Page 128 of Fatal Witness

“I’ve always thoughtindependentwas just a nice word forstubborn, and yes, she’s been that way ever since I’ve known her.”

Mark followed Dani as she climbed the steps to the porch and entered the living room.

“At least with the new central heat and air, you won’t have to cut firewood for her,” Dani said.

“I’m still surprised she agreed to let you put that in.”

“I didn’t exactly ask her. This is a surprise, but since I’m going to be staying with her for a while, we’ll need it.”

“Think you’ll be okay here? It’s pretty isolated—not many neighbors.”

“Well, there’s you.”

Mark grinned. “This is true.”

She picked up the photo of her mom. “Has Kyle broken his silence?”

“Still not talking. Arraignment is next week, and he refuses to see anyone except his lawyer, not even his grandfather.”

“How is Mr. Peterson?”

“He’s better. They got him to the hospital before his heart sustained damage.”

“Do you know what Kyle’s being charged with yet?”

“Right now, your kidnapping and attempted murder. The DA is still putting together a case against him for the murder of your parents.”

“What’s there to put together? Isn’t the gun he used when he tried to kidnap me the same one that killed my parents?”

“We know it was the same type—.45 caliber—but we won’t know for sure until the ballistics report comes back.”

Dani sighed. If only she could remember what happened that night. Then there wouldn’t be any question of Kyle’s involvement.

He took her hand as they walked to his Expedition. “Are you ready to head back to town? I have to take Gem to the vet for a follow-up visit. She keeps biting at something on her side.”

“And I need to get back too. Judith and Carson are leaving for an appointment with his cardiologist, and I don’t want to leave Nonny by herself for long. I don’t care what she says, she’s not fully recovered.”

Forty-five minutes later, Dani parked the Navigator behind the Stones’ house. Out of habit, she looked for the deputy stationed outside the house before she remembered that Alex had pulled him once she was confident that Kyle was the killer. She grabbed her purse and hurried inside the house. “I’m back,” she called.

No one answered, not even Lizi. Maybe Nonny was taking a nap. Dani tiptoed down the hallway and peeked inside Nonny’s bedroom. The bed hadn’t been disturbed.

Dani fumbled for her phone, and her legs threatened to buckle when she saw something dark on the other side of Nonny’s bed. Lizi, and she wasn’t moving.

She rushed to the dog and knelt beside her, placing her hand on the dog’s chest. A rush swept over Dani when her hand rose and fell. Lizi was alive.

Dani jerked her phone out to call 911, and a text from her grandmother’s phone popped up. She quickly opened it, and her breath stilled.

I have your grandmother. If you want to see her alive again, come to her house on Eagle Ridge.

They’d just come from Nonny’s house. How had she missed them?

She punched in Mark’s number, and the call went to voicemail. No! Dani quickly left a message, laying out what was happening and telling him she was going to her grandmother’s house.

Then she replied to the text.

What do you want?

You. And the diamonds if you have them. You might can buy your grandmother’s life.

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