Chapter 6

Savannah pinned a neutral expression in place and held up an iced caramel latte from University Grounds. "Good morning."

Her sister looked up from behind her big desk. "What are you doing here so early? I suppose it's about Abernathy's death? I should have called when I heard you'd found the body, but I was out of town until last night." She ran her hand through her hair. "And I'm nowhere near ready for the fall semester to start, so I have a ton of work to wrap up."

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I have something important to discuss with you."

Jess set the coffee on the desk with a careful motion. "Out of the question."

Jess's hazel eyes went wide, and she leaned back in her chair. "Start at the beginning."

Though she hadn't wanted to tell Jess about the provenance letters, the police knew, so it was time to tell her sister. She spilled out the events of the last few days. The color slipped from her sister's cheeks when Savannah got to the part about the Ray Bradbury book the police saw on her bookcase.

Jess sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You know I don't."

She leaned forward with the paper still clutched in her hand. "Then you'll arrange it?"

"I don't have a choice. I hope you know what you're doing."

More for her own sake than for her sister's, Savannah gave a vigorous nod. "I'm sure it's the right thing. I have to go in to the police station for an interview, and it will help so much to have Hez there. I already said more than I should have. That whole good cop / bad cop thing."

Guilt, a familiar companion, compressed Savannah's heart. She handed Jess the paper and stood. "I'm sorry."

Her sister pointed at the door. "We can talk more when this meeting is over. I need to get back to work."

"Of course. Thanks so much. I'll let Hez know he can start on Monday."

Hez's entrance into their lives had changed everything. It was no longer just her and Jess, and Savannah had been unable to prevent Jess's resentment of Hez's intrusion. Her recovery might be jeopardized by dealing with Hez in her life again, but there was no choice.

***

Bertha watched the retreating boat for a few seconds, then settled back down into the muck. Hez relaxed and retrieved his line. His fly hung over the warm green water, a brilliant gem of wet red and yellow feather, almost completely hiding the sharp steel hook. "I should've seen her. I was distracted. I've got a lot on my mind."

A sympathetic grimace creased Blake's tan face. "I'm sorry, man. Did she change her mind about withdrawing the divorce case?"

"No, but she's only doing it so I'll represent her."

"Did she say that?"

"Do you blame her?"

Hez frowned at his cousin. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Blake shrugged his broad shoulders. "Do you blame her for divorcing the guy you were two years ago?"

"But I'm not that guy anymore."

"Does she know that?"

"Did she say that?"

"I could tell."

Blake looked him in the eyes. "Have you forgiven yourself?"

"God can forgive you."

Hez could feel Blake watching him, but his cousin accepted his silence. Hez appreciated that. Blake knew him well enough to realize that pressing the subject would only result in an argument.

"Fine. But you'd better be ready to bail me out of jail."