LITMIR.BIZ

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raining, so that she could have easily mistaken the long-haired girl for someone – or something else. She swung the wheel to the right and slammed her foot onto the brake. Crackling debris ricocheted off the bottom of her car as it skidded to a stop. After throwing the car into park, she flung the door open.

      The breeze coming off the restless sea after the storm filtered through her already damp hair. Ice swirled down her spine.

      Her reaction wasn’t just from seeing the girl again, who stood on the top railing of the pier – a dangerous feat even for a daredevil. Since the rocks were barely visible under the surface of the water, there was no way this girl would survive unscathed if she fell.

      ‘Hello,’ Rose called, cupping her hands over her mouth.

      The girl glanced over her shoulder, locking eyes with Rose. Her expression was clear, almost regretful. Rose’s heartbeat thrashed in her ears. What was the girl doing?

      Numbness seized Rose’s limbs, and she stood next to the car. ‘Come down from there, I can –’

      Before she could finish, the girl lunged forward, falling into the open air.

      Rose cried out and bolted toward the pier, unable to take her eyes off the girl as she plummeted into the water.

      Rose stopped at the edge of the pier, gripping the wooden railing, even though the rough edges bit into her hands. An ache bloomed in her chest, and she held her breath.

      The scene before her changed, throwing her back in time to when the moon was high and she could feel the water pressing against every inch of her body. Black spots exploded in her vision. Nausea overtook her, but she swallowed it down. Opening her eyes again, she scanned the watery depths. There was no sign of the girl.

      But there had to be. Rose scoured every single movement of the water. There was no way the ocean could have taken her out that quickly. Was she injured and stuck under the pier, out of Rose’s vision?

      Rose stood, transfixed by what had just happened. She waited for the girl to come up again. But she didn’t.

      Heat moved behind Rose’s eyes.

      She waited for a second more before she sprinted back to her car, grabbing her cell phone. She should have thought of it earlier. There was no way Rose could save the girl, but at least someone could try.

      Dispatch picked up the line.

      ‘I need to report an accident,’ Rose said through choking breaths.

      As the dispatcher asked her questions, Rose answered them, only seeing the girl’s eyes staring back at her, somehow thinking all of this was her fault.

      ‘Rose Barros?’ a gruff male voice cut through her.

      Rose glanced up from her lap. Shane Cassidy stood there. A notebook rested in his hand with a pen in the other.

      This was really happening. ‘Yes.’ The tips of her fingers were still numb, and the spot where she’d plucked out a wood sliver radiated with pain.

      An ambulance and three police cars surrounded Rose’s car, blocking all possibility of escape. Though, as the only witness, she had a duty to help the police find the girl.

      ‘I’d like to go over what happened here.’

      ‘Sure,’ she said, sitting up straighter. She hadn’t moved from her seat since the incident. For some reason, her legs refused to follow orders. It was probably a good thing. Going back to the pier would only stick a knife further into her heart. As it was, she’d had trouble taking a full breath since it happened. Her body responded as if she were the one who had fallen.

      ‘Start at the beginning,’ he said, looking at her through his large sunglasses.

      Her reflection stared back at her. In the small image, her eyes were wide, and her lips tugged downward.

      She blinked and cleared her throat. ‘I saw her earlier.’

      ‘The victim?’ he asked.

      Her teeth dug into her lip. ‘Yes. I almost ran into her at the library.’

      ‘You knew her?’

      ‘No. I literally almost ran into her. With my car. It was raining. She came out of nowhere.’

      Shane’s lips pursed as he started to write on the small wire-bound pad in his hands. At least his penetrating gaze wasn’t on her anymore. ‘What happened after that?’

      Rose shook her head. ‘I, um, looked away for a second and she was gone.’

      Shane sniffed and poised his pen on the pad. ‘Okay. What happened after she disappeared?’

      Rose went over every single moment from parking her car at the library, the time she’d spent there, and seeing the girl at the pier. ‘I called out to her. I thought she heard me. She looked at me and then jumped.’

      ‘She jumped?’

      ‘Yes.’

      ‘She didn’t slip?’

      Rose shook her head. ‘I supposed she could have.’ Though, what was she doing up there if she didn’t plan on jumping?

      Shane squatted in front of her. He was tall enough that he was at eye level. ‘Did she go head first or feet first?’

      ‘Head,’ Rose said after a moment.

      Shane stood up again and wrote furiously on his pad.

      ‘Do you think they’ll find her?’

      Shane sighed. ‘If you want my honest answer, I don’t think she’s coming out of there.’

      A choked gasp escaped Rose’s mouth.

      ‘Hey.’ He reached for her, but stopped, his hand hovering in the air between them. ‘This isn’t your fault.’

      ‘I’m not so sure about that.’ I could have stopped her if I wasn’t such a damn coward.

      ‘If she wanted to jump, then that was her choice. If you hadn’t come along, she probably would have done it anyway.’

      ‘Shane,’ one of the officers called and Shane walked over to him.

      Rose took the momentary reprieve to turn her head to the side. Tears threatened to fall, but she stared up at the ceiling of her car, refusing to cry in front of all these people.

      When Shane returned, she’d regained her composure, at least as much as she could.

      ‘Is there anything else you remember about the girl from the library to the pier? Her reactions, emotions? Did she seem distressed?’ Shane asked.

      Rose wiped at her nose. ‘No. I can’t think of anything right now.’

      Shane tucked the pad into his pocket. ‘If you do, call the precinct. The number isn’t hard to remember.’ He smirked, but she didn’t return it.

      She wasn’t sure if she’d ever smile again.

      Shane sauntered away with his thumbs hooked in his belt as if he were already the chief.

      Patrick appeared in her rearview mirror lifting the crime scene tape over his head before stepping past the line. Somehow, she found her legs again. She stood up and wobbled slightly before waving him down.

      ‘Rose,’ Patrick said, coming over to her. ‘How are you doing? Do you want to talk?’

      An ache formed in her head. ‘Not really. At least not right now. Am I free to go?’

      ‘Did you give a statement?’

      Rose nodded, feeling her mouth dry up like there were cotton balls stuffed inside.

      ‘Then you’re good to go.’ The skin around his eyes crinkled. ‘I can have someone accompany you if you want?’

      ‘No, that’s okay. You need help here. I hope

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