Page 137 of Buried Too Deep

“He clearly did more than that, because somebody killed him,” Antoine said logically. “The person who shot Joy and stole our stuff could have just thrown the laptops in a dumpster somewhere, but he didn’t. Somehow they ended up with Medford Hughes. As did Jack’s murder weapon.”

Phin had a thought, because Clancy wasn’t a stupid cop. “I wonder if Clancy wants us to talk to the sister. Maybe come at it from a non-cop perspective. He didn’t have to tell us that the sister gave him that information, but he did.”

Burke’s smile was approving once again. “We need to talk to the sister. Dig more into Medford Hughes’s life.”

“I want to go with you,” Cora said from behind them.

They turned as one, Phin rising as Cora came into the kitchen. He cupped her cheek in his palm, happy when she leaned into his touch. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”

She shrugged. “My phone woke me up. Text from Tandy. She’ll be here in a few minutes.”

The Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 6:30 P.M.

“Thank you, Phin.” Sitting at her kitchen table, Cora cupped her hands around the mug of tea. She was so cold and her stomach hurt.

Tandy was coming and Cora was going to have to ask her some very difficult questions.

Phin put his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him. “She’s my best friend,” she murmured.

“We can ask the questions,” Phin offered.

Cora wanted to say yes.

“It might be better if we do,” Val said with a sympathetic grimace. “We can be more objective.”

Cora swallowed. “She’s my best friend,” she repeated, her voice flat and dull. Just like she felt inside. “She’s been there for me every day of my life since we were in the third grade. She was with me when John Robert took his last breath. I can’t hurt her this way.”

“We can tell her that you’ve gone back to sleep,” Burke said. “In my opinion, we shouldn’t even be asking her any of this. Not until we can more deeply investigate her father. She’s going to tell him, Cora.”

Cora stared at the tea in her cup. “If it’s not him, if you’re wrong, it’ll hurt him. If you’re right and he did kill my father, he might up his efforts to get to me.” She looked up, met Burke’s gaze, fully aware that Phin was scowling beside her. “Then you can catch him.”

“You will not be bait,” Phin said harshly.

Turning her focus to him, Cora used her thumb to smooth away the deep, angry lines caused by his frown. “I’m not going to hide in my house forever. I want this over. If being bait to draw Patrick out is necessary, that’s what I’ll do. You guys are good at protection, right? I’m in good hands.”

Phin’s eyes narrowed. “You’re manipulating us. Me.”

“I know. Makes it no less true.” She drew a breath. “Let me start. It’ll seem less intimidating if I start us out. I may blame you all for thinking Patrick could be guilty.”

“That’s okay,” Burke said gently. “We can be the bad guys. It wouldn’t be the first time.”

A key turned in the front lock and Tandy called, “Cora? I’m here.”

Val’s brows were raised. “You gave her a key?”

Cora nodded. “When she was here last night, helping us search. Before we knew about the Renaissance paint.” She turned in her chair. “In the kitchen, Tandy.”

Tandy blew in like she usually did, wearing a chic pantsuit, her blond hair up in its usual ponytail. She dropped a kiss on Cora’s cheek before grinning at the arm Phin had draped over her shoulder.

“You go, girl,” she said happily, then looked at the faces around the table. Everyone was sober and suddenly Tandy was as well. “What’s going on?”

Cora had to make herself breathe. “Can you sit down? I need to ask you some things that aren’t going to be easy for either of us.”

Frowning now, Tandy sat next to Antoine and across from Cora. “I heard about Minnie. I’m sorry.”

Cora closed her eyes, the guilt and loss like a knife. “Me too.” Just do it. She opened her eyes and met Tandy’s gaze. “This is…well, I don’t believe it, but there are loose ends and we need to…” She trailed off, unable to form the words.

---