Page 40 of Deep Tide

“Oh my gosh, you made all this?”

“Yes, on the gumbo. The bread is from Rogelio, who does a lot of our baking.” She unzipped an insulated tote and took out two quart-size travel containers of soup. “These are microwave safe, so you can just pop them in. Or heat it in a pot on the stove, whatever’s easiest.”

“Gosh, thank you. Jacob’s going to be thrilled. He absolutely loves gumbo. Benji, no.”

The dog was in the living room now with one of the sandals that had been sitting beside the door. Bailey rushed over to rescue it.

“Sorry.” She smiled at Leyla. “I think he gets excited for visitors.”

Leyla walked over to pet him.

“Can I get you some coffee or anything?” Bailey asked. “We’re fresh out of soft drinks.”

“I’m good. I just had an espresso back at the shop.” She watched Bailey play with the dog. “How’s the house sitting going?”

“Great. Jacob’s out in the kayak right now. He’s been out every day this week. We watched the sunset last night from a cove not far from here.”

“Sunset Cove.”

“I don’t know what it’s called. There were lots of boats.”

Leyla smiled. “It’s a popular spot.”

“It was beautiful. I can see why Miranda loves it here.”

Leyla noticed the wall of pictures on the far side of the room. “That’s new.”

Bailey turned around. “You mean the photo wall? Yeah, Joel did that for her. He painted it black and installed the spotlights.”

Leyla walked over for a closer look at the framed photographs that made a striking display against the matte black backdrop. There were four rows of four. Some were bird close-ups, others were landscapes, some were fishing boats. Leyla zeroed in on a photograph of a great blue heron silhouetted against a fiery orange sky.

“These are amazing,” Leyla said.

“I know.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t stay with nature photography.”

Miranda had originally moved to the island to do nature shots and take a break from photographing crime scenes.

“She can’t stay away from CSI work,” Bailey said. “I don’t know why when it’s so gruesome. But that’s Miranda. She’s really passionate about it.”

Bailey’s expression grew serious, and Leyla braced herself for what she knew was coming.

“I was so sorry to hear about Amelia Albright,” Bailey said.

Leyla nodded.

“What a terrible shock.”

Leyla’s throat felt tight. “Yes. It’s really...” She shook her head. She still didn’t have words for it. Nothing seemed adequate.

“Have the police made any progress?” Bailey asked.

“I don’t know. They’re not really keeping me in the loop.”

Bailey sat on the sofa arm. “I’ve been reading everything I can get my hands on about it. But the coverage has been light, honestly. I’m surprised.”

Bailey was a reporter for a newspaper in Austin. Leyla remembered now hearing how Bailey had broken a big story related to a brutal murder up there. Leyla didn’t recall all the details, but she remembered that Bailey’s reporting had uncovered the critical fact that the victim had been in the witness protection program. So, like her sister, Bailey was no stranger to the aftermath of violence.

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