“I can’t believe we sold out! And so quickly, too. We make a great team, yeah? Together we could give Java Jo’s some real competition.” Adeena freed her waves from the Java Jo’s hat she wore while working (I think one of the reasons we’re so tight is our connection to unflattering baseball caps) and shook it out.

I removed mine as well and loosened my hair from its ponytail. I wasn’t sure how to answer the question Adeena was really asking, so I just said, “Your drinks were fantastic. I’m telling you, that hot chocolate is gold. And even though the spiced latte is a bit basic in concept, it’s like the Desi answer to pumpkin spice lattes. Very cool, very tasty.”

She ran her hand over the shaved side of her head as she mulled that over. “The Desi answer to PSLs . . . I like it! And you’re right, it felt like something was missing, but I think I know what to do. Wish we weren’t all out so I could see if it worked now.”

Jae’s voice rumbled behind me, a not unpleasant tingling spreading throughout my body at the sound. “Oh no, you’re already sold out? I was with a patient and couldn’t break away until now.”

“Jae! I didn’t know you were open on Sundays.” Adeena reached under the counter for a small to-go cup of coffee she’d stashed earlier. “I was saving this for myself but you look like you need it more.”

He grasped the cup, chugging down at least half of it in one swallow. “Oh man, I really did need that.” He grabbed a napkin from the dispenser to wipe his mouth. “And I’m usually not open on Sundays, but my mom convinced me to make an exception for a family friend. And then another family friend called and another . . . and here we are.”

I pulled a baggie of cookies, two of each kind, from my purse and handed them over as well. “I was going to give these to you at dinner, but that’s not for another couple of hours and these are best when fresh. Eat up.”

Jae obediently pulled out an ube crinkle and took a large bite. “Whoa, what is this? It’s delicious!”

“It’s made with ube, a purple yam that we use in tons of desserts in the Philippines. Sorta similar to taro, if you’ve ever had taro boba tea, though not exactly the same,” I explained.

He snapped his fingers. “That’s what it reminded me of! Taro is my favorite flavor of boba tea.” He scarfed down the second ube crinkle. “God, these are good. Do you take personal orders? I think my mom would like them, too.”

Lord, was this guy for real? I thought Amir was the perfect guy (even the fact that he was off-limits made him extra desirable), but he was facing some stiff competition in Dr. Jae Park.

As if sensing my thoughts, my phone rang, and who should it be but Amir?

“Hey, what’s up?” I answered.

“Why didn’t you tell me about Janet?” he demanded.

“Oh shoot. Sorry, I meant to text you, but I got caught up helping your sister at the cafe. How did you hear about it?”

“Never mind that, you need to get home. Now.”

I glanced over at Adeena and Jae, who were clearly listening in. “Why?”

“Marcus called to warn us that Detective Park wants to charge you with Janet’s assault.”

“What?!”

“I know, but he’s wary of all these coincidences happening around you. We need to move fast, Lila. Get over here now.”

Then he hung up on me, leaving me with a half-formed response on my lips and a million questions running through my mind.

Chapter Twenty-five

I can’t believe you didn’t tell me that Janet was attacked! Why am I just now finding out about this?” Adeena said.

After explaining that I had an urgent meeting with Amir and breaking off my dinner plans with Jae, Adeena insisted on riding with me to my house. I appreciated her support, though I could’ve done without all the screaming.

“It’s not like I did it on purpose! You were so busy and I got distracted, and there just wasn’t a good time to talk about it. Not like I could tell you I found Janet Spinelli lying in a pool of blood in front of all your customers, you know.”

“Fair enough.”

We rode the rest of the way in silence.

Tita Rosie greeted us at the door. “Oh anak, I can’t believe this! Is Janet OK? Have you heard from Terrence?”

Oh jeez, I really was a terrible friend, wasn’t I? Other than that brief text I’d sent earlier, I’d completely forgotten about Janet’s fiancé, who was not only my close friend, but Derek’s best friend from high school. I wasn’t the only one having a terrible week. My phone showed a missed call from him and I made a mental note to reach out when I got the chance.

