managed that swallow that had failed me earlier.
"I'm sorry about everything, Mandy."
Now that was a loaded apology. What exactly was he referring to? About Patty? His accusations about how I'd been negligent in my care of Paget? Or sorry for all those things that happened so many years ago? My mind whirred with the possibilities.
"Listen, I wanted to bring the mayor and his family in for questioning. But the captain says that we just don't have enough. There is definitely something suspicious going on here, but without the body…"
His words brought me out of my deep analysis. "I understand. I guess we just wait, then." My voice was suddenly thick with held-back tears.
"You okay?" He took a step toward me, and I took a step back.
My response seemed to surprise him, but he didn't pursue it. He took one more look around the open kitchen and nodded.
"Guess I should go. Tomorrow will be an interesting day. We're reopening the missing persons case of Caden Brooks."
His words reached my ears, but my brain took a few beats to catch up. I'd been momentarily lost in my own world. "Wait. I thought you didn't find much there. How can you have enough to open that case?"
Ty walked to the door and pulled it open. The white lace curtain swayed, and he looked back over his shoulder as his booted feet crossed the threshold.
"Based on your statement, Mandy. You're now our star witness."
Oh, great.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It is a lonely washing that has no man's shirt in it. –Irish Proverb
Ty closed the door behind him, and I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, feeling it swell and deflate under my shirt. I was the star witness. The only thing between the mayor's family walking away scot-free and the possibility that they could be harboring a murderer amongst them.
A light tap on the back door interrupted my thoughts. What was it now? Ty had forgotten to tell me something? I took the two short steps and yanked open the door.
"Chinese?"
I blinked at my mystery man. He held a huge paper bag from which heavenly scents were escaping. He also held a box with the word Chopstix on it.
I stepped back and motioned for him to enter. This man spoke my language.
"You just missed the police."
He gave a single head nod. "A particular talent of mine. Kind of like a superpower."
"Oh, I have superpowers as well."
"Really?" He seemed very interested in hearing more. He placed his presents on the table and began to remove the boxes of food from the bag.
"Mandy, who is he ?"
How could I have forgotten that Paget was in the house? For all I knew this man could be dangerous. It was one thing for me to put myself in danger, but Paget was a different story altogether. It was almost like I kept forgetting that she was in my life. It was a terrible realization that seemed to slap me in the face. The muscles between my shoulder blades tightened in response. My eyes darted around for something I might use as a weapon if needed. But, sadly, there were no rolling pins or umbrellas within my immediate reach.
"Uh, Paget…this is a friend of mine. He brought us some dinner. You like Chinese food, don't you?"
"Friend" might have been a strong word, but I didn't want to frighten her. I took a few cautious steps forward and put myself between him and her.
She started to sway from foot to foot. A nervous gesture. I began to regret having Colin show up like this. I should have thought to have him come by later, when Paget was asleep.
He'd been watching the exchange between us and stopped his food distribution to open the Chopstix box. I'd wondered what was in the box, and as he extended it toward my sister, I became even more suspicious.
Paget lifted her chin, and we both took a curious look. Inside, it was lined with thin rows of paper-covered wooden chopsticks. Just stack after stack of disposable sticks. It was a bulk quantity box of chopsticks.
"These are for you." Colin presented them to her as if he were presenting a queen with a
"I'm sorry about everything, Mandy."
Now that was a loaded apology. What exactly was he referring to? About Patty? His accusations about how I'd been negligent in my care of Paget? Or sorry for all those things that happened so many years ago? My mind whirred with the possibilities.
"Listen, I wanted to bring the mayor and his family in for questioning. But the captain says that we just don't have enough. There is definitely something suspicious going on here, but without the body…"
His words brought me out of my deep analysis. "I understand. I guess we just wait, then." My voice was suddenly thick with held-back tears.
"You okay?" He took a step toward me, and I took a step back.
My response seemed to surprise him, but he didn't pursue it. He took one more look around the open kitchen and nodded.
"Guess I should go. Tomorrow will be an interesting day. We're reopening the missing persons case of Caden Brooks."
His words reached my ears, but my brain took a few beats to catch up. I'd been momentarily lost in my own world. "Wait. I thought you didn't find much there. How can you have enough to open that case?"
Ty walked to the door and pulled it open. The white lace curtain swayed, and he looked back over his shoulder as his booted feet crossed the threshold.
"Based on your statement, Mandy. You're now our star witness."
Oh, great.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It is a lonely washing that has no man's shirt in it. –Irish Proverb
Ty closed the door behind him, and I stood there with my arms crossed over my chest, feeling it swell and deflate under my shirt. I was the star witness. The only thing between the mayor's family walking away scot-free and the possibility that they could be harboring a murderer amongst them.
A light tap on the back door interrupted my thoughts. What was it now? Ty had forgotten to tell me something? I took the two short steps and yanked open the door.
"Chinese?"
I blinked at my mystery man. He held a huge paper bag from which heavenly scents were escaping. He also held a box with the word Chopstix on it.
I stepped back and motioned for him to enter. This man spoke my language.
"You just missed the police."
He gave a single head nod. "A particular talent of mine. Kind of like a superpower."
"Oh, I have superpowers as well."
"Really?" He seemed very interested in hearing more. He placed his presents on the table and began to remove the boxes of food from the bag.
"Mandy, who is he ?"
How could I have forgotten that Paget was in the house? For all I knew this man could be dangerous. It was one thing for me to put myself in danger, but Paget was a different story altogether. It was almost like I kept forgetting that she was in my life. It was a terrible realization that seemed to slap me in the face. The muscles between my shoulder blades tightened in response. My eyes darted around for something I might use as a weapon if needed. But, sadly, there were no rolling pins or umbrellas within my immediate reach.
"Uh, Paget…this is a friend of mine. He brought us some dinner. You like Chinese food, don't you?"
"Friend" might have been a strong word, but I didn't want to frighten her. I took a few cautious steps forward and put myself between him and her.
She started to sway from foot to foot. A nervous gesture. I began to regret having Colin show up like this. I should have thought to have him come by later, when Paget was asleep.
He'd been watching the exchange between us and stopped his food distribution to open the Chopstix box. I'd wondered what was in the box, and as he extended it toward my sister, I became even more suspicious.
Paget lifted her chin, and we both took a curious look. Inside, it was lined with thin rows of paper-covered wooden chopsticks. Just stack after stack of disposable sticks. It was a bulk quantity box of chopsticks.
"These are for you." Colin presented them to her as if he were presenting a queen with a
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