Page 63 of Coordinates of Death

“I’ll have a burger and fries. Water. Thank you.” He handed her the menus and shifted his gaze back to Aurora.

Evidently, not wanting to flirt back with the pretty server. Interesting. Did someone hurt you too, Kord?

“I’ll put those orders in right away.” Sally scuffed her way to the kitchen, shoulders slumped in defeat.

“You sure know how to brush a girl off.” Aurora raised her hands. “Not that I blame you. Relationships are tricky these days.”

“Believe me, I’ve seen enough heartache to last a lifetime. Not interested.”

Definitely a story behind that statement, but would he share? And why did those words make her want to walk away feeling defeated too?

“Rory, tell me about Anna. What happened to her?”

Kordell’s question snapped her out of any thoughts of romance as if he’d slammed the door shut, but could she reopen her sister’s door without tumbling back into a dark hole?

He placed his hand overtop of hers. “I know it must have been hard. I saw your reaction when SBK mentioned her name.”

“I killed my baby sister, Kord.” Aurora’s softened statement was nearly lost in the background noise of clattering dishes and mumbled conversations around the restaurant. Her tears spilled out before she could stop them. Years of bottled regret gushed out. Why now? Why here? And in front of all people—her childhood crush. She clamped her eyes shut for fear of reading disgust on Kordell’s handsome face.

Kordell cupped her hand in his. “I doubt you did that. Tell me what happened.”

His loving tone and touch sent warmth flooding her body. She opened her eyes. And only noted the kindness she remembered from their teen years. No disgust. No judgment.

Only compassion.

“I’ve never shared this with anyone. Not even my closest friends.”

“Why?”

“Shame. Guilt.” Aurora slouched back, gathering strength to release what she’d kept hidden for far too long. “I was ten. Anna was three, and my parents had asked me to go with the babysitter to the park while they worked. It started out fine. She giggled when I pushed her on the swing. I took pictures of her and the bunny she loved.”

“The bunny from the picture SBK left?”

“Yes. The babysitter got a call on her phone and was chatting. A friend from my school came and shared her candy with me. It was a split second but enough for someone to nab Anna. I heard a scream and saw the kidnapper running with her.” Aurora buried her face in her hands. “I’ll never forget the look on her face or her screams, pleading for me to save her.”

Kordell brought her hands down. “That is not your fault. You were young.”

“I should have known better.”

Sally approached and set their drinks in front of them without speaking, then sauntered away.

“What happened next?” Kordell took a sip of water.

“The babysitter and I tried to chase the person, but they hopped into a van and the driver took off.” Aurora plunged her straw into her ginger ale. “Police came and searched. They spoke to everyone at the park. My parents held a press conference. They pleaded with the kidnappers to return their baby girl. Forty-eight hours later, they found sweet Anna’s body.”

The image of the crime scene entered her mind. She had obtained the photos after requesting the cold case files. Seeing her little sister lying on the beach lifeless still haunted her dreams. “That was the day darkness overtook my thoughts and festered.”

And continued four short years later when the Roche brothers ripped away her innocence, leaving her with scars she buried too deep for anyone to see.

Not even Kordell.

Kordell examined every inch of Aurora’s beautiful, tortured face. Clearly, she still struggled with her sister’s death, and he guessed it had taken her places where her faith had fractured. After all, whose wouldn’t? “Rory, sometimes we need the dark to see the light within.” He leaned back to gain a different perspective. “And from where I’m sitting . . . I see your light, even when you don’t.”

She took a sip of her drink. “I appreciate you saying that. Anna’s abduction and death, plus other circumstances, were why I went into policing.”

Kordell dug his nails into his palms. He could guess what other circumstances she was referring to. The Roche brothers. But he’d keep that thought to himself. Now wasn’t the time.

Would there ever be a perfect time to tell her his secret?