Be Afraid by Mary Burton Page B

private?”
    She flexed her fingers. “Why don’t we go into my office? We can talk there.”
    Behind the counter and through a kitchen, they moved into a small, cramped office stocked with shelves crammed full of cookbooks and file holders. “You’ve come about Diane?”
    “I have.”
    She drew in a steadying breath as if reading his expression as a harbinger of bad news. “Have you found her?” She twisted the apron strings around her hands. “I tried to file a missing persons report. She missed our Monday dinner appointment. The officer said she’d only been gone a few hours and he couldn’t activate the report until today.”
    Lorrie had a Monday dinner appointment with Diane. So why had Diane sent a text to her boss about an impromptu vacation and not her sister? Siblings fought. He had his own cold war going on with his brother Alex. “Ma’am, Diane was murdered.”
    Blue eyes widened and filled with tears. “What?”
    “We found her body in a burned-out building yesterday. We only made the identification today.”
    Pressing fingertips to her temples she sat down in the lone chair in front of the desk. “She was burned alive?”
    “No, ma’am.” He studied her pale face wondering how he’d react if he’d received similar news about Alex. A stabbing feeling cut, leaving him vacant and sad. Alex might be a dick but he’d never wish him ill. “We believe she was dead before the fire was set.”
    Tears welled and spilled easily down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to swipe away her tears. Her hands trembled as she fingered the apron strings.
    This kind of news rocked foundations. Devastated lives. Murder happened in other places, bad neighborhoods, to people who’d crossed some kind of line that divided good from bad.
    Finally, Lorrie cleared her throat. “How did Diane die?”
    “We aren’t releasing that information yet.” He shoved his pity aside for her. As sad as Lorrie appeared he took a mental step back. She could get comfort from a friend. What she needed from him was an objective mind. Diane deserved justice.
    “I don’t understand why anyone would want to kill her? She was well liked and the sister that everyone respected. She had a super job and was making money hand over fist. She was the one that my parents had always pinned their hopes on before they died. I’m the fuck-up dreamer.”
    Thoughts strayed to his brother Alex. Their dad had called him the Golden Boy. “Was she dating anyone? Was there anyone in her life that made you worry or think twice?”
    “A guy in her neighborhood. And a guy at another real estate firm. I don’t remember names, but neither one liked the fact that she was smarter and wouldn’t allow them to be in charge. Diane’s a woman who knows her own mind.” She frowned. “Knew her own mind.”
    He shifted his stance. “And you two got on well enough.”
    “We fought sometimes. We’re sisters.” A sigh shuddered through her. “Stupid fights.”
    “What did you fight about?”
    She pulled at a white towel tucked in her apron string and wiped her eyes. “Lately, we argued about money.” She muttered an oath. “I asked her for a loan and she said she’d have to do a cost analysis on the bakery. I was pissed but I needed the money so I went along.”
    “What happened?”
    “Diane said the bakery was a losing investment. I tried to tell her it was my dream but she’d said numbers were numbers. I hadn’t spoken to her in a month. Monday’s dinner was supposed to be my chance to apologize. She was right. The bakery is losing money.”
    “Why did you try to file a report? Why didn’t you just assume she just didn’t want dinner with you?”
    “When I had a chance to think I realized she’s never missed an appointment in her life. She just doesn’t blow people off, even sisters who’re too emotional.”
    “When was the last time you two spoke?”
    “Like I said, nearly a month ago.” She swiped tears with the back of her hand. “We