The Sometime Sister by Katherine Nichols (ebook reader for comics .txt) 📕

“I’m not sure I believe in fate.” I shook my head sorrowfully. “But it is familiar, being here with you like this. Only there must be more to Stella’s death. Could she have gotten involved with something or someone dangerous? If I could find out the answers to those questions, I might be ready to move on with my life. And who knows what that would mean?” I pressed my arms together and leaned forward for maximum cleavage exposure.

Ben set down his drink—the ultimate compliment—and focused his full attention on my chest. “There’s nothing I would like more than to find those answers. Anything, Grace, I’ll do anything to help you get past this tragedy and live your life again. Just tell me what to do.”

Despite the Lifetime movie delivery, I thought he had convinced himself he had no part in Stella’s death. Whereas I compartmentalized emotional issues, he rewrote them. But I had to acknowledge that nagging notion in the back of my mind: Was it possible he hadn’t been the one with his hands around my sister’s neck?

“Since I didn’t get to see her, I’ve been having trouble believing she’s gone. Could you request copies of any photos in the police report?”

He frowned. “Boy, I wish I could help you with that, but I don’t believe there were any.”

“That’s strange. My friend’s government contact said they always take photographs.”

His arm jerked, and he dumped most of his drink in his lap. “Dammit! Juan, get in here with a goddamn rag and clean up this mess. And bring me another.” He stood and shook his hands, sending drops of gin and tonic into the air. The sunlight caught them and turned them into liquid dust motes.

“Why the fuck would you do that?” He hissed at me through clenched teeth. “You’re stirring up shit you don’t understand. People could get hurt, and you could be one of them.” He took a step toward my chair.

I should have shouted vase into my bosom, but I hadn’t finished.

“Why would you worry about that if you had nothing to do with Stella’s death? And why did you have her body cremated so quickly? I know you’re hiding something. You might have been able to beat and bully Stella, but you’re not dealing with my sister anymore. You’re dealing with me.”

I had planned on making a dramatic exit, but he made the mistake of grabbing my arm. I tried to break away, but he tightened his grip and leaned in close enough for me to feel the heat of his alcohol-infused breath.

“With you,” he snarled, stroking my cheek. “When has that ever been a problem?” He moved his hand to the back of my neck and squeezed hard.

I yanked myself from his grasp, removed the Mace from my purse, and sprayed it full force into his fat face. He fell backward and tumbled onto the floor, screaming and rubbing his eyes. Juan rushed into the room and stared at his boss, who was now writhing on the geometric pattern of the rug. Then the boy looked at me and smiled.

“Por favor, Señorita. May I show you out?”

We hustled down the long hallway, and he opened the door for me. I could hear Ben calling for him.

“Thank you, Juan.” I listened to Ben’s continued screaming as it grew louder and louder. “You should go see about him. I wouldn’t want you to lose your job.”

“I will be okay. Not so many people wish to work for Señor Wilcott,” he said. “And please,” he smiled again. “My name is Eduardo.”

Chapter 21

Pride and my poor choice of shoes forced me to maintain a brisk walk instead of a full-on sprint as I left the house. Harry pulled up seconds after I reached the car, and Justin leaped from the Bronco before it came to a stop. He met me halfway on the stone pathway.

“What the hell!” he said, grabbing my shoulders. “So much for not doing anything crazy. What happened in there? The last thing we picked up was Ben saying you could get hurt. Then there was this awful, high-pitched screaming.”

I gripped each of his forearms and freed myself. “We can talk about this later.”

“If that asshole laid a hand on you,” he glared and took a step toward the house.

“I’m fine, really. Let’s just go.”

Ben stopped wailing and, while I doubted he had recovered enough to be a threat, I didn’t want to take any chances.

Harry was by the Bronco. “You okay? Scared the hell out of us when we lost your mic.”

I slipped my index finger inside my bra and searched for the tiny device. “Shit! It’s gone. It must have fallen out somewhere. I’m sorry. I’ll reimburse you for it.”

“Money’s not the issue. Let’s just hope nobody finds it. Small as it is, that’s not too likely.” Then he laughed. “And if that was Ben caterwauling in the background, he won’t be in any shape to be looking for much of anything.”

I assured them it was my ex’s agonized cries trailing me on my way to the car and urged that we leave. Harry took off, and Justin insisted on driving the rental back to the hotel. He gunned the engine, spewing dirt and gravel in our wake as we sped away. He didn’t speak until we reached the main road.

“I’m really pissed. You were supposed to play the son of a bitch, not send him over the edge.”

“Okay, it was stupid, but all I could think about was Stella stuck in that house with him. How helpless and alone she must have felt, knowing he could do whatever he wanted to and get away with it.”

The adrenaline rush I experienced after hurrying down the hill had dissolved, and I began shaking. Recalling his slack-jawed shock when that first blast of Mace hit him made me laugh, a low-pitched chuckle quickly reaching a crescendo of hysterical giggles.

“It’s not funny,” Justin said.

I couldn’t stop laughing.

“Shit!” He slowed the car. “I