Chapter 2

"When exactly did you and this gentleman break up?"

In the interrogation room, the buzzing fluorescent lights hummed. A young officer spread out an incident report and looked up at me.

"Two years ago."

"Reason for the breakup?"

"He cheated," I said, looking at Hailey sitting opposite me. "With her."

Hailey let out a soft, mocking giggle. Just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.

"Sweetheart, Logan and I didn't even meet until long after you guys broke up."

Logan chimed in.

"Officer, she's never gotten over it. Seeing us today made her snap. The suitcase thing is just a pathetic excuse to ruin our day."

He leaned back in his chair, legs crossed, hands resting on the armrests. He looked completely relaxed. Not a single muscle in his body was tense.

Either he was truly innocent, or he was the best actor I had ever seen.

Officer Hayes walked in, followed by a deputy holding a clear plastic evidence bag.

He tossed the bag onto the metal table.

Inside were a few vacuum-sealed packs of frozen lobster tails, some artisanal cheeses, and three melted gel ice packs. A yellowish, fishy water sloshed at the bottom of the bag.

"We searched the big suitcase in the trunk. This is all there was. Just this and some spare clothes," the deputy said.

Logan looked at me.

He didn't smirk. He didn't look triumphant.

Instead, he wore a look of warm, condescending pity.

It was a hundred times more sickening than a smirk.

"See, Chloe?"

"The trunk was heavy," I insisted. "When he loaded it, he had to bend his knees and use both hands. A few lobster tails wouldn't weigh that much."

The young officer muttered from the side, "Lobster, gel packs, and heavy winter clothes in a 28-inch suitcase? It's easily thirty pounds. That's perfectly normal."

Hailey pulled out her phone and started tapping away. I caught a glimpse—she was posting on her Instagram.

It was a heavily edited selfie of her pouting, captioned: *"Got reported by my boyfriend's crazy driver ex. Currently stuck at a police station. FML."*

The comments were already pouring in.

*"Omg, what a psycho!"*

*"The ex is literally insane."*

*"Hailey, you have the worst luck lol."*

Then, my own phone buzzed.

It was a notification from the Uber app.

*“Your passenger, Logan C., has submitted a serious complaint against you. Reason: Dangerous driving, verbal harassment, and physical assault. Your account has been temporarily suspended pending investigation. You may submit an appeal within seven business days.”*

Seven business days.

Last month, I drove twenty-eight days. I made $2,000. After gas and Uber's cut, I cleared barely $1,200. Being suspended for seven days meant losing at least $300.

Coincidentally, that was around the same amount Logan had offered to "pay me off" earlier.

Officer Hayes flipped the page of his clipboard.

"We checked the suitcase. No contraband. The leaking water matches the melted ice packs. As of right now—"

"So, we're free to go, right?" Logan stood up.

He pulled two fifty-dollar bills from his pocket, folded them neatly, and placed them on the corner of the table near me.

"A hundred bucks. For the fare and your wasted time. Keep the change."

He ran a hand through his hair, smoothing it down.

Hailey took his arm, ready to walk out. As she passed me, she paused.

She leaned down, her lips almost touching my ear.

"Sweetheart, I left you a one-star review and reported you for assault. Good luck finding another job after this suspension. Next time, think twice before you bite."