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“Apparently, Jerry took off the day we arrived and hasn’t been back.”
A shiver rippled through me. “Three days ago?” Why were they just reporting it now?
“He and Willy got into a huge fight,” he explained without me asking.
“Hmm.” I pursed my lips then looked at him. His brown eyes were full of mirth. “Why are you telling me all this?”
He smiled, his brown eyes glittering with intensity. “I like having a reason to talk to you.”
“Oh.” I blushed.
“I only wished I’d been quicker than Dom in asking you out.” He nudged me familiarly. “Watch out for that one. From what I hear, he never stays in one place too long or with any one girl.”
“You really are straight forward.” And slick, like Dom, in his own way. I bit my lip nervously. I hadn’t been flirted with by any man in a long time, and now I had two flirting hardcore.
“Life’s too short. I believe in pursuing something when I really want it.”
I think I must have looked like a deer in the headlights because he suddenly laughed. “Have a nice day, Ms. Trimmel. It was a pleasure to see you again.”
“Uh huh.” I gave him a crisp wave. “I’ve got to go. See you around.”
He flashed a brilliant smile. “Count on it.”
I nodded to Farraday and Connelly, who sat at their desks typing up reports or something to that effect, as I passed by. Before I got to the exit, a hand on my shoulder stopped me. I turned to see Tyler Thompson.
“You okay, Chav?” He and my brother Judah had been best friends at one time until they had a falling out. Which meant, eventually, I would forgive him for being uncharitable to Sunny when she’d arrived in town. He’d been a dick because he was afraid she’d expose a secret affair between his mother and Judah with her psychic visions. An affair thatneverhappened, I might add. It had made me so angry when I’d found out, but as I stared at him now, all I could feel was pity.
“I am,” I told him. “Have you been by to see your mom today?”
“No.” He gave me a puzzled look. “Why?”
“No reason. I’ll talk to you later.” And without waiting for his response, I made a hasty exit.
* * *
It was almostten a.m. when I wandered up to Ruth’s yard. The Thompson’s two-story home was just on the other side of their garage. The yard was neatly trimmed and green from all the frequent rain storms we’d had in June. The border up the driveway was lush with purple irises and orange tiger lilies. Bright fuschia peonies added more splashes of color. Near the mailbox was a large wisteria bush, and the day's heat had the sweet odor clinging to the air. The splendor only added to my trepidation. I didn’t want to do this, be the one who comforted Ruth in her time of need. I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to hold up for her.
Buck up, I told myself. I didn’t have to be strong. I just had to pretend to be long enough to help my friend. Ruth had been there for me after my rescue, and I’d be damned if I would allow myself to act like a coward.
The screen door banged open, and a small tawny-haired boy ran out the door. He nearly ran me down as he passed. “Linus!” I said.
He turned his head back to look at me, a cheeky smile on his face. “Gotta go, Aunt Chav. He shook a handful of coins in his pants pocket. “Mom said I could go down to Riverfront Street. They got some carnival booths set up with games.” He was small for his age, only eight-years-old now, and I wished I could freeze-frame the look of joy on his sweet face.
I smiled at him. “Go on then.”
He rose up on his tip-toes in a quick moment of triumph and took off down the street in a sprint. My stomach hurt. I almost turned around and headed out as well. Why was this happening to such good people?
I shook my head as I thought the question. Bad people did bad things to good people all the time. Being good didn’t make a person immune to evil. Shivering, I rubbed my upper arms. This murder had been evil like I’d never seen, and I’d seen more than my fair share.
I stared at the screen door. Linus hadn’t closed the main one. There was a light on, and I heard a soft whimper.Ruth. My heart broke even more. I lifted my shoulders and straightened my back, and by making myself place one foot in front of the other, I headed toward the house.
When I got to the screen, I opened the door and said, “Ruth.” I stepped inside and let the door close behind me. “Ruth. It’s Chavvah.”
She appeared in the hall by the living room, her eyes and nose both red, her usually flawless skin, blotchy. She sniffled. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to be here for you.”
She looked at me, mild surprise in her grieved expression. “Who told you?”
