desertion

187

LYDIA

I wanted to be anywhere but here.

The firehouse was buzzing with life when we arrived, but all the noise blurred into nothingness as my mind churned. Mason, Officer Darden, and I had barely stepped inside before Athena was on us, her arms crossed, her gaze sharp.

"You're still questioning them?" Athena's voice carried across the firehouse, irritation thick in her tone.

I shrank back as all eyes landed on us.

Miles and the rest of my friends-Isabelle, Nathaniel, Julian, Delilah, and Tyler-stood nearby, their conversation with Buck and Chimney cut short as they turned to look at me.

Great. This was just getting worse by the second.

Officer Darden exhaled. "Athena, I believe the 118."

"Then why are you here?" She lifted a brow, clearly not buying it.

"We need information," Mason cut in, his voice steady. "Not accusations, just details."

Athena scoffed. "They gave you details yesterday."

"And now we're back because the case still isn't solved," Mason shot back.

The tension in the room thickened, and I curled my fingers into my palms, focusing on anything but the conversation. I needed a way out. I needed to be back at my desk, drowning in files and avoiding this entire situation.

Mason must've noticed something was off with me, but he didn't say anything. Instead, his eyes flicked toward me every few seconds, his brows furrowing slightly.

I fidgeted with my hands, running through every lead in my head.

The neighbors.

They had been hesitant-too hesitant. Like they hated Sarah Middleton.

Mason stepped forward, cutting through the growing argument. "Look, if we're going to get anywhere with this case, we need to go back to the crime scene."

Officer Darden turned to him. "Lydia and I already did that when you were off."

Mason looked at me. "Then explain what you found."

I swallowed hard, nodding. My voice wavered as I spoke. "We found no signs of forced entry. No drugs, no alcohol. The place was spotless. The only thing that stood out was how little anyone seemed to care about her."

Miles, who had been watching silently, suddenly stepped forward. "Then why the hell are you still questioning the 118?" His voice was sharp, his frustration clear. He turned to me. "Why are you letting this happen, Lydia?"

I felt my stomach drop.

"Miles-"

"No, seriously," he snapped. "This is your dad's team. They're family, right? And you're just standing there, letting them get interrogated like suspects?"

Mason turned on him, his jaw tight. "We're not suspecting them! We need information. They were the last people to see her alive before she died-"

"And that automatically makes them guilty?" Miles challenged, stepping closer.

Mason let out a humorless laugh. "That's not how investigations work, genius."

"Then maybe you should explain why Lydia's standing there like a damn ghost, looking like she'd rather be anywhere but here!" Miles shot back.

Mason's eyes flashed with anger. "Because she has nothing to do with what the department decides. This isn't her call, or mine! We were told to follow up. We don't have a choice!"

"Then maybe you should grow a spine and tell them to stop wasting their time!"

Mason stepped forward, his chest nearly brushing Miles'. "Maybe you should shut the hell up and let us do our damn jobs."

Miles didn't back down. "Your job? Your job is dragging Lydia into shit she doesn't want to be in!"

"She's not being dragged into anything! She's a intern investigator, or did you forget that?"

"She's also a person! One that clearly doesn't want to be here, and you're just ignoring it because you'd rather act like some tough-ass detective than actually care about how she's feeling!"

I felt my breathing pick up. My skin burned with embarrassment as everyone watched, their gazes bouncing between Mason and Miles like they were waiting for one of them to throw the first punch.

"Enough," Officer Darden's voice cut through the room like a blade. He stepped between them, eyes locked on Mason. "Don't start another fight with the young man."

Mason clenched his jaw but took a step back.

The 118, sensing the shift, finally stepped in. "We'll tell you everything again," Bobby said, his voice calm. "But it's going to be the same as yesterday."

And it was. They went through every detail of the emergency call again. Nothing new. Nothing that stood out.

I barely heard them, my mind still stuck on one thing.

"The neighbors..." I whispered under my breath.

Mason turned toward me. "What?"

I straightened, my hands still fidgeting. "The neighbors. They were hesitant to answer anything about her. It was like they hated her."

Miles crossed his arms. "So why the hell aren't you at their door?"

Mason snapped his head toward him. "For the love of God, can you shut the hell up?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I hit a nerve?" Miles smirked, stepping closer. "You don't like me pointing out the obvious?"

Mason clenched his fists. "You're not pointing out anything we don't already know. You just like hearing yourself talk."

"And you like pretending you have all the answers when you don't."

"I have enough answers to know you should keep your mouth shut before you make this worse."

Miles scoffed. "You really think you're better than everyone, huh?"

Mason's eyes darkened. "No, I just think you're an idiot."

I snapped. "Enough!"

Both of them went silent, their chests rising and falling from the heated argument.

I exhaled sharply, rubbing my temples. "We're wasting time."

Mason ran a hand through his hair before turning back to me. "We need to talk to those neighbors."

I nodded. "Before we waste another second here."

Miles huffed but stayed silent.

Without another word, I turned on my heel and walked out of the firehouse, Mason following close behind.

The case wasn't over yet. And I wasn't going to let my personal feelings keep me from solving it