“And you didn’t tell the police because . . . ?”

“Because . . .” I took a breath. I didn’t want to say it aloud. I didn’t want to hurt Chris. I didn’t want to get into an argument with him. I wanted this to be all mine again, and I regretted ever opening my mouth. But I’d been honest with him up to this point. No need to stop that now. “Because I don’t trust cops. Or I didn’t. I don’t know. I guess I still don’t. It’s confusing. They botched my mom’s case. They only interviewed my dad one time and then they let it go. My whole life I’ve been waiting for them to solve this crime, and nobody cares. I’m guessing you had to dig a little to even find the file.”

He closed his eyes and dipped his head briefly—a nod. “The case is cold.”

I let out a sarcastic grunt. “See, they don’t care. They’ve given up on Mom’s case, and the Hollises got away with no trouble and Luna is still out there. Nothing ever happens to the bad guys. That’s why I can’t trust the police.”

“You trust me.” His voice was like a cloud, enveloping me. He got up, moved to the side of the bed, knelt, and put his hand on my cheek. My hair fell over it, a curtain concealing his touch, concealing my deep, deep blush. The violet spread over me so thick I almost expected him to see it, too. “You trust me,” he repeated. He’d gotten so close I could feel his breath mingle with mine.

“Because you’re yellow,” I whispered. A wide chasm of fear opened up beneath me. He was right. I trusted him, when I never trusted anyone. Well, anyone except my dad, and look where that got me. Trust was bullshit. Trust could get a person killed. I pushed his hand away to break the connection before it melted me completely. I swallowed, trying to get my bearings. “And I wouldn’t say I trust you so much as I’m stuck with you.”

He chuckled softly and backed away, settling in the chair again. But it was an ugly chuckle. A scornful one. Bitter. “You’re something else, you know that?”

“So I’ve been told.”

“You shouldn’t shut down on me like this.”

I forced myself to meet his gaze. “I’m not shutting down. If you don’t like what I’m saying, you can go. Actually, you should probably go anyway. I need to get some sleep.”

He seemed to hesitate for a long time, and then finally got up. I sat still as stone while he went to the closet and pulled his coat off the hanger. “Right. I thought we made a connection tonight, but I forgot who I was dealing with.”