Read Online Everywhere She Turns by Debra Webb - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Debra Webb
Ads: Link
piece of shit. Nobody”—she pressed Braddock with her gaze—“wants that bastard to go down more than I do. But we have to do this right, partner. No mistakes. No jumping the gun. By the book.”
“By the book,” he agreed, mainly to keep her happy. He would make this stick. One way or another he would find what he needed to nail that blood-sucking lowlife.
whatever it cost him.
“You’re a good partner.”
Braddock looked up, surprised at her statement. “I’d say thanks, but I’m not sure you meant it as a compliment.”
She shook her head at him. “I just wanted you to know that I like what we have.” She searched his eyes a couple of seconds too long. “I don’t want to see that change.”
Too late.
Everything had changed.
Shelley Patterson was dead.
And he was the reason.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
3021 Appleton Street, Mill Village
9:58 PM
CJ sat on the front steps of her childhood home and absorbed the sounds of the village. Two houses down a couple were having it out, their angry voices carrying in the darkness. Across the street stray cats yowled and hissed in a territorial battle that likely involved the resident’s freshly discarded trash. Beyond that, the constant ebb and flow of traffic and sirens, underscored by the distant, lonesome wail of the ten o’clock train, provided a familiar urban melody that had lulled her to sleep every night for most of her life.
As on so many of those nights, Edward sat next to her on the steps, his presence comforting, familiar. She never would have escaped this world without his help and boundless encouragement.
His quiet strength proved more heartening than he could possibly know. Yet inside, where no one else could see, she trembled. CJ didn’t want to feel alone, but tonight she felt entirely alone even with Edward’s patient vigil.
Her sister had been CJ’s only family. Her responsibility.
Now Shelley was gone. CJ had failed her.
“I wish you would reconsider,” Edward prompted, unwilling to concede on the issue.
CJ appreciated his concern. He didn’t want her staying herealone. But she needed to be here. Close to her sister’s things. Close to
her
.
“I’ll be fine.” She patted his arm, allowed her hand to linger there in hopes of reassuring him of her fortitude. “I’ll call you before I go to bed and the first thing when I wake up in the morning.” Again that surreal feeling washed over her, as if this were a dream or theater production playing out beneath the struggling spotlight of the feeble porch light.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Kind gray eyes searched hers. “I’m certain you’re utterly exhausted.”
His diagnosis was accurate on both observations. She felt emotionally and physically drained, completely spent. “I couldn’t eat. Not tonight. I’ll get some sleep and perhaps we can have one of your splendid brunches in the morning.”
With a surrendering sigh, he settled his hand on hers. “I’ll stop badgering you, then. You mustn’t worry about the arrangements. I’ll take care of everything.”
He’d done the same thing when her mother died. CJ appreciated his kindness, but she needed to do this for her sister. Later they would have that conversation. She couldn’t do it tonight.
“Thank you . . .” She stopped, drew in a deep, steadying breath. “For always being . . . you, Edward.” A heartfelt smile quivered across her lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” A tear slipped past her firm hold; she swiped it away. Couldn’t do that right now, either.
He squeezed her hand ever so gently. “As much as I enjoy your company,” he said, standing up, “I should go and let you get settled.”
CJ pushed to her feet. Her limbs felt weak, unsteady.
He hugged her chastely, gave her a smile, and said good-night. CJ watched him go, wondering why such a good, kind man was still alone. He’d turned fifty-two this year. He’d never been married, hadn’t even come close. He
“By the book,” he agreed, mainly to keep her happy. He would make this stick. One way or another he would find what he needed to nail that blood-sucking lowlife.
whatever it cost him.
“You’re a good partner.”
Braddock looked up, surprised at her statement. “I’d say thanks, but I’m not sure you meant it as a compliment.”
She shook her head at him. “I just wanted you to know that I like what we have.” She searched his eyes a couple of seconds too long. “I don’t want to see that change.”
Too late.
Everything had changed.
Shelley Patterson was dead.
And he was the reason.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
3021 Appleton Street, Mill Village
9:58 PM
CJ sat on the front steps of her childhood home and absorbed the sounds of the village. Two houses down a couple were having it out, their angry voices carrying in the darkness. Across the street stray cats yowled and hissed in a territorial battle that likely involved the resident’s freshly discarded trash. Beyond that, the constant ebb and flow of traffic and sirens, underscored by the distant, lonesome wail of the ten o’clock train, provided a familiar urban melody that had lulled her to sleep every night for most of her life.
As on so many of those nights, Edward sat next to her on the steps, his presence comforting, familiar. She never would have escaped this world without his help and boundless encouragement.
His quiet strength proved more heartening than he could possibly know. Yet inside, where no one else could see, she trembled. CJ didn’t want to feel alone, but tonight she felt entirely alone even with Edward’s patient vigil.
Her sister had been CJ’s only family. Her responsibility.
Now Shelley was gone. CJ had failed her.
“I wish you would reconsider,” Edward prompted, unwilling to concede on the issue.
CJ appreciated his concern. He didn’t want her staying herealone. But she needed to be here. Close to her sister’s things. Close to
her
.
“I’ll be fine.” She patted his arm, allowed her hand to linger there in hopes of reassuring him of her fortitude. “I’ll call you before I go to bed and the first thing when I wake up in the morning.” Again that surreal feeling washed over her, as if this were a dream or theater production playing out beneath the struggling spotlight of the feeble porch light.
“You haven’t eaten, have you?” Kind gray eyes searched hers. “I’m certain you’re utterly exhausted.”
His diagnosis was accurate on both observations. She felt emotionally and physically drained, completely spent. “I couldn’t eat. Not tonight. I’ll get some sleep and perhaps we can have one of your splendid brunches in the morning.”
With a surrendering sigh, he settled his hand on hers. “I’ll stop badgering you, then. You mustn’t worry about the arrangements. I’ll take care of everything.”
He’d done the same thing when her mother died. CJ appreciated his kindness, but she needed to do this for her sister. Later they would have that conversation. She couldn’t do it tonight.
“Thank you . . .” She stopped, drew in a deep, steadying breath. “For always being . . . you, Edward.” A heartfelt smile quivered across her lips. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.” A tear slipped past her firm hold; she swiped it away. Couldn’t do that right now, either.
He squeezed her hand ever so gently. “As much as I enjoy your company,” he said, standing up, “I should go and let you get settled.”
CJ pushed to her feet. Her limbs felt weak, unsteady.
He hugged her chastely, gave her a smile, and said good-night. CJ watched him go, wondering why such a good, kind man was still alone. He’d turned fifty-two this year. He’d never been married, hadn’t even come close. He
Similar Books
