AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you do your own lawn maintenance?” Bethenny asked.
“No, my son does it. He did the front last weekend and he’ll do the back this weekend.” Her voice sounded a little thicker than usual. She cleared her throat then asked, “Can I get you a glass of water? Or coffee?”
“Water would be great, thank you. I’m sure Detective Taylor would appreciate one too,” Bethenny said.
Mrs. White nodded and went inside.
Bethenny smelled the hint of amber and leather before she heard his voice.
“I don’t think there’s much more to see here,” he said from behind her.
“Agreed,” she said, turning, almost knocking into him.
He cleared his throat and took a step back. “Where’s she gone?”
Bethenny grinned. “To get us each a glass of water,” she said, noticing she had to tilt her head back to look at him when he stood close to her.
His gaze dropped to her lips before he took another step back as Louise stepped out onto the patio. “Good timing,” he said under his breath, so quietly Bethenny wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly.
Her eyes were on him as he strode toward Louise with the confident swagger she’d noticed the first time she’d met him. He took the glasses from her hands, finished one in a few mouthfuls and carried the other to Bethenny. He passed it to her, but his eyes were back on the fence.
“This doesn’t feel right,” he said, but now she wasn’t sure exactly what he was talking about.
LACHLAN
He stared at the fence, demanding his mind to focus. But all he could think about was the way she’d looked up at him. The sun had lit up her face and she looked... beautiful. Angelic. For a moment, everything had seemed perfect. Peaceful.
Despite being within steps of a crime scene.
Maybe it was the exhaustion setting in; maybe he was delirious. He looked up at the cloudy sky. His mind told him to dismiss the moment, but his heart told him to hang on to it.
He sighed, shaking his head.
He needed to sleep, seeing as he’d done so little of it last night. Every time he closed his eyes he’d seen the note, he’d seen Eden’s blood all over their bed sheets. It was a sight he’d never forget, but he kept asking God to heal his heart regardless. Was it possible to put the broken pieces of his heart back together? Or was he supposed to live like this forever—as punishment for his failure to protect her?
“Penny for your thoughts,” Bethenny said from beside him, almost making him jump.
“I don’t think there’s anything else to see here,” he said with a frown.
“Agreed,” she said as he pulled the car keys out of his pocket.
Louise leaned against the old brick house, her eyes tracking their every step.
Lachlan nodded. “Thanks for letting us look around,” he said.
He noticed, not for the first time, that her eyes seemed focused on him. And he didn’t think it was just because he’d spoken. Louise looked at Bethenny, but she seemed to study him. He didn’t know why.
“Anytime, detectives. I wish I could be more helpful,” Louise responded.
“You possibly found the murder weapon,” Bethenny reminded her. “That’s extremely helpful.”
Louise’s eyes raised. “Are you questioning if it is the murder weapon?” she asked, not sounding pleased to hear that.
Bethenny must’ve detected the tone in her voice too, because she held up a hand gently. “We just need to confirm the blood on it is Jessica’s. If it’s not hers, it belongs to someone else and I doubt they survived the attack. We believe it’samurder weapon—we just need to confirm the victim.”
Louise shrugged, seemingly placated by the knowledge. “Fair enough,” she said as drops began to fall on Lachlan’s arm. He looked up to see a darkening sky.
“Another storm is coming. I love this weather,” Louise said genuinely, following Lachlan’s gaze. “Good evening, detectives,” she said.
