Page 65 of Buried Too Deep

Phin tensed. A white van had been parked a few doors down from Medford Hughes’s house last night. One of his neighbors had seen it and told the cops while he, Burke, and Antoine waited to give their statements. “What color was it?”

“White or maybe cream. Or gray? It was light, that much I remember. Or it was dirty. Sorry.”

Val frowned. “What about the driver?”

Another helpless shrug. “I didn’t look. I should have. I’m so sorry. I was in a hurry to make a delivery to Mrs. Williams at the end of Cora’s street. She’d ordered a sculpture for her husband’s birthday and it was delayed. It had come in the day before but she was too busy to come in. I told her I’d deliver it.”

“Oh, that’s right,” Cora murmured. “I forgot it was Mr. Williams’s birthday. I’ll have to drop off a card. She did tell me that she’d bought him a sculpture.”

“Carved out of a chunk of jade bigger than my fist.”

Cora’s eyes widened. “Wow. That sounds expensive.”

“It was,” Patrick said. “Which was why I hand-delivered it.” He dropped a kiss on Cora’s head. “I’ve got to get to the gallery. You’ll call me later so I know you’re okay?”

“I promise. What time did you see the van in my driveway?”

“Eleven, maybe? It was before noon, I know that.”

“Were you home on Friday morning, Cora?” Phin asked.

She shook her head. “I was at work.”

“We’ll ask your neighbors for camera footage,” Val said. “We’ll figure it out, Cora.”

Cora nodded. “I know.” But she didn’t sound sure of that at all. “You go on now, Patrick. Tell Tandy that I’m okay. She’s been texting me all morning.”

“She worries.” Patrick pressed another kiss to her temple. “So do I. Make sure these folks have my cell number in case you need me.”

“I will.” She started to show him to the door, then sighed when Val gave her a quelling look. “Sorry.”

“You’ll learn,” Val said as she ushered Patrick to the door, leaving Phin and Cora alone in awkward silence.

“She’s my friend,” Phin blurted, unable to keep the words in his mouth.

Cora looked doubtful. “Okay.”

Phin huffed. “Like a sister. She was with me the last time I…” He sighed. “The last time I spiraled. When I ran.”

Cora’s expression softened. “I see.”

“I don’t think you do,” he muttered. “She’s a twin. Like me.”

She stared up at him. “You’re a twin?”

“Yeah. I have a sister. Scarlett.”

“That you haven’t talked to in a while.”

He nodded, but now his neck was stiff. His whole body was drawn too tight. “Right.”

SodaPop sidled up to him, her whimper quiet.

“You can tell me, you know,” Cora murmured. Her smile was genuine, and his heart eased. “Only if you want, of course,” she added. “Are you gonna do the window locks today?”

“Yep,” he said, relieved at the topic change. “And I thought I’d look at your water heater. Your water’s only lukewarm.”

She grimaced. “I know. I’m reminded every time I wash my hair, but I can’t afford a new one. Not for a few months. I had to take money out of the trust last month to get the roof fixed.”

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