Rose Petal Graves (The Lost Clan #1) by Olivia Wildenstein Page A

that we will. Sheriff Jones is on a conference call with the other police departments in the region. He wants us to join forces. The more of us, the better, right?”
    “I hope so,” Dad said. “Well, anyway, we’re off to lunch.”
    “ Bon apuetiti , Mr. Price.” Not sure what language he was aiming for.
    Once Dad had stepped out of the precinct, I asked, “Were you out last night, Jimmy?”
    “Nope. I stayed in with Momma. We watched The Reverence . Do you follow that show? It’s so freaky.”
    “No, I don’t. And after that? Did you leave the house?”
    His eyebrows hiked up on his forehead, drawing his lids along until his eyes were unnaturally round. He dropped his voice to a whisper, “Why? Did you see me?”
    “I thought—”
    “I have a history of sleepwalking.” He checked the precinct door. “Was I…was I wearing clothes?”
    “Yes.” I wrinkled my nose at the thought of seeing Jimmy in his birthday suit. “Definitely clothed.”
    He breathed the heaviest sigh I’d ever heard. I could nearly see it drop out of his mouth. “I’m always sleepwalking naked. I’ve been taking meds for that. I thought it was getting better. I should phone the doctor.” He fiddled with the drawer handle, dragged it open, and plucked his phone out.
    I debated whether to reassure him that I hadn’t seen him, but he was already on the line with his doctor. As I left, I wondered how Cass had turned out so differently than Jimmy. Where he was attached to his mother’s hip at age twenty-two, she was independent. It probably had to do with their father leaving their mother for another woman ten years back. It had been tougher on him than on her.
    “I’m so happy the sheriff hired Jimmy. That boy needed a real job,” Dad said, once I’d caught up to him. He offered me his arm and I took it.
    “Selling cell phone plans was a real job.”
    Dad glanced at me. “He needed a purpose, and negotiating data packages wasn’t it.”
    “Don’t go shouting that at the mall or we’ll become persona non grata ,” I said.
    “I just think that he needed a role model, and Sheriff Jones is a great one.”
    “You don’t have to explain yourself, Dad. I was just joking.”
    “I’m so glad you didn’t become a cop. I don’t think I would’ve been cool with my little girl willingly exposing herself to danger.”
    “I’m not so little anymore,” I said.
    His eyes got all shiny. “Don’t remind me.”
    “Aw, Dad. Don’t cry. I’ll always be your little girl.”
    He smiled, which creased the lines around his eyes and mouth.
    When we pushed through the doors of Bee’s a moment later, Aylen hopped out from one of the booths that lined the brick wall. Over the din, she yelled, “Derek!” She swung her arms in the air. “Cat!”
    “I’ll get you some chairs,” Aylen said, already shoving two people off their seats.
    “There goes our quiet lunch,” Dad whispered in my ear. “You think we can pretend we didn’t see her?”
    “We can try, but I’m not sure we’ll make it out in one piece,” I told him.
    As we walked over to the booth, we stopped to say hello to people. Cass deposited a hefty helping of mac and cheese on one of the tables, which reminded me of the casseroles stashed in the cold chamber. I’d have to get rid of them soon or they would go bad.
    When we finally reached the booth, Aylen scooted back next to one of her daughters. “We got some nachos with spinach dip for the table.” She gestured to a bowl in which only a green smear remained. Her gaze lifted to her husband’s and then returned to the bowl.
    Tony blushed. “I said I’d go on a diet when we got home. We’re not home,” he mumbled.
    Aylen didn’t look up from the bowl.
    “Hey, Tony. Hi, girls,” Dad said, sitting down next to me.
    Satyana and Shiloh didn’t react. Then again, they probably couldn’t hear Dad over the videogame soundtrack blasting from their candy-colored headphones. While Dad engaged a still red-cheeked