But last night had been about her work at the clinic yesterday. She was certain. Tyrone wanted CJ to know that her digging around in this investigation was not appreciated.
Next time she might be the one to bleed.
Celeste had told her that the first transgression wasn’t so bad, but the second was far worse, and the third time Tyrone was disobeyed ... someone got dead.
Maybe she should just bury her sister and walk away.
Seeing that the killer was brought to justice wouldn’t change the fact that Shelley was dead. Wouldn’t resurrect Ricky—even if he deserved a second chance. And it wouldn’t find Celeste.
CJ had almost convinced herself to get back into the rental and drive away when Cost’s BMW rolled into the lot.
Renewed anticipation rallied her determination. She couldn’t go back to her life in Baltimore and pretend none of this mattered.
That was the bottom line.
A realization hit CJ—an obvious fact she was more than aware of but one she hadn’t seen in exactly that light before.
She and everyone in this village had been doing that for decades: pretending the things they thought they couldn’t change didn’t really matter, turning their heads and backs, walking away, moving on. It was all the same.
And it had to stop.
It might as well start with her.
“What’s so important it wouldn’t wait until the clinic opened tomorrow?” Carter asked as he emerged from his luxury automobile. The BMW’s headlights flashed and a distinct tone confirmed that the security system had been activated.
“There’s something I have to check on a patient I saw yesterday.” No reason to tell him what she was really up to. Required too much explanation. She wouldn’t have had to call him at all if Juanita had gotten that key back to her. She’d picked it up yesterday since she needed toget a duplicate made. CJ figured by now that if she got it back she’d have to come to the clinic tomorrow while Juanita was in and remind her.
Carter grinned as he fished through a ring of keys. “You always were dedicated.”
A compliment? Maybe. Sometimes it was difficult to read what Carter Cost meant by his words or his actions. There was an arrogance about him. Probably seeded by his family’s money and a lifetime of being the only son. Not to mention being the only male of his generation in the whole Cost family. His settling down and producing heirs, male ones in particular, was essential. It didn’t take a lot of imagination to comprehend that he’d been given anything he ever wanted by all who entered his world, however briefly. Including any number of college girls like herself and Juanita Lusk, who’d been charmed by his handsome looks and fancy car.
“I appreciate you coming, Carter.” He’d done her a favor. No matter that part of her understood perfectly what he was—a rich, self-centered playboy—she was grateful for his effort.
He opened the clinic’s back door, reached inside, and flipped the switch. Fluorescent bulbs flickered, then glowed, lighting the corridor inside. “Not a problem.” He flashed her that sexy grin that had likely lured many women to his bed. “Besides, I have an ulterior motive.”
Of course he did. “Oh yeah?” Feigning surprise was better than telling him she’d expected as much. After all, she wasn’t inside the clinic yet.
“Dinner?” He held the door open while she passed through.
“I’m sure your calendar has been booked for weeks.”Don’t tell him no yet!CJ hurried toward the office and the filing cabinets waiting there. “How could you possibly have time to fit me in?” She smiled sheepishly and waited for him to unlock the office door.
“CJ.” He slid the key into the lock but hesitated before making the turn. “We haven’t seen each other in years.”
Ten, to be precise.
“I cleared my schedule just for you.” He turned the key, opened the door.
She didn’t wait for him to move aside; she slid sideways past him. “That was thoughtful of you.”
She went straight to the stack of charts on the desk. Staying late last night to chart her notes had paid off. She’d stacked the charts in alphabetical order for Juanita’s convenience. CJ would have filed them, but she’d been concerned Juanita or the preceptor, the kindly Dr. Cost, might need to review them first. Besides, the neat, alphabetized stack she’d left was a major step above the disorganized piles of paperwork lying about the office.
“Huntsville has a number of new excellent restaurants.” He settled a hip onto the edge of the desk. “Unless you’d prefer a more intimate setting without all the social expectations.”
CJ pulled Celeste’s chart from the stack, scanned for the patient’s home address. Got it. She returned the chart to the proper place, then smiled at Cost. “You’re too sweet, Carter. But I’ll need a rain check.” She posted a sad face. “Tomorrow’s the autopsy and I’m not really feeling social. Is that okay?”
He sighed, adopted his own sad expression. “You’re breaking my heart, Patterson.”
She gave him a punch to the arm. “Come on. I’ll bet you’ve got a whole list of ready ladies lining up for their chance at dinner with you. You’re one of the most eligible bachelors in Huntsville. Any young, single woman alive would jump at the chance to become Mrs. Carter Cost and mother to your heirs.”
