Page 82 of Veil of Silence

They said goodbye, and she headed to her own car. Marlowe had ridden with her this morning and slid into the passenger seat, immediately turning on the heat.

As they pulled out, Austin trailed them.

They made it almost a mile before Marlowe spoke. “You like him.”

Nora kept her attention on the road. “He’s helping with the investigation.”

“That wasn’t what I said.”

“I know.”

Marlowe angled one of the vents toward her hands. “The two of you have chemistry.”

Nora wanted to smile, but she couldn’t. Not with her past failures crowding out her confidence. “I thought I had chemistry with Jacob.”

“You probably did,” Marlowe said. “Chemistry isn’t character. Being drawn to someone doesn’t mean you can see who they really are.”

Nora tightened her hands around the steering wheel. “I thought I was smarter than that.”

“Jacob lied—and he was good at lying. Being deceived by him doesn’t make you stupid.”

“It feels like it.”

Marlowe studied her a moment. “Then use what you learned. Pay attention. Take your time. But don’t make Austin pay a debt Jacob owes.”

Nora glanced at her sister. “When did you get so wise?”

“I’ve always been wise. You and Wren were too busy harmonizing to notice.”

A laugh slipped from Nora before she could stop it.

Marlowe smiled and settled back against the seat. “You didn’t deny liking him, by the way.”

“I’m driving. I don’t have to answer questions.”

“Convenient.”

Nora turned up the heat and kept her eyes on the road, but Marlowe’s words stayed with her the rest of the way home.

Back at home, Nora changed into some pajamas then checked her phone.

A message from Austin waited on the screen.

Made it back. Calling my aunt, then going to bed.

Some of the tension left her shoulders.

Good. Try to sleep.

Three dots appeared, vanished, then appeared again.

Yes, ma’am.

Nora smiled before slipping the phone into her pocket.

Dad remained in the living room. She found him checking the lock on the front door before looking through the glass at the dark yard.

She remembered the figure she thought she’d seen outside. Remembered the hymn with Christian’s name on it. Remembered the car that had followed her earlier.