Frosted on the Ferris Wheel by Laura Pauling

succumbed to the pressure because I just got back into the mystery book club and that really helps my writing. I didn’t know what else to do.”
    “Millicent.” Trent spoke soft and with a lot concern. “You should never do something if you’re not comfortable with it. You just politely say no.”
    Holly kept her forehead pressed to the window, refusing to look in the rearview mirror, knowing what she’d find there. Trent’s burning gaze silently asked what she was thinking. How could he not see through Millicent’s act?  
    “I know. I know. I should’ve called you.”
    He patted her leg. “Well, it’s all over now.”
    Millicent let go of their experience and babbled on about her writing and her mystery novel. Holly tuned her out, thinking back on Joel. It was rather curious that even with Millicent’s switch in personality from innocent to flirty to subtly threatening, he didn’t give them up to the cops. What would he have done if they’d let Trent leave? In a way, Holly wished that had happened. Maybe he would’ve revealed more.  
    They pulled into the station, and Holly let out a sigh. It always came to this: Holly at the station, answering questions, dealing with Chief Hardy.
    Trent opened her door. “Why don’t you go on inside? I’ll follow in a minute.”
    “Aye aye, Captain.” Holly headed to the entrance.
    “Wait!” Millicent cried. “Shouldn’t I come in too? I don’t want to see Holly punished. I was there too. I won’t let that happen.”
    Out of their hearing, Holly let out a soft snort. Right. Whatever. Millicent didn’t want to leave Holly and Trent alone. She didn’t want to miss out on any conversation about the current investigation.  
    “Now, now, you should go to your dad’s, write, help in the kitchen. Work on your article for the Daily Paper. I’ll be by later and give you lift back to get your car. Holly will be just fine.”
    Not wanting to hear Millicent’s response or any of her lies, Holly let the station door slip closed behind her. She stepped to the side and looked out the small windowpane alongside the door.
    Millicent swayed close to Trent, taking advantage of every opportunity. She rubbed his arm. She kept him out there talking for quite a bit longer. Now Holly wished she’d tried to listen. If anything, to know what lies she was spouting.
    Finally, Millicent leaned up and kissed his cheek.
    Even though she and Trent were on shaky ground, a part of Holly didn’t want to believe that somehow Millicent had wedged herself between them. But the way Trent spoke to her, the way he let her kiss him created a ball of emotion in Holly’s throat, a clenched fist that cut off her breathing.
    “Well, well, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
    Chief Hardy.  
    Slowly, Holly turned. “Good afternoon, Chief Hardy.”
    Hardy lifted her cap. “Glad to see you’re not here in cuffs this time.”
    “Right.” Holly forced out a laugh. “Not planning on that anytime soon.”
    “Good to hear. So how can I help you?” Hardy asked.  
    After a glance out the window to see that Millicent and Trent were done and she was walking away, Holly said, “Trent invited me down to talk.”
    “Invited?” Hardy asked. Suspicion as thick as a cream cheese frosting.
    “Yup.” Holly felt bad lying, but technically they’d done nothing wrong. Joel hadn’t pressed charges or accused them of breaking and entering.
    Trent entered. “Chief Hardy.”
    “Officer Trent. Need me to take care of this for you? I realize you have work to do for the festival.”
    “Thanks, but this won’t take long.” He motioned to Holly. “Would you step into my office?”
    Holly offered a weak smile to Hardy. “Nice to see you again, Chief Hardy.”
    “Same here.”  
    But Holly felt her watching the entire way into Trent’s office until he shut the door.
    Holly took a seat. She should be taking advantage of the time and spill everything, all Millicent’s lies. She should share her information