Chapter 6
Berkley opened her front door, surprised to find Krystal on the other side looking exhausted and serious. “Hey, got your text, what’s up?” she asked even as she took a step back.
Oh god, did her sister know that she’d woken up in a dead guy’s house? Had she found evidence linking her to the murder? Maybe she was here to arrest her. Berkley wondered if Krystal would let her brush her teeth before she hauled her in.
The bottom of her stomach dropped out as her sister stepped inside, stripped off her coat. “Just wanted to talk to you about something. You know a guy named James Reed?”
“No.” The lie stuck in her throat. Though technically she didn’t know him.
Her sister slipped off her boots as she held out her tablet. “These phone records say otherwise.”
Berkley scanned the PDF file on the tablet. “Oh, this is Dana’s phone. I mean, it’s a company phone, but this is her number.”
“I figured it was something like that since it wasn’t your actual number. But you show up as the owner of record.”
“I’m the owner of record on four different numbers.
” The fact that Dana, one of her part-time employees, had been talking with him could mean nothing.
But it also might be important. She had no way to know.
Berkley tried to keep her expression calm and normal and not let on that she’d been in the guy’s house that morning.
God, had it only been that morning? Whatever, if she had to, she’d take this to the grave.
“I know,” Krystal said around a yawn as she let her head roll back. “I found that out on the drive here.”
“Why are you here so late? I mean, it’s not late, late, but I know you get off at five or six.
” It was close to eight now. Well past time when Krystal usually made it home to her family.
Maybe…she really did know more than she was letting on?
Berkley’s gut tightened again even though Krystal’s body language was relaxed.
“I’m here because I didn’t want to go home,” her sister said bluntly.
“Why not? Also, why are you asking me about someone named James Reed?” Berkley figured that if she had no knowledge of the guy, it would be normal to wonder why Krystal was asking about him. Even though the absolute last thing she wanted to do was talk about him.
“My family is making me nuts, and Reed is connected to an ongoing investigation. Do you have anything edible here?”
Berkley snort-laughed, some of the tension in her shoulders easing as she finally led her sister into the kitchen. Their normal gathering place. “I actually do. I’ve got a couple burritos Silvia dropped off, courtesy of her mom.”
“Her mom’s an angel. How’s she doing anyway? With all the health stuff.”
“I’m not sure. She’s been quiet about it when I ask and I haven’t pushed. I think I’m going to though. I’m worried she’s shouldering too much on her own.”
“Probably a good idea.” Krystal sighed as she sat at the island top.
Berkley slid the burritos into the oven, not waiting for it to preheat.
When her sister didn’t grumble about it, she knew something was definitely off.
Because Krystal believed that not waiting until the preheat was at full temperature was a mortal sin.
“Is everything okay with you and Mike? Or is this work stuff?”
“Mike and I are okay. The kids are just at a tough age and the transition with my new job has been a lot for everyone, that’s all.”
“If you’re sure… Are we still on for tomorrow? Because I’ve got your birthday sash and crown all ready to go.” She pulled out lemon sparkling water, Krystal’s favorite, and poured her a glass.
“Definitely still on. No work on Sundays for me. Technically I shouldn’t be working today either, but we needed to get a jump on things and one of our detectives has been out sick.”
“I’m sorry it’s been such a strain on you.”
Krystal shrugged.
“Other than not wanting to go home, is the case the only reason you came over here today?” The oven beeped that the preheat was finally done, which meant their burritos would be done soon.
And it was better this way anyway because it slowly heated up from the inside, something her sister refused to believe.
“No.” Krystal slid off the stool and started pulling out sour cream and guacamole from the fridge, taking over in the way of a big sister who’d been here hundreds of times and had helped Berkley organize her kitchen when she’d moved in.
“I’m just feeling weird about my thirty-fifth birthday, and you’re the only person who’s never made me cry on my actual birthday. I wanted to see you.”
Berkley blinked as surprise shot through her for a multitude of reasons. “You wanted to see me?” Did her throat catch? Why yes it did.
Krystal frowned at her. “Of course I did, dummy. I want to see you all the time.”
Berkley pulled her into a hug as a weird wave of emotion overwhelmed her.
She’d gotten her life together years ago but sometimes it still bowled her over that maybe her family didn’t see her as that same screw-up anymore.
And she was scared that this murder would drag her back into the muck.
Then she felt like shit for worrying more about herself than some dead guy. Why was being a human so complicated?
“Hey, hey.” Krystal patted her back gently. “We can’t both be all emotional.”
She laughed against her sister’s shoulder and pulled back. “Can you also explain this whole ‘I’m the only one who’s never made you cry on your birthday’? Because what the ever-loving hell is that about?”
“I’m not going to get into details, but yeah, my boys have all been absolute nightmares at one point or another on my birthday. And Mike forgot it three years ago.”
“You said everyone though. Did…our dumbass brothers also make you cry?”
“Why do you sound gleeful?” Krystal threw a dish towel right at her face.
“Come on, I’m the family black sheep! I know I made you shed a lot of tears over the years.”
“Well not on my birthday. You…have actually made all my birthdays wonderful. The balloon arches, the silly decorated cupcakes, you always go all out. In case I haven’t said it enough, thank you.
And please don’t call yourself the black sheep.
You screwed up when you were younger, sure, but you’ve paid for it and absolutely no one is holding it against you. ”
She chose to ignore the last part and preened slightly. “I’m going to make a sash for myself that says I’m the only Knight sibling to never make you cry on your birthday! I’m wearing it tomorrow.”
“I can’t tell if you’re joking.”
Berkley simply grinned as the timer went off. “Guess you’ll find out tomorrow,” she said as she pulled out their food. The scent of it hit her as they both groaned.
“I don’t even care if you do,” Krystal muttered, then frowned as she glanced at her buzzing phone.
Berkley wanted to ask if it was work or personal, but asking about her work felt too deceptive. She hated keeping anything from her sister, but Micah was right, she couldn’t tell Krystal anything. It would put her in an impossible situation.
“Oh, guess who I saw today? Nick Storm,” her sister said before she could answer.
Berkley made a face. “I saw him too. At Brunch and Bliss. Where’d you see him?”
“Ah, work-related.”
“Oh, well I guess mine was work-related too. Ish. He was out with his sister and as charming as ever,” she said dryly.
Krystal snickered. “He really does have a stick up his ass, doesn’t he? A guy that good-looking shouldn’t be allowed to be so insufferable. Though he wasn’t too bad when I interviewed him. He was really polite.”
“He knew the guy involved in your investigation?” she asked carefully, hating this line she was crossing.
“Sort of. I can’t talk about it.”
“I get it.” And she did. So she changed the subject even though she wanted nothing more than to grill her sister to find out what the hell had really happened.
Who was James Reed? And more importantly, who had killed him?