The Killings (An Olivia Miller Mystery Book 1) by J A Whiting

To Chicago. I didn’t pay any attention to the news. I just got back a couple of hours ago.”
    “Luke,” Olivia said. “Three guys who were at Christian’s apartment that night are dead.” She looked him square in the eyes. “You’re the fourth guy who was there that night. The killer saw you.”
    Luke’s eyes widened in understanding. The blood drained out of his face. “Could you get me that beer now? I think I need it.”
    Olivia brought two beers and a glass of iced tea back to the living room. They moved to the couches and sat sipping their drinks.
    “Maybe you should move in with a friend,” Olivia suggested. “You shouldn’t be alone.”
    “Who’s going to want me moving in with them?” Luke asked. “Hey guys, mind if I move in? Oh, and don’t mind that guy with a knife following me around.”
    “You can move in here with us,” Melissa said.
    Olivia smiled at Melissa. She was proud of her for offering Luke a place to stay so he wouldn’t be alone.
    Luke looked surprised. “No. Thanks, but no. I’m not going to be driven out of my home. And I’m certainly not going to put you two at risk. Wait. You were at Christian’s. Why aren’t you worried about your own safety?”
    “Well, sometimes we are,” Melissa said. She wasn’t going to admit that she was sleeping on the floor next to Olivia’s bed every night.
    “It seems the killer is only after men,” Olivia said. “So far, anyway.”
    “Only men?” Luke said. “But, why?”
    “Who knows? Who knows anything about this mess?” Melissa said. Her voice was weary with exhaustion.
    “I don’t know why,” Olivia said. “But there must be a way to find some shred of information that will answer ‘who.’”

Chapter 12
    Olivia, Melissa, and Luke arranged to meet at the Kendall Square coffee shop where Kayla worked. Luke had a class and told them he would arrive later. Olivia and Melissa opened the door and saw Kayla working behind the counter mixing coffee drinks. A young man was taking orders and the girls got in line. Kayla glanced their way and did a double-take. She nodded a greeting to them, but she looked a bit flustered.
    The young man taking orders was slim, average height, with short blonde hair, blue eyes, and a welcoming smile. He was so similar in coloring to Kayla that Olivia wondered if they were siblings. The guy chatted jovially with the customers. He even broke into song, singing several bars of a popular hit. The people in line loved it.
    “Well, lovely ladies,” he beamed at Olivia and Melissa. “What will it be?”
    They gave him their orders and bantered back and forth with the amusing employee, then moved further down the counter to wait for their drinks. Kayla made eye contact as she snapped a cover on a completed order.
    “Do you have time to chat?” Melissa asked.
    “I’m off in thirty minutes if you want to wait. Is something new?”
    “No. We just want to talk. Put our heads together,” Olivia said.
    “Come sit with us when you’re ready,” Melissa told her.
    The girls found an empty table and sat down. Melissa pulled out her iPad and Olivia used her phone to check messages.
    After fifteen minutes, Luke came through the door, scanned the room, spotted the girls, and headed over to sit with them.
    “I just got out of class. It went overtime. I worried I might miss you.”
    “Kayla doesn’t get off her shift for another ten minutes or so.”
    “Are there any updates? Have you heard anything new about the murders?” Luke asked.
    “Nothing,” Melissa said. “There hasn’t been anything in the news. They just rehash what’s already known.”
    “Which isn’t much,” Olivia said.
    Kayla came from behind the counter. A flash of apprehension passed over her face when she saw Luke sitting with Melissa and Olivia. She stood awkwardly next to their table.
    “Hey,” Olivia said. “Come sit.”
    “Is everything okay?” Kayla asked in a small voice. She glanced at Luke.
    “I’m