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Easton grinned. “Sounds like your momma is spunky.”
Thinking of my mom made me smile.
Thinking of the reason I hadn’t seen her in forever? No, that wiped the smile right off my face.
“What was that look for?” he asked, looking at me with curiosity.
I rolled my shoulders. “I haven’t seen my mom in a while.”
I thought about that, and I decided that as soon as this serial killer business was over with, I’d be taking a road trip to go see her.
“That call you asked about an hour ago?” Both Easton and I turned to see a young officer standing in the door. “It was traced back to a local number.”
I turned to Easton with a frown. “That either means that he never got rid of his phone when he moved—which is not his normal operating procedure—or he’s still here.”
Easton looked practically giddy.
“I’m hoping he’s still here.” He clapped his hands. “That means he fucked up!”
***
Easton chose to sit in the back of the room.
Me, remembering my mother’s manners that she’d ingrained in me from such a young age, went up to see the family and tell them that I was there.
My eyes moved to the spread of flowers that were located behind the family.
There were so many of them that they had to line the walls four spreads deep, and still they wrapped around the rooms and went to the sides.
The entire alternate seating area, the place where the family sometimes sat if they didn’t want to sit with the general population, was also filled with spreads of flowers. The pews were moved, and the entire thing looked like a colorful garden.
Holy shit.
The first person to catch my eye was Turner’s brother, Bud. We hadn’t had much time to chat yesterday when I’d been at their grandparents’ house—a spur of the moment decision based on a text message that relayed how much Turner wasn’t looking forward to the visit.
But what I had talked to him about was enough to have me grinning.
Bud had told me that if I hurt his sister, he’d kill me.
Knowing that he wasn’t joking in the slightest, I’d offered him my hand, and then told him my address for easier access.
Bud watched me move like a predator watches another predator.
And he’d be right to see me as a predator. I wouldn’t be an easy kill, that was for sure.
Bud nudged Turner, who looked up at him in annoyance.
Bud said something, then jerked his head in my direction, causing Turner to whip her head around and stare at me walking toward her.
Her face lifted out of that permanent look of exhaustion and turned to exultation at seeing me. Joy filled her face.
She looked relieved, happy, and sad all at once.
Her father, on the other hand, looked like death warmed over.
His face was haunted, and why wouldn’t it be? He’d just lost the love of his life.
I offered first her father, who took it without question, and then Bud, my hand.
Then I extended my fingers toward Turner. When she placed her hand in mine, I gently pulled her toward me and wrapped my arms around her small frame.
Though, I could practically hear her arguing with my mind the minute I thought it.
I’m not small. I’m compact and thick.
Then I grinned.
“You okay?” I whispered into her hair.
“Fine,” she admitted. “I’m tired of hugging people.”
I chuckled into her hair. “Almost done. I’m one of the last ones. They were talking about finishing up as I was walking in. Getting the service started.”
She blew out a breath, and I could feel the warmth against one nipple.
“Good,” she breathed. “I’m tired and ready for this to be over.”
I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m going to the back and sitting with Easton,” I told her. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
She nodded against my sternum. “I hope I don’t.”
I gave her one last squeeze, then relinquished her to the rest of the people that were waiting to pay their respects before the service.
Bud smiled at me as I passed him. “Thanks.”
I shrugged and kept walking, making my way to where Easton was sitting in the last row, that also looked to be a handicap row due to the shortness of the pew.
Oh, and the handicap sticker on the side. That was a dead giveaway as well.
Easton was staring at a man that was in front of him with a frown.
As I walked up, my eyes went to the man.
Brown hair. Average build. Average complexion. Everything about him was average, yet I knew that I’d seen him before.
I took my seat next to Easton and spoke so only he could hear.
“Why are you staring at that man so hard?” I asked.
“I’ve seen him before,” he muttered.
Bear Bottom was a small town. If he’d been at any of the places around town, it was likely that we had seen him before. Yet it was possible that we didn’t know him.
