Chapter 22
JULIA
J ulia's eyes narrowed at the key her sister held as she studied the engravings. She’d barely looked at them beyond an initial cursory glance, but after Alicia had mentioned it, she couldn’t unsee it.
Next to her, Sierra bounced on her toes as she clapped her hands. “Yay! Let’s go sleuthing. This is exactly what I needed.”
“Sierra,” Grant said, “no. You’re not going to run around all over the place searching for clues. This isn’t a Nancy Drew novel.”
“No, it’s way better than that. Nancy Drew was a dud.” She hurried to her closet to find her all-black outfit.
“What are you doing?” Alicia asked.
“Getting my sleuthing clothes.”
“Seriously? That ridiculous outfit you wore the last time we went out?”
“It’s not ridiculous,” Sierra shot back. “And also, it’s lucky.”
Alicia’s features twisted with confusion. “How do you figure that?”
“Simple. We found Kyle, right?” Sierra rolled her eyes as she toted her high-heeled boots to the bathroom. “I mean, if you want to wear that…”
Her nose wrinkled as she stared at Alicia’s outfit before she shrugged. “That’s fine. I just…am not as into L.L. Bean as you are.”
Alicia shot her sister a glance, and Julia patted her arm. “It’s fine. I like your shirt.”
“Thanks. Anyway, this got away from me faster than I expected, uh–“
“No one is going out tracking down clues,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “We are supposed to be watching a movie.”
“The movie stinks, Dad. Face it, we’re going sleuthing.” Kyle clapped him on the shoulder as he climbed off the bed.
“No, we are not,” Grant said, his voice reaching a new level of desperation.
Julia offered him a reassuring smile and a shrug. “At the very least, it got her mind off of the news.”
He let his chin fall to his chest and shook his head.
“You’re outvoted,” Alicia added. “Looks like we’re all going.”
“You can go,” Grant said. “You’re a cop. This is your job.”
“Yeah. And normally I’d tell you all that you’re interfering in police business but…technically, I’m not a cop right now because I’m on vacation, so…”
“Some help you are,” Grant said with a shake of his head.
Alicia shrugged and slid an arm around Julia. “Sorry, the Stanton sisters aren’t always the best influence.”
“I’m ready!” Sierra announced as she stomped her way into the room in her catsuit-like outfit.
“Yeah, I still don’t get that whole get-up, but okay. Let’s head out.”
“No,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “No, we’re not heading anywhere.”
Sierra stamped a heel on the floor. “Daddy! You owe me this.”
“I don’t think that’s true,” he answered. “Why don’t we eat the popcorn and watch the movie.”
Sierra rolled her eyes as she crossed to the door.
“No one wants to watch that movie. Not even Sierra. You coming?” Kyle asked as he backed his way from the room.
Grant shot Julia a pleading glance. “Do something.”
“I’m going to,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. “I’m going sleuthing.”
His shoulders slumped at the words. “Julia…can’t we just enjoy a night at home after the last two years? I think we more than deserve it.”
She slid her hand into his and tugged him toward the door. “Says the man who took me to Paris to celebrate getting out of the hospital.”
“That was different,” he said with a frown.
She slid her arm around his waist. “It’ll be a fun family bonding experience.”
He sucked in a breath as they reached the hall. “I guess at least Kyle and Sierra are finally getting along. And your sister and I haven’t killed each other yet.”
“I told you Kyle could surprise you,” she said as they reached the stairs.
“You were right again. And you’re probably right about this key. I just…don’t want to think about Lydia for a night.”
“I know, but once we determine if there’s anything to this threat, it’ll be over. And then we can watch all the bad movies you’d like.”
“I don’t actually want to watch that movie, I just…didn’t want to do this.”
Sierra pulled the front door open. “You can stay home, Daddy. We sleuth just fine without you.”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m not staying home. We’re all going. All of us. This is a family investigation.”
“I already called James,” Sierra said with a grin. “He’s got the Navigator ready.”
“Shotgun!” Kyle called as they stepped out the door.
“No,” Sierra answered. “You can’t call it until you see the car. That’s not how it works.”
“Yes, you can, Sierra,” he argued as they disappeared.
Grant scrubbed his face with a sigh. “I don’t know if we’re going to survive this family togetherness thing.”
“At least they’re getting along and not at each other’s throats,” Julia said.
“Right,” Grant said as he stared out the door. “I guess that’s progress.”
Julia offered him a smile before she glanced at Alicia who tapped on her phone. “You ready, Ally?”
“Actually, I was texting Ethan to see if he wanted to join the family sleuthing session.”
“Oh, okay, is he coming?”
