself."

Dalton strides through the doorway, but Beth barrels past him, her face taut with rage.

"Bitch? You're calling her a--"

I grasp Beth's arm. "I've got this."

"No, Casey. I'm sorry. I know you think you deserve to be treated like crap, but you don't." She turns to Diana. "It wasn't enough to lie to get yourself in here. You had to bring a friend, so you wouldn't be alone. Casey doesn't like to complain even when she has damned good reason, so I'm going to do it for her. The real issue isn't that you lied to get into Rockton. It's what you did to get her in."

"I don't know--"

"You hired some Italian thug to make Casey think the Saratoris were after her."

"Wh-what? How would I--?"

"Your ex set it up. That's what you told me when you were under the rydex and the pain meds. You confessed."

I stand there, behind Beth, my knees feeling like they're about to give way. I look at Dalton, but he's staring at Beth, as stunned as I am. Then he catches a glimpse of my expression, and he moves up behind me, his hand going against my back as if to steady me, and I need that hand, God I need it. I sway slightly, and the hand moves around my waist, holding me still.

"You're a lying bitch," Diana says to Beth.