Page 44 of Passions in Death
“Shauna,” Eve corrected. “You have a lot of support here, and that’s going to be a tremendous help. But we’re going to give you the name of a grief counselor.”
“All right. But what if I don’t want to let go of that? What if I don’t want to stop the grief?”
“Then they—and your friends—will help you live with the grief. And when we find the person responsible, that will help you live with it.”
“She’ll still be gone.”
“Nothing can change that. If you were gone, and Erin was here, what would she want?”
Shauna took a breath, straightened her shoulders. “She’d want you to find the son of a bitch.”
Chapter Seven
“Shauna, can you think of anyone Erin was previously involved with who might have harbored a grudge against her, or you?”
“I can’t. I really can’t.” She looked toward Angie.
“No, I can’t, either. Erin was what I think of as a flitter. She flitted, you know?”
“Did she flit with anyone who was there last night?”
Angie blew out a breath. “Well, yeah, some. Wanda Rogan, ChiChi Lopez. But not close to serious on anyone’s part. Erin didn’t do serious relationships. That’s why Shauna was such a surprise. A really good one,” she added.
Angie shifted toward Eve. “I met Shauna at Erin’s art show, and I’ve known Erin for a long time, so I saw it. The spark. I even said something to her. I said something like: ‘Erin, you’re wearing your dream eyes, and isn’t she straight?’ And she sighed, she actually sighed like you do when you’re just gone over someone, and said: ‘Passion’s passion, love’s love.’ I honestly thought she’d get her heart broken, and she told me if you don’t risk heartbreak, you’re not living. And she felt…” She trailed off as her voice thickened. “She felt like she’d finally started living.”
“She said that?” Shauna murmured. “That very first night?”
“She did. Glenda and I talked about it. We worried.”
“Glenda Frost?” Eve prompted. “The woman who runs the gallery?”
“Yeah. She loved Erin, as a person, as an artist. I let her know what happened, and she’s heading back to New York today.”
“Both she and Donna missed the party. Was anyone else a no-show?”
Shauna pressed a hand to her temple. “It’s all such a blur.”
“Kaydee couldn’t make it.” Becca spoke up. “She’s an intern, doing an ER rotation. She tagged me about ten last night. Multi-vehicle accident, and they were taking the bulk of the injured.”
“What hospital?”
“Midtown West.”
“Anyone else?”
“No. Angie and I did the guest list,” Becca said. “We shared the parties—this one and the shower last month—though Erin and Shauna did most of the planning for last night. But I did a head count once things got rolling. I’m kind of anal that way.”
Greg looked up, smiled at her. “Only that way?”
She just laughed a little and poked him. “Maybe in a few others.”
“Did anyone leave early? Anyone step out awhile and come back?”
“I didn’t notice anyone. Angie?”
“No, not that I noticed, either. Bathroom breaks—but we went in twos or groups, like we already talked about. It’s possible, I guess, but we weren’t really that big a group. And between Becca and me, we know everyone. I’d swear there was no one there who’d do this.”
Greg started to push up from his chair. “Shauna, let me get you some tea.”