I peeled off my coat and hung it up, then unzipped my boots. “Since I’m not family, I wasn’t allowed to see her or ask for any details on her condition. Has Ate Bernie or Ninang June heard anything?”

“Not yet, but Marcus told us there’s a guard outside her door in case whoever attacked her comes back to finish the job,” Amir said, walking in with a tray of snacks, followed closely by my grandmother and godmothers.

“Detective Park seems to think that someone is you,” Ninang April announced unceremoniously as she helped herself to a mug of coffee and piece of ensaymada. “What did you do this time, Lila?”

“That’s enough, April,” Lola Flor said. She lowered herself slowly to her seat at the head of the coffee table, then pushed the tray of goodies toward me, taking nothing for herself. “Now tell us everything.”

So I did.

Amir listened carefully, jotting down notes as he did, occasionally shaking his head or grunting, but never actually interrupting me. Wish I could say the same for my godmothers. Finally my story wound down. “And yeah, that’s pretty much it. Detective Park questioned me, I told him everything I told you, though I didn’t go in-depth about the Satos. Then I helped Adeena and Kevin at Java Jo’s for a couple of hours and here we are.”

Lola Flor voiced what we were all thinking. “I don’t know what that detective’s playing at. The hospital is bound to have security cameras and it’ll be easy to figure out who attacked Janet. Or if the criminal was smart enough to hide their face, the cameras in the lobby will prove Lila’s alibi.”

Amir frowned. “Unfortunately, several of the hospital’s security cameras have been broken for months, including the one in that hallway. But you’re right, his behavior as of late has been strange. He must really want to wrap up the Derek Winter case fast. Or at the very least, have your bail revoked.”

“Why would he want to do that? And what happens if my bail’s revoked?”

Amir stared thoughtfully at his notes. “Detective Park didn’t work homicides till he came to Shady Palms. We don’t really have a detective force here, so he’s kind of a jack-of-all-trades now. But before coming here, he worked Vice. Busting up drug rings was how he made his name back in Chicago. It’s starting to feel like a personal vendetta against you, Lila. He thinks you’re messing things up in his quiet little town.”

“But why me? I get that he doesn’t know me so he can’t vouch for my character, but I just got back here a few months ago. How could I suddenly have a drug empire?” I threw up my hands in exasperation. “Plus, doesn’t anyone else think it’s strange that the murder doesn’t seem to be bothering him, but the drugs have him practically kicking down our door?”

He shrugged. “Didn’t say it was logical. Just my theory. It might be something as simple as Sheriff Lamb riding him to wrap up the case ASAP. The sheriff and Mr. Long are friends, after all.”

Nobody else had much to add after that, so we sipped at our drinks in sullen silence until Detective Park arrived.

He glanced at all of us arrayed around the living room. “Gang’s all here, huh? Although the Gossip Trio seems to be missing.”

“No, just in the kitchen,” Ninang April said as they entered the room with more snacks.

I didn’t appreciate his attempt at humor. “Detective Park, why are you here?”

“What, the local grapevine hasn’t informed you yet?” I stared at him stone-faced, so he said, “We have good reason to believe it was you who attacked Janet Spinelli.”

“And what reason would that be?” Adeena asked before Amir or I could. Amir glared at his sister, but repeated her question.

“Yes, Detective, what possible evidence could you have against her? Are you telling us that you’ve viewed the security footage and spotted my client committing the act? Because if not, this is starting to feel an awful lot like harassment. Which I will be pursuing in court.”

Detective Park waved his hand. “We’re still sifting through the footage. But we have it on good authority that you recently got into an argument with the victim. Is this true?”

I snorted. “That’s your ironclad evidence? Everybody knows Janet and I don’t get along. We got into an argument outside her office a few days ago because she wants to act like we’re still in high school. You can ask anyone at the hospital what we argued about. I’m sure it’s spread far and wide by now.”

He looked taken aback. “Is that so? Then why didn’t you share this information with me when I questioned you earlier?”