Page 126 of The Dollmaker

“I can’t look at it every day, knowing I failed her.”

She shook her head. “You didn’t fail her. This will be a reminder that you’ll figure this out.”

“No.”

“If you don’t want it now, let me hold on to it until you’re ready.”

“Suit yourself.” He turned from the room, moving quickly, needing fresh air.

She followed and found him on the front porch, where the morning sun would warm him and the fresh air wasn’t tainted with musty scents that only reminded him of loss.

As they stood in silence, a dented old pickup truck pulled up in the circular driveway behind his car. A younger man dressed in jeans, a clean black T-shirt, and work boots got out of the truck.

Sharp moved down the porch steps. “Henry Jones, right? Terrance’s cousin.”

“That’s right.”

“What’re you doing here, Mr.Jones?”

“Here to check out the property. My dad and I work with Mr.Benson’s lawyer, Donna Conner. When a property is empty or needs tending, she calls us. The place yours now?”

Sharp glanced at the still, dark house. “I don’t know. Just found out it’s mine.”

Henry slid a hand in his pocket and rattled change. “Lots of good memories in this house. My sister used to play with Roger’s daughter.”

The smallness of this community never failed to shock him. Tessa came to his side, and he took comfort having her close. “You knew Kara?”

“I did. Nice kid. A little spoiled, but nice.” Henry shifted his stance. “You make any progress on Terrance’s case?”

He never made promises to a family when it came to finding a killer. He had always stuck to that rule. But not now. He’d find this son of a bitch. “I’ll find him.”

Henry nodded. “Thank you.”

Sharp and Tessa moved toward his car. He found himself irritated and pissed off for no other reason than this near stranger had been here when Kara had been laid to rest and he had not.

“You’ll figure it out,” Tessa said.

“You sound so sure.”

“Damn straight.”

He’d forgotten how she could steady him and pull him back from the darkness. He leaned over and kissed her. She responded immediately, grabbing his lapel and pulling him toward her. He wanted to find a quiet spot. Strip her. Be inside her. His phone buzzed with a text. At first, he ignored it, but the damn phone buzzed with a second text.

“I have to check this.” The words traveled past his lips on a sigh.

She moistened her lips. “It’s okay.”

He checked his phone. The first text read:Homicide.The second was the address.

“I’ve got to go to work,” he said to Tessa.

She squeezed his hand. “Drop me at your place and I’ll grab my car.”

“Thanks for being here.”

“I wouldn’t have missed it.”

When Dakota dropped Tessa off at her car, she was sorry to let him go. It had been nice being with him, working beside him and being a part of his world.

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