Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

I pulled into Main Street Plaza parking lot, a lump rising in my throat as I saw the stream of police officers entering our restaurant. I cut off the engine and hopped out, interrupting Detective Park’s conversation with one of his officers.

“Ms. Macapagal? What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to be on the premises while it’s being searched. Just in case.”

Detective Park’s nostrils flared, a sight I would’ve found amusing if it wasn’t also terrifying. “Just in case of what?”

“I have a right to be here,” I said, though I wasn’t sure that was true. Still, act like you know what you’re talking about, Lila!

He was about to give in to me, I knew he was, when a shout from inside interrupted us. We looked at each other and both ran inside toward a group of officers in the kitchen. One was holding an open bag of jasmine rice in his gloved hands.

He nodded at Detective Park. “Just like the note said, sir.”

Before I could puzzle out what he meant by that, another officer came up to us holding a duffel bag I’d never seen before. He held it out to Detective Park, the bag’s contents rattling as he gestured toward me.

Detective Park pulled on gloves and took the bag from the officer. “Ms. Macapagal, does this look familiar to you?”

I shook my head, eyes still locked on the bag.

“That’s funny, because it was in your locker.” He sighed. “I think we need to have another talk. Down at the station.”

I felt light-headed and gripped a table to steady myself. “I . . . But I’ve never seen that bag before! Someone must’ve put it in my locker. It’s not mine!”

Detective Park flipped out. “Are you accusing my officers of planting evidence? Is that what you’re doing, Ms. Macapagal? Trying to pin this on the Shady Palms Police Department?”

I backed away, my hands in the air to show I was being cooperative. “Sir, I didn’t say it was one of your officers. I just said someone else must’ve put it there because it’s not mine.”

“Save it for the station,” he said, gesturing toward the door.

“Am I being arrested?”

“No. I just want to ask you some questions.” He grabbed my arm to keep me upright as my knees started to wobble from his very unreassuring answer.

As he walked me out to his car, Adeena popped out of the coffee shop next door to see what was going on. Before getting in the backseat, I yelled, “Tell Amir to meet me at the station!”

She nodded, whipping her phone out of her apron, ready to go to battle for me.

As the car backed up and pulled out of the lot, dread settled into my stomach. Looks like I needed his help after all.