Page 22 of Buried Too Deep

Tandy stiffened. “What happened, Cora?”

“I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d worry. Someone broke into my house two days ago. I think they broke in more than once, but I’m certain they broke in two days ago.”

“Cora Jane!” Tandy whispered.

Cora gave her friend a guilty look. “I went to the police, but they didn’t take me very seriously. Nothing had been stolen, so they said there wasn’t much they could do.”

Phin could feel his face scowling and tried to smooth it, but it was no use. “Did they know that your father’s body had just been found?”

“Yes. NOPD said it might be connected, and shared info with the Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s department. But there wasn’t anything that the NOPD could do about the break-in. They took prints, but whoever broke in wore gloves.”

“What was disturbed?” Phin asked.

“Not much, really. If they did a search, they were neat. I kind of wish they’d ransacked the place because then the cops would have taken me more seriously.”

“How were you sure they broke in two days ago?” Burke asked.

Cora rolled her eyes. “I put Scotch tape over the doors. One of the pieces of tape was broken when I got home. I ordered a security system after the first break-in, but it didn’t arrive until last night. I installed it right away.”

“And you called us,” Antoine said.

“I called Joy,” Cora corrected. “I knew she worked for a PI. She said she’d get me in for a consult.”

“I knew I had an appointment this morning,” Burke said, “but I didn’t know who with. What happened when you arrived?”

Cora visibly braced herself. “I didn’t want anyone to know that I was going to see a PI, especially if whoever broke into my home was connected to whatever happened to my father. I mean, it could have simply been someone looking for information for a news story. That’s what the cops said. Or a lookie-loo wanting a souvenir. People are weird that way. Joy was the only one who knew I was coming. I wore a wig and my cloak with the hood, hoping to hide my face. Stupid, huh?”

“No,” Phin said forcefully. “Smart, actually. I thought we were looking for a brunette. But they must have been watching your house and followed you.”

“Yes.” Her eyes were suddenly wet. “I never meant for Joy to be hurt. She was my mother’s friend. She’s been in my life since I was a little girl. Please believe that.”

“I believe you,” Burke murmured. “What happened when you arrived at my office?”

Cora dashed at her tears with the back of her hand. “I was a few minutes early. Joy was just getting her coffee. She told me to go into the powder room and take off my ridiculous wig.” She smiled weakly. “So I obeyed. I do everything Joy tells me to do.”

“We all do,” Antoine said soothingly. “So you went into the bathroom?”

She nodded. “I was getting ready to take off the wig when I heard voices outside the door. It was Joy and she was mad. She said that she was calling the cops. I peeked out and saw a man. He was wearing all black. Ski mask and gloves. Boots. All black. I called 911, told them that there was an intruder.”

“So you called the cops,” Antoine said. “We knew someone had called, but it was an untraceable number.”

Cora winced. “I got a burner phone. It seemed prudent.”

Burke’s smile was gentle. “It probably was. Then what happened?”

“He went through the door behind Joy’s desk. Your office door, I think,” she told Burke. “I came out of the bathroom and started shoving Joy’s chair to the elevator. The motor wasn’t working. He’d broken it. She told me that she’d slow us down, that he’d hear the elevator.”

“I need to have that old thing replaced. It’s slow and loud. Dammit.” Burke shook his head. “And then?”

“She told me to run, that he was after me, and that she could take care of herself.” New tears filled her brandy-colored eyes and streaked down her cheeks. “I shouldn’t have run, but…Joy told me to. I’m so sorry. This is my fault.” Her voice broke on a sob. “Joy’s hurt because I was a coward and I ran.”

“No,” Phin said. “If you hadn’t run, he might have killed you. Or abducted you.”

Tandy flashed him a grateful look. “He’s right, honey. Joy would have tried to protect you. That’s her way.”

Cora just shook her head, covering her face with her hands as her shoulders shook.

Delores went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. She pressed it into Cora’s hand. “Drink this and try to breathe. This isn’t your fault. It’s the fault of the man who shot Joy. You running didn’t change the outcome.”

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