Letters in Time by Reiss Susan (i love reading books .txt) 📕

she never took a breath.  “Really? Who? Did you meet someone? Tell me—”

“Caroline, it’s me. There’s no one on the planet more motivated to get back to normal than me.  Now, you’ll have to trust me. I’m doing well and getting stronger every day.”

Silence on the line. Uh oh, was she cooking up some other scheme to complicate my life?

“Well, if you’re sure,” she said reluctantly.

I almost gasped in surprise. Quietly, I said, “Yes, dear, I’m sure.”

"I don't want anything else bad to happen to my little sister." Her motherly voice could suck the air out of a conversation.

"I appreciate that. You need to take care of yourself and—"

“But I’m okay. Todd watches out for me and the girls. You don’t have anyone,” she whined as if it was my fault.

Ah, the pity was about to flood the line as usual and I’d had enough of it, going back years. “Oh, Caroline. I have to go. The telephone man needs to finish up the job,” I said quickly.

“But—"

“Give my love to everybody. I’ll talk to you soon. Thanks for calling. Bye.”  I clicked the Off button and put the phone down with a sigh. That might have been my first call from my sister on the newly installed line, but it wouldn’t be the last. I made a mental note to get a new phone with a clear caller-ID display.

I gathered the research papers and notes into a stack. I couldn't absorb one more thing. This had been an exhausting day. Maria, with her uncanny sense of knowing when she was needed, appeared with a fresh dish of cookies.

"Thank you, but no. I don't need any more cookies. If you leave them here, I'll eat them all." I began to pull the crutches into position when Maria put her hand on my arm.

“You won’t need these right yet and the cookies aren’t for you. Sit down. You have visitors.”

I stayed in the chair and had the weird feeling that her uncanny abilities had stretched to forecasting the future. My eyes followed her as she pulled out two chairs and dusted them off.

“I’ll get some fresh lemonade and glasses,” she announced as she headed back to the kitchen.

Sitting alone at the table, it felt like someone had thrown a party and I was the first guest to show up. TJ came around the corner, followed by the police officer in uniform.

“Outside, enjoying some fresh air?” said the officer. “That’s good, that’s good.” His words were friendly, but something in his manner sounded my warning bell. This wasn’t a social call. There was trouble and it had just arrived on my patio.

“Afternoon, ma’am. I’m Officer Conklin. We met yesterday. Detective Craig Mason is in charge of the investigation and asked me to come by to see you.”

“Craig called me,” TJ explained. “He wanted to come by the Cottage earlier to give you some information but got caught up in things.”

Now, all my warning systems were active and my protective screens were coming online. I wanted to appear calm or else TJ would become a suffocating worrywart. “Of course, why don’t you both sit down? Maria is bringing some—”

"Fresh lemonade for two hardworking men." She completed my sentence as she put down a tray with four glasses filled with ice and a round pitcher like the Kool-Aid commercials. Once she made sure we had everything we could want, she pulled out another chair and sat down. I almost asked her to go back to the kitchen, but if the subject was safety—if there was a lunatic running around and swinging a shovel in people's faces—she had a right to know. We all turned our attention to the officer.

When he realized we were waiting, he popped the rest of a cookie in his mouth, took a quick sip to wash it down, and cleared his throat. "Yes, well, I'm afraid the news isn't good. Detective Mason is investigating the incident over at the Lone Oak Tree, right over there. Following up on an anonymous tip, a young man was found at the foot of the tree, grievously injured."

The sociable smile melted off TJ's face. "Yes, we know. It was Kid Billy." TJ’s body stiffened. "What's happened?" His Southern lilt was back. It seemed to show up when something upset him.

The officer’s eyes swept back and forth, watching us closely for any reactions as he delivered his news in a monotone. “The young man died. He died early this morning from wounds inflicted over there.” He jerked his head toward the Lone Oak.

TJ leaned forward, his face scrunched up in disbelief. “Wait, what?  Kid Billy is dead?”

The officer watched us carefully. "Yes, sir."

My body sagged as the air went out of me. The next moment was quiet as the news sunk in.  Then the questions came fast and furiously as my eyes strayed across the creek.

I'd seen the lights that first night. Unless the witches of the Point were walking with lanterns, I'd seen the flashlight carried by the killer. My stomach clenched. What if I’d paid attention? What if I’d called the police? Would the boy still be alive? Was I partially responsible?  I stared across the creek.

“Emma?” TJ’s voice penetrated my thoughts.

“Yes? Sorry, what?”

“The officer wants to confirm when you saw the lights before you went to bed.”

I nodded. “Of course. I saw the lights the night before you found the body.”

The officer looked at me with his eyes narrowed.  “Miss Chase, did you call the tip line?”

A little laugh escaped my lips. “If I told you, it wouldn’t be anonymous, would it?” I didn’t give him time to