“Was that hard for you?”

“No. I was glad, because I don’t think a family should live there. It’s like the house is tainted by what happened.” Even though it was hot in the car, Hayden shivered. “I can sit here and look at the outside and it’s mostly manageable. But being inside wasn’t good for me. After I went to that open house, I flipped my shit.”

He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger and watched it unfurl like a ribbon. “I hadn’t been with Sienna in months, but that night . . . I went to her. It was so fucking dumb. I was angry at myself for what happened to my parents, and I wanted to stop feeling . . . anything. It was the worst thing I could have done, and the last time I was with her.”

He put the car in gear. “I don’t know why I’m telling you this.”

I waited until we were a few streets away from the house. “I’m glad you shared that with me.”

“All it does is show you how fucked up I am.”

“We both have issues, Hayden. At least now I understand better what happened to you.”

We drove in silence until Hayden stopped at a red light. To the right was a police station. “That’s where Cross and his partner interrogated me.”

“That must have been horrible.”

“Yeah. It was shitty. I was pretty out of it, though.”

He flicked on the turning signal and checked over his shoulder before he turned into the station’s parking lot. He slid into an empty space and put the car in park, but didn’t let go of the wheel.

I rested my hand on the back of his neck. “Are you okay?”

His head dropped forward. “I don’t know why I stopped here.”

“Do you want to go in?”

I fingered the hair at his nape, dragging my nails back down repeatedly, hoping to calm him. He let go of the steering wheel and flattened his palms on his thighs.

“I don’t know. We don’t have time. You’re going out with the girls in half an hour.”

“Sarah’s always late. There’s no way we’ll leave on time. I’ll send a message and let them know I’m running behind.”

This was incredible progress. I didn’t want something as inconsequential as shopping to interfere. It took another minute or two before he turned off the engine.

“Will you come with me?” he asked in a small voice.

“Of course.” I leaned over and kissed his cheek.

“Thanks.” He opened the door and came around the car to help me, gripping my hand as we crossed the parking lot. He pushed through the first set of doors and stopped abruptly. “God, nothing has changed.”

I peered through the second set of glass doors, wondering where Hayden had gone in his head. He squeezed my hand and tugged me forward.

People in suits and uniforms crossed with purpose through the main foyer and down hallways. Every officer who passed us gave me a brief, curious glance, but their eyes quickly moved to Hayden and stayed there. I could feel their judgment as they took in the heavy-soled boots and the worn jeans. His black winter coat was nondescript, drawing attention up to his face.

His hair was a mess. What once had verged on a Mohawk was now grown in on the sides. The length should have toned down the severity of his appearance, but the wind and the lack of a haircut made it wild and out of control. The piercings in his face and his hostile expression only added to the problem.

Hayden’s tongue ring appeared and made a circuit between his lips. He ignored the stares and headed for the information desk, pulling me along beside him. The receptionist was busy answering phone calls. She glanced up at Hayden and then at me, holding up a finger. Hayden was antsy, eyes darting around the room as he leaned against the counter. His knuckles rapped restlessly on the desk, his foot joining in as the receptionist continued to field phone calls.

A passing officer stopped, regarding us both with curious speculation. Her hands went to her hips. It seemed to be a standard pose for police, putting them in reach of their gun. She looked from Hayden to me. “I’m Officer Miller. Is there anything I can do to help you?” Her tone was soft and mild concern was in her eyes.

I forced a smile and put a hand on Hayden’s arm. “He’s looking to speak to someone about a closed case.”

Officer Miller asked me if we had a case number for reference.

“I didn’t know I needed one,” Hayden said, his voice as hard as his face.

Her eyes settled on Hayden. “It simplifies things if we have a case number. What was the offense?”

“Murder,” Hayden replied flatly.

I cut in to explain. “His parents were murdered several years ago. The case was never solved—”

“I’m looking for information beyond what was in the newspapers. I thought—I don’t know what I thought.” Hayden grabbed for my hand again. “Maybe I should do this another time.”

“Whatever you want, Hayden. We can come back if that’s what you need,” I reassured him. I’d seen him distraught a few times, but this was beyond what I’d witnessed before.

Officer Miller’s stance relaxed as she realized his abrasiveness was a result of nerves. “Do you think you might have new information?”

“I don’t know. Maybe? There are some memories—” He stopped midsentence, looking over Officer Miller’s shoulder.

Officer Cross passed through the lobby, spoiling any progress we’d made. As soon as he saw Hayden, a flashing red beacon of mutiny amid the regimented, he altered his course and headed for us like a missile aimed at a target. Ready for destruction.

“Miss Page, how are you?” His smile was calculated as he extended a hand. I shook it out of obligation.

Hayden bristled beside me, his eyes narrowing. Officer Miller picked up on it immediately, and her demeanor changed, the easygoing nature replaced by suspicion.

“Officer Cross. It’s nice to see you, again,” I lied.

“I heard you went back to Arden Hills to take care of some family things. I hope everything’s all right.”

My smile faltered. “Um, yes. Everything’s been dealt with.”

“Well, that’s certainly good to hear.”

“How would you know that?” Hayden asked the question I’d been wondering, his tone icy.

Officer Cross turned to Hayden and smiled arrogantly. “I stopped in at that little antique store. What’s it called? Serenity?”

Officer Miller’s focus was on Hayden as his eyes drilled holes into Officer Cross.

“What brings you here, Stryker? Another parking infraction? Maybe an indecent-exposure charge?” Although Cross was smiling, no humor was in it.

Officer Miller gave him a dubious look. “He’d like some intel on a case.”

“Oh? What case is that?”

“My parents’ murder.”

Cross’s arrogant smile dropped. “The case is closed.”

I jumped in, worried he might push Hayden’s buttons and set him off. “Hayden was hoping to access public records. I’m not sure how to go about having a case reopened, but if he could just see whatever files are available—”

Cross caressed the butt of his gun. “That would require new evidence.”

Officer Miller frowned at Cross. “To reopen the case, that is. Typically it’s best to start with the investigating officer.”

Hayden exploded, just as I feared. “Fuck that! I’m not talking to the dick who screwed up the investigation in the first place.” Hayden’s voice rose as his anger gathered steam and railroaded ahead, oblivious of the damage he was doing. “This fucker had me in a room for three hours, showing me close-ups of my father’s gray matter splattered all over the goddamn wall, while the person who put the bullet in him got away with it.”

I put a hand on his arm. “Hayden, I know you’re upset, but this isn’t helping.”

He shook me off, fists clenched. “I knew this would happen,” he spat.

“You need to take a step back,” Cross said, chest puffing up, his satisfaction obvious.

Hayden’s head snapped toward him. “Pardon me?”

“You need to step away from Miss Page.”

“What? Why?”