Page 171 of Buried Too Deep

Harry swallowed. “I did it for her, but also for you two. You and John Robert were like the kids I’d never have.” One side of his mouth lifted in an attempt at a smile. “Miss Barbara is well past child-bearing age.”

Cora’s laugh was watery, her eyes shiny as she released Harry’s hand and leaned back in her chair. “You really are a sly dog, Harry.”

The man had tried to make her feel better when it was clear that he was hurting as well. Phin felt a little more grudging acceptance.

“Thank you for being honest,” Phin said. “We had to ask.”

Harry gave him a single nod. “I know. Cora is my heart.”

“Then why did you leave her alone on the street on Tuesday when a shooter had chased her through the Quarter?” Phin demanded.

Harry rubbed his temples. “I was so angry with myself for doing that. I was flustered by that detective. I don’t like police stations. They give me anxiety. I’m an estate attorney. I do wills and trusts. I don’t deal with criminals. I just wanted to get away from the police station, and Cora was insisting she was going to the hospital to see her friend. I was flustered,” he said again. “I’m sorry.”

That made sense. Kind of. Phin hated to admit it, but he could understand. Kind of.

“I got halfway to my office, then had the cab turn around and go back, but Cora was already gone. Then I got the call from my sister and everything kind of crumbled.”

“They’re twins, too, Phin,” Cora murmured. “Best friends.”

Shit. Now he really had to be nice to the guy. “I hope your sister is better soon.”

Cora laughed. “See, was that so hard?”

Phin scowled. “Yes. Yes, it was.”

She kissed Phin’s cheek. “Thank you.” She turned back to Harry, her expression sober once more. “Was my father happy here? In this house?”

Harry hesitated once again. “He loved your mother and you kids. At least I thought he did before I thought he was cheating. But he and your grandmother were never going to be best friends. I think he wanted to move you all out of this house. I know he’d been looking for one. Why?”

“I was wondering if that might have led to him doing whatever it was he was doing to get the money he socked away in that Swiss bank account.”

“Could have been,” Harry allowed. “Your mother would have gone with him anywhere, I do know that. She was hurt that Jack and your grandmother didn’t get along. Told me once that it might be better if no more Winslows lived in Winslow House.”

Cora sighed. “My grandmother was a stubborn woman.”

Harry’s smile was slight. “And your father was a stubborn man. Your mother was always playing peacemaker. Anything else?”

Cora nodded. “Yes. Did anyone break into the house after my father disappeared?”

Harry started to shake his head, then he blinked, his mouth forming an O. “Oh my gracious goodness. Yes, there were a few odd occurrences, but we didn’t consider them ‘break-ins’ at the time. Your father’s clothing disappeared. His toiletries. Normal stuff. Priscilla thought he’d come back for them while you all were out.”

“When was that?” Cora asked. “I don’t remember going anywhere special and Mama didn’t work outside the home back then.”

“It was on Sunday while we were all at church. The first time was the Sunday right after he disappeared. That was also the day after the first letter arrived, the one to your mother saying he had another family. The rest of the ‘break-ins’ also happened on Sundays. Your mother assumed it was because Jack knew we’d all be in church.”

Cora exhaled a quiet breath. “Harry, did you know Patrick Napier before he moved to New Orleans?”

Harry’s eyes widened in shock. “Patrick? You think Patrick was involved?”

“I don’t want to,” Cora said. “Did you know him then?”

Harry stared a moment longer before nodding once.

The single movement seemed to shatter Cora, the color draining from her face. “You did?” she asked brokenly.

Oh, Cora. She’d still been hoping that Patrick had not been involved in her father’s murder.

“I did. He’d inherited some money and wanted advice. I told him I wasn’t taking any new clients and referred him to a few other attorneys in the city. I didn’t hear from him again until he’d opened his gallery in the Quarter. I didn’t even realize he’d done that until I met him again at a Christmas party your mother threw. You and Tandy were best friends from school and you dragged me over to meet her and her daddy.”

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