She looked away but I just frustrated her more, pushing my face even closer. “Fine. My mother likely had some in her ensuite bathroom. If I know her, there’s a full kit under the counter.”
Taking a deep breath, I backed away but pointed my finger at her. “I mean it.”
“I’m right here. My knees hurt anyway.”
I glanced down at the pups. “Don’t let her out of this room. I’m counting on you two.” I also gave them the finger, but they only wagged their tails.
At least they didn’t try to follow me.
As soon as I walked into the bedroom, I was struck by how close I was to being in a time capsule. No wonder Grace was staying in her old bedroom, which suited her perfectly. Nothing had been touched since the police had gotten through with searching the house and the room. I knew exactly what a search was like and they hadn’t been overly nice. Granted, they’d been much gentler with the items than when they’d come to arrest me, my entire world turned upside down.
However, with a robe on the hook behind the door, a pair of reading glasses and a turned-over book on the nightstand, and clothes across a chair, it was obvious how much pain being in the room had caused her.
I moved through reverently, feeling her pain. That’s the way I’d been with Aimee’s room. Hell, I wasn’t even certain what the attorney had done with her things. I hadn’t wanted to ask. I found what I was looking for, grabbing a clean washcloth just before heading back.
Grace studied me as if she didn’t know me any longer while I turned the water on to allow it to warm up before preparing a few items. I could tell within a couple of minutes my silence was bothering her.
“You’re angry with me,” she said, wincing when I placed the cloth on one knee, gently removing the dirt.
“I’m not mad.”
“Yes, you are. Why? I didn’t do anything.”
How many deep breaths had I taken around her? How many sleepless nights had I experienced? Well, namely for another reason, but she could be irritating. I continued cleaning, even picking out a couple of rocks that were firmly imbedded in her kneecap. “If you’re talking about the fact you are the kind of woman to throw caution to the wind every time, you certainly are succeeding.”
“What? That doesn’t make any sense.”
Grousing under my breath seemed to frustrate her. Fine by me. I moved to her other knee, the first touch causing her to flinch.
“Relax, Grace. I need to get all the dirt out.”
“Then explain why you’re angry.”
“Someone has been following you? Maybe stalking you? Why would I be angry you wanted to follow them? What if there had been someone watching you? What if they had a weapon?” As if I was going to tell her I suspected she was right. She’d go off halfcocked.
Her face flushed. “I never said anyone was following me and I didn’t think about a weapon.”
“You just did and you’re right. You’re not thinking. When and how did this start?”
Groaning, she looked away, licking her lips. If she thought the seductive move would keep me from obtaining answers, she was dead wrong. “Almost from the moment I came back home. When I checked into the motel on day one, I could swear a car had been following me. I went to the local diner to get breakfastthe next morning and the car I thought I saw was in the parking lot. Then I didn’t see anything for about a week.”
“Did something happen?”
“I’d found the courage to come to the house and was staying here. I also had a couple conversations with the police, including forcing them on the property to bring me up to date on the investigation. After that, every few days I felt like I was being watched. And no, I could never prove someone was on my property or following me and I didn’t see anyone. Not once. I swear to God.”
“Did you tell anyone? Hold out your hands.”
I was forced to grab her arm like I would a child. “No. As it is, the chief doesn’t think there’s any evidence to work with. He’d just think I was nuts.”
“You thought you saw someone in the woods just now.”
“Yes.”
“And you were going to go after them with no way to protect yourself.” As I cleaned her hands, she started squirming.
“I know how to defend myself.”
“No, you don’t. Now, you’re going to tell me everything that you know and maybe I can help. I can talk to the fire marshal and see if there’s any correlation, but you need to be straight with me.”