Alicia shoved her phone into her pocket. “Yep. He said to give me a minute to walk the city block through the house to us.”
“Should we invite Alex and Worthington, too?” Grant said with a sigh.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Alex would never want to sleuth in person. He’s much more comfortable behind a computer screen,” Julia said. “Although Worthington…”
“No, Julia. I was kidding. I don’t even want the people going who are going. Except the two cops. This is right up their alley.”
Alicia chuckled at him as she slid her hands into her jeans' pockets. “Not really. I mean…back in the day when I was with the Bureau maybe, but Harbor Cove isn’t exactly crime central. Oh, you may not remember because I was busy terrorizing your family.”
“Do you miss it? The FBI, I mean?” Grant asked.
“Sometimes,” Alicia said with a shrug as Ethan hurried down the stairs.
“Hey, we’re checking out a lead?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Alicia answered as she held her hand out.
Ethan passed her weapon to her, and she slid it into her waistband.
“Do you think we need the guns?” Grant asked.
“Oh, we’re checking out a lead,” Ethan said, drawing a circle in the air with his finger. “Like all of us.”
“It’s a family affair, Ethan,” Alicia said as she clapped him on the back. “Car’s waiting.”
“The driver’s coming, too?” Ethan’s features crinkled as Alicia led him out the door.
“And the two kids,” she answered. “And Grant and Juju.”
Ethan offered them a confused glance over the shoulder. “Really?”
“I was against this,” Grant offered.
Julia slid her arm through his. “I thought you liked chasing clues with me.”
“I never said that. I didn’t want to go to that warehouse, remember? This is what security teams are for.”
“Just remember it wasn’t your security team who found Evie. Or who found Kyle.”
“Don’t remind me,” Grant said as they crossed the lawn toward the garage. “I really think I need to make a change on that front.”
“I hope we don’t need to find any more missing persons.”
“Me either, but still…”
“Whatever you think is best,” she answered as the car came into view. She narrowed her eyes at it, peering through the night.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
“I’m trying to see who won the battle of the front seat.” She straightened with a smile. “Sierra.”
“She’s definitely my daughter, no matter what the DNA says.”
Julia chuckled as they closed the distance to the vehicle and climbed into the backseat. Julia slid between Ethan and Alicia as Grant took the last captain chair in the middle row. James closed the door behind them before he slipped into the front seat.
“Did I hear right that we’re going to the Victorian?”
“That’s right,” Grant answered. “We’re…sleuthing.”
James shifted in his seat, staring out the windshield for a moment before he shifted into gear. “Right.”
“Don’t judge. You and Julia did the same thing without my knowledge. And you didn’t even tell me that she can pick locks.”
“Been using your skills, Juju?” Alicia asked.
Julia patted her knee. “Taught by the best.”
“I am a professional, though,” Alicia answered.
Kyle shifted in his seat to glance back at them. “You can pick a lock?”
“I can. And no, I still don’t believe you can despite what you said in Maine.”
“Hey, speaking of what happened in Maine, I heard you broke into our house. Not cool, doc,” Alicia said with a shake of her head.
He grimaced at her. “I didn’t break. You leave the doors open. I only entered.”
“That’s still trespassing,” Ethan said.
“It’s not…Julia was fine with it. Even when I pressed my hand over her mouth so she wouldn’t scream.”
Alicia shook her head. “This family is…never mind.”
“Hey, lady,” Sierra shouted from the front, “remember whose car you’re in. We will literally dump you on the side of the road.”
“No, we won’t,” Grant said with a shake of his head.
Sierra glared at her. “We will.”
“Sorry,” Alicia said, raising her hands. “I guess you all keep it interesting.”
James pulled the vehicle into the Victorian’s driveway, easing it to a stop outside the charred remains of the house.
The scent of burnt wood still filled the air as they piled from the vehicle. Grant wrinkled his nose at the house. “Is this safe?”
“Gosh, I hope not,” Sierra said as she rubbed her hands together.
“Sierra!” he chided.
“What? I need another rush. Rescuing Kyle was awesome.”
“Thanks, sis,” Kyle said. “I think so, too.”
“No problem,” she said with a pat on his shoulder. “You were so helpless. And we were so badass.”
Grant slid his eyes closed and shook his head.
Memories of the night of the fire raced through Julia’s mind. She shuddered as she recalled the flames dancing around her, the heavy scent of the smoke that choked her, and the deep fear that she wouldn’t see any of them again.
She shook it off, letting her curiosity kick in. “It’ll be okay. We’ll just take a quick look around.”
She slid her hand into his and tugged him closer to the rickety porch steps leading to the doorless opening. They stepped inside, eyeing the blackened walls. The house groaned, echoing the trauma it had withstood.