“I’m going to get the photos,” Sara said.
“And I’m going to enjoy the quiet,” Jack said.
SIX
Kate woke the next day but she didn’t get out of bed. The sun was peeping through the white plantation shutters in little gold slivers. She was in Florida! The state that late-night talk-show hosts liked to ridicule, but people dreamed of going to. Palm trees and alligators, lots of Cuban cheek kissing, people who’d never seen snow.
She could hear voices in the house, so the others were up and about—and she wanted to see them. She was still marveling at her aunt Sara. Not at all as she’d expected! And Jack... Laughter and tears. Far from boring.
When she heard a pan clatter, she got up. Last night Tayla had sent an email saying that the reporters were still surrounding the office. She thought it would be better if Kate stayed away until after Tuesday, when this matter would be closed.
They’d been looking at Sara’s excellent photos on the giant TV and had taped some photos on the walls. Kate read the email aloud.
“Ask her why the hell she thinks it’s going to end by Tuesday.” Sara’s harsh tone made Kate blink in surprise.
Kate sent an email to ask Tayla if she’d heard anything about the case closing. The reply came right away. Tayla said that the sheriff had decided to bury the skeletons at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. She said there would be a short service at the grave site and anyone who wanted to attend could. The two women would be buried at county expense.
The date of “closure” seemed to be proof that there was going to be no further investigation into the murders.
Kate replied to Tayla that she’d be there Wednesday morning, then clicked off her phone. The news had seemed to take the heart out of all three of them. They’d turned off the TV and separated to go to bed.
As Kate dressed in leggings and a tunic this morning, she remembered that they’d declared they were going to investigate the murders. But how? Where did a person start? The only police files they had—and all they were likely to get—just about declared that the late Roy Wyatt had killed the women. And that he was a hero who had been defending his young son.
Kate took a few minutes to look at the suite of rooms Aunt Sara had put her in. Her clothes didn’t fill even a quarter of one of the two closets. Her bed had a linen headboard, and the sheets and pillowcases were Porthault. The living room was divine, all blue and white, with silver accents. After last night she knew that the pictures on the walls were Sara’s photos. Kate’s favorite was a sunrise over temples. It mus
t have been taken from a hot air balloon.
She opened the doors into the house. Jack was sitting on a bar stool and eating breakfast, while Sara was moving about the kitchen. The smell of bacon was delicious.
“Good morning,” Sara said. “Want some eggs?”
“Sure,” Kate said. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Stay out of her way.” Jack pushed forward a plate of what looked to be bacon wrapped around cheese sticks.
“Too many calories for me.” Kate took the stool next to him.
For a moment they were quiet. Last night’s news was hanging over them. Did they let the burial take place and go about their everyday lives? Or did they... Do what? Where did they begin?
“What I want to know...” Jack picked up his crutches and went to the coffeepot. He held it up toward Kate and she nodded. “Is who tore the house apart. When I saw it, it was a mess. Even their toaster was gone.”
She took the cup of coffee he handed her, then nodded when he got a carton of milk out of the fridge. “What was the house like inside usually?”
“It was nice. Very clean.” Smiling, he sat back down. “The only time I saw Cheryl in jeans was one Saturday morning when I got there early for our newscaster session. She—”
“How much early?” Sara asked.
He gave a sideways grin. “Three hours. Or so.”
“Cheryl was a saint to put up with you,” Kate said. “Go on.”
“I knocked but no one answered. I was about to leave when she opened the door. I thought she was like a spy because she looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then she grabbed me by the collar, pulled me in and shut the door.” Jack ate two more bacon-and-cheese pieces and kept on smiling at the memory.
“And?” Sara asked impatiently.
“Nothing. I thought she looked really pretty.”
“As opposed to the way you usually saw her?” Kate asked.