“I wish you would reconsider,” Edward prompted, unwilling to concede on the issue.
CJ appreciated his concern. He didn’t want her staying here alone. But she needed to be here. Close to her sister’s things. Close toher.
“I’ll be fine.” She patted his arm, allowed her hand to linger there in hopes of reassuring him of her fortitude. “I’ll call you before I go to bed and first thing when I wake up in the morning.” Again that surreal feeling washed over her, as if this were a dream or theater production playing out beneath the struggling spotlight of the feeble porch light.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Kind gray eyes searched hers. “I’m certain you’re utterly exhausted.”
His diagnosis was accurate on both observations. She felt emotionally and physically drained, completely spent. “I couldn’t eat. Not tonight. I’ll get some sleep and perhaps we can have one of your splendid brunches in the morning.”
With a surrendering sigh, he settled his hand on hers. “I’ll stop badgering you, then. You mustn’t worry about the arrangements. I’ll take care of everything.”
He’d done the same thing when her mother died. CJ appreciated his kindness, but she needed to do this for her sister. Later they would have that conversation. She couldn’t do it tonight.
“Thank you ...” She stopped, drew in a deep, steadying breath. “For always being ... you, Edward.” A heartfelt smile quivered across her lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” A tear slipped past her firm hold; she swiped it away. Couldn’t do that right now either.
He squeezed her hand ever so gently. “As much as I enjoy your company,” he said, standing up, “I should go and let you get settled.”
CJ pushed to her feet. Her limbs felt weak, unsteady.
He hugged her chastely, gave her a smile, and said good night. CJ watched him go, wondering why such a good, kind man was still alone. He’d turned fifty-two this year. He’d never been married, hadn’t even come close. He was tall and extremely fit for his age, and even the gray hair lent a distinguished quality to an undeniably attractive and wealthy gentleman. Any woman would be lucky to have Edward in her life.
Maybe he’d been so busy taking care of the Patterson sisters he hadn’t taken time for himself. That burden settled heavily onto her shoulders alongside the too numerous others. CJ closed her eyes and cleared her mind.
She didn’t need to try sorting out any of this tonight.
Tomorrow would be soon enough.
Grabbing her bag, she climbed the final step up onto the porch and hauled her weary body to the door. She dug in her bag for the key. Tomorrow she would go through the house to get an idea of where to start with the packing up. Maybe, if she was really lucky, she would find something that would give her some degree of insight into Shelley’s final days. To CJ’s knowledge, her sister hadn’t kept a journal, but there could be other clues: notes to herself, a calendar ... something.
CJ shoved the key into the lock and gave it a twist. She might even attempt to talk to Ricky one-on-one. Maybe he would open up to her if it was just the two of them. Alibi or not, she was nowhere near convinced of his innocence. Anything she could get out of him might help focus the investigation in the proper direction.
Inside, the house was dark, stuffy. CJ closed the door and dropped her bag on the sofa. She reached for the light switch. A loud thwack followed by shattering glass stopped her cold.
Lifting her gaze to the ceiling, she stared at the cracked plaster.
For two beats she tried to convince herself she’d imagined the sound. Maybe a squirrel had gotten in somehow.
The scuff of hard soles on bare wood jolted her out of denial.
Fear rammed her heart against her sternum.
Cell phone. Pepper spray. She probed in her bag for both, her gaze never leaving the staircase across the room.
Her respiration echoed in the silence.
Someone was up there ... not her imagination.
Another creak.
She froze.
Shelley’s bedroom.
He was in Shelley’s room!
Blind fury lashed through her, propelled her across the room and up the stairs.
“Don’t you touch my sister’s things!”
