Chapter 6 · Marco Saw the Tape

Marco wasn't answering his phone.

I stood in the parking lot behind the store, staring at the cracked asphalt where I'd found Kira three nights ago. The dumpster still smelled like old fry oil and something sweet that had gone bad. My thumb hovered over the call button again, but I shoved the phone in my pocket instead.

He'd seen something. I knew he had.

The back door rattled open. Marco stepped out, cigarette already between his lips, lighter in hand. He froze when he saw me.

"Layla." He didn't light it. Just stood there, shoulders tight, eyes flicking past me like he was checking for witnesses. "You're early."

"You've been dodging me."

"I've been busy."

"Bullshit." I crossed my arms. "You pulled the security footage. I saw you delete the file from the main system."

His jaw worked. The cigarette bent a little between his fingers. "You shouldn't be looking at that stuff."

"Why? What's on it?"

"Nothing." He finally lit the cigarette, took a long drag, eyes on the horizon where the desert started. "Just a glitch. Happens all the time with those old cameras."

"Marco." I stepped closer.