CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Five days later, Bree sat on the back porch and sipped tea. The flu had kicked her butt, but today she was feeling more normal. The rain had finally stopped.
Her phone rang with a call from Todd. He’d been running the department since Bree had been too sick to function.
“I have some news,” he said. “They found Howard Killian’s car in a ravine not far from his favorite bar.”
“Was he inside?”
“Yep. The ME says he’s been dead for about five days.”
“So, since the night we found Grace.” Bree tried to summon some empathy for Howard but failed. He had been nothing short of cruel to Grace, and he’d enjoyed it.
Todd added, “It’s too late to determine blood alcohol levels, but other patrons at the bar said he was hammered when he left. Do you want me to tell Grace?”
Blood alcohol levels were only accurate for approximately forty-eight hours after death.
“No. I’ll call her. Not sure how she’ll respond, and we have a rapport.”
“You’re better then?” Todd asked.
“Much.”
“I’ll tell you the same thing you told me. Don’t rush into the office. Get well first.”
“You’ve come a long way, young Padawan.”
Todd snorted. “I thought you’d want to know.”
“Thanks. Matt said you did a great job questioning Sandy.”
“Still felt slimy, like I needed to shower afterward. But I appreciate all you’ve taught me. Get some more rest. We do need you back. Madeline Jager has been here twice. I’d almost rather chase a killer through a dark forest than deal with her.”
“You and me both.” Bree signed off and lowered the phone.
Across the yard, Matt was helping Kayla give Pumpkin a bath. The pony stood placidly while they scrubbed a winter’s worth of dirt from his shaggy coat. The dogs watched from a patch of dry grass.
“Walk him until he’s dry.” Matt turned off the hose and handed Kayla the lead rope. “You don’t want him to roll.”
“OK.” She led the pony across the grass.
Matt approached the porch, climbed the steps, and perched on the railing next to her chair. The dogs followed at his heels.
“It looks like all the dirt that was on Pumpkin is now on you.”
He brushed mud from his jeans. “It’s a dirty job. I’m going to get cleaned up. What do you want for dinner?”
“You don’t have to cook.”
He gave her an assessing side-eye. “I think you need another day or two of rest. Your face is still the color of skim milk.”
“You sweet talker.” Bree rose. “Go shower. I’ll rummage in the pantry. Better yet, I’ll look through the take-out menus.”
“I like that idea.”
They went into the kitchen, where the dogs took turns at the water bowl. Matt carried his boots to the laundry room and carefully placed them on a shelf. He sniffed, then picked up his spare pair. “I can’t believe it. There’s a hairball in my boot. How did he even get up there?”
Bree spotted Vader on top of the refrigerator. “He’s agile?”
“And vindictive.” Matt shot the cat a look.
Vader lifted a back leg and began to wash his privates. Bree stifled a laugh.
“I know what he thinks of me.” Matt carried the soiled boot to the door and tossed it outside.
“Maybe you should try tuna instead of glares.”
Matt eyed the cat. “Nah. This is our thing. If I grovel, he won’t respect me.”
Bree didn’t have the heart to tell him the cat didn’t respect him anyway. Instead, she lied. “He’ll come around.”
He wouldn’t. He was a cat.
Grumbling, Matt crossed the room and kissed her on the lips. “She’s mine, cat. Get used to it.”
Bree kissed him back. But after he’d left the kitchen, she reached up and scratched Vader’s head. “It wouldn’t hurt you to be nice.”
The cat purred.
“I know we’ve been together longer, but you should give him a chance. He’s a good guy.”
Vader ran down the front of the fridge like Spidercat and headed toward the laundry room. Bree crossed the room and firmly closed the door. “Now you’re just being an ass.”
Vader turned and sauntered away, and because she loved them both, Bree went online to order Matt a few new pairs of boots. They were going to need a reserve.
Matt came down just as the pizza guy brought their delivery to the kitchen door. Bree took the warm boxes, her appetite stirring for the first time in a week.
He lifted the lid and sniffed. “Roasted red peppers and mushrooms?”
“Don’t worry. The other is sausage.”
“Whew.” He took the boxes from her and carried them to the counter.
“I’ll call the kids.”
Matt grabbed her around the waist. “In a minute.” He kissed her, then gave her a serious look. “Where do you see us in five years?”
Bree laughed. “Did that pregnancy test freak you out?”
“No.” He kissed her again. “But it did make me think.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“So? Where do you see us in five years?” He wrapped his hands around her and settled them at the small of her back.
“Oh, you’re going to marry me eventually.”
He snorted, a grin spreading across his face. “I am?”
“Yep.”
“When do you think this is going to happen?”
She rose on her toes and kissed him back. “When the time is right.”
“Wanna know a secret? I would marry you today.” He pulled her closer. “When do you think it’ll be right?”
She flattened her hands on his chest. “I think we’ll know.”
The back door burst open, and a very dirty little girl screamed, “Pizza!”
“Boots off!” Matt countered.
Kayla began shedding muddy boots and outerwear like a tornado.
Bree smiled as Matt disentangled their bodies and jumped into the mess to gather the muddy gear. She’d marry him today too, but she suspected that was no secret either.