Chapter 76 Cara
SEVENTY-SIX
CARA
You just know she’s going to kill herself on TikTok live.
If Ajila and company were innocent of Karl’s murder, then Cara was going back to jail. Exhausted and out of ideas, she drove toward the one remaining beacon of light in her life.
When she arrived at Magellan Independent Senior Living, she parked in the lot outside, located the code on the front gate directory, and was quickly buzzed in.
Too impatient to wait for the elevator, she headed for the stairwell, taking the steps two at a time until she reached the third floor and knocked on B-307.
Aunt Evelyn didn’t look the least bit surprised when she opened the door. She just pulled Cara into her apartment and enveloped her in the warm, bosomy hug she so desperately needed.
“Oh, my darling girl!”
“I’m so sorry I didn’t contact you sooner. I just couldn’t.”
“I don’t imagine so. I’ve been watching all the coverage on television.”
Cara hugged her back tightly, her eyes filling with tears as she inhaled the comforting smells—vanilla, baby powder, and old-timey hair spray—of the woman she’d grown to love like a grandmother.
Evelyn released her from the hug but continued to hold her hands as she examined her carefully. “Bruised, bedraggled, and even thinner than I expected. I can’t even imagine what you’ve gone through.”
“I shouldn’t have survived it. But thinking of you helped get me through some of worst moments. The fact that you believed me when almost no one else did gave me strength.”
“No one else knows the things I know about who Karl was. And who you are.” Still holding one hand, Evelyn led her to the small but nicely appointed kitchen. “Let me make you a sandwich.”
“I can’t stay. It’s not safe—especially for you.”
“Nonsense.” Evelyn opened the refrigerator and pulled out deli-wrapped turkey, roast beef, and provolone. “The authorities already contacted me, and since I hadn’t seen or heard from you yet, I didn’t have to lie at all. I would have, of course.”
“The last thing I want to do is drag you into this mess.”
Evelyn’s wrinkles had wrinkles, but her bright blue eyes sparkled. “I can take care of myself. I’m also not above faking a bit of light dementia if I need to.”
“Who contacted you?”
“That sheriff from up north in Madera.”
“Jordan Burke?”
Evelyn nodded. “He told me he came down here to help out with the search.”
“Another reason for me to get out of here ASAP.”
“Where are you going next?”
“Definitely not the house. I went there yesterday and ran into Taylor. It went as well as I expected.”
Now tears filled Evelyn’s eyes as she put down the sandwich makings. “That poor girl. First her father, and now her mother has cancer and won’t live to walk her down the aisle.”
“Oh, no,” Cara said.
Her cool relationship with Karl’s first wife notwithstanding, no one deserved to suffer like that. And poor Taylor. Cara hadn’t had her parents at her wedding, either. It was yet another tragedy that they couldn’t support each other—Cara was uniquely qualified to help her stepdaughter cope.
“What were you doing back at the house?” Evelyn asked.
“Looking for clues. I have to find Karl’s killer.”
“I was afraid you would say that.” Consternation clouded Evelyn’s face. “If only the police had done their job in the first place.”
“Did Karl ever tell you he was having financial problems?”
“He told me there had been some setbacks with the surgical center, but he didn’t want to worry you. Although he didn’t go into detail, he said things had gotten complicated with his new investors. But you know Karl, he was sure things would work out for the best in the end.”
Cara glanced at a framed photo of Karl, smiling widely, standing between her and Evelyn at Taylor’s college graduation.
“I miss him so much,” Cara said.
“I know you do, sweetie.”
“I really don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“I’m old. Which supposedly means I’m wise. Or at least that you have to listen to me when I tell you something.”
“And what’s that?”
“You can’t think on an empty stomach. I’ll make you a sandwich to go.”