Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57920 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 290(@200wpm)___ 232(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Candy quickly backpedals, realizing this is not the time to be a girls’ girl. It’s time to be best friends. That’s how it goes. Your best friend on top and then a girls' girl.
“Tinsley.” I bump the side of her fist, about to walk by her, but she stops me. Tinsley is a bundle of energy. The girl is always up to something. It doesn’t matter that she’s only fourteen.
Tinsley does nails over at the salon. However, we would never openly admit that. You need to be an adult and have a license for these kinds of things, but she works at the salon. I’m sure as hell not shutting down Tinsley’s backdoor nail services. The girl is freaking good. She does killer freehand designs.
“We got a problem,” she tells me, folding her arms over her chest and chewing her bubble gum. “There is a girl in there with the sheriff.”
“Really?” I pretend not to know. She nods adamantly, making those curls of hers bounce.
“Been in there for”—she checks her smartwatch—“thirty-two minutes and seven seconds.”
“She might be stopping in from another county.” I don’t think that’s the case, but one can hope.
“I saw her eyeing him up when she followed him into the station.” Now Tinsley glares toward the station.
“I’m sure it’s fine,” I tell her. I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince her or myself.
“Oh, we’re still pretending you’re not in love with him?” she asks.
“Yes,” Candy answers before I can. All right, Tinsley is turning into a little me. I need winter break to be over so she’s back at school and not out here clocking everyone's business.
“I’ll handle it,” Tinsley says.
“Tins.” I let out a small laugh. “I got it. I’ll find out who she is, and I’ll fill you in.”
“If you say so.” She blows a giant bubble and starts walking in the other direction.
“Come on.” I nod, walking across the street toward the station.
“Are we just going to bust up in there?”
“I have a plan.” I’m so not going to be giving a jealous girlfriend vibe.
That’s why I slow my steps when I enter the station. I see that the new girl has moved one of the desks over, extra close to Hudson. She’s staring at him, and he’s staring at his computer screen intently.
“Kindred.” He says my name before he even lifts his head.
"I was coming to see about my tire."
"Rusty has to order it, so it will be a few days." He stands.
"I'm guessing I can't use the spare?"
"No." We stare at each other. I'm waiting for him to introduce me to his new office person and fill me in on who she is, but he doesn't. Why?
"Hi," I say to her. "I'm Kindred. I work over at the mayor's office."
"Beckett." She only gives me a firm nod. It grows quiet again. Why is this so weird? Also, have I seen her before?
Hudson's radio goes off at the same time as my phone, but I already know what the text is because it's coming across his radio.
"There has been a pedestrian hit at the intersection of Forest and Main,” dispatch says. I’m already stepping back toward the door. “A young girl has been hit." My stomach drops. I turn, rushing out the station door, praying it’s not who I think it is. Half a second later, Hudson runs past me. For a big man, he can move.
“Tinsley.” I gasp her name as I make it to the crosswalk. Hudson is already down on his knees next to her. I come to a halt at her feet. She appears peaceful lying there, red sparkles all around her. I knew she snatched that bag from me the other day.
“I didn’t hit her. I swear!” the driver, who isn’t a local, says. The man’s hands are up, his phone in one of them. He's standing in his open door. I glance around and see a few people staring, again not locals, while the locals are going about their day.
Candy and the new girl catch up to us, both out of breath. I pull out my phone and read the message.
Betty: Tinsley just threw herself on the hood of a car and rolled off. Pretty sure she’s fine. I saw her throw a bag of glitter up.
"Tinsley, stop playing possum," Hudson says to her, clearly on to her. That might be why she threw the glitter, not wanting to completely freak everyone out.
She pops one eye open before sitting up and spitting her gum out. It almost hits Beckett. "What's happening?" Tinsley blinks like she's lost. "Did I miss the bus?" Wow, she's laying it on thick. Even though her antics are way out of line, I have to say she gets an A for effort. I think I’ve created a little monster.
"How did you run so fast in those heels?" Candy asks, and I shrug. I can run better in heels than sneakers. It's the ice that can get you.