Page 23 of Little Stolen Memories

I slid Danny’s address into my handbag and said, “I’ll see if I can speak to him after we finish up here. Then I’ll head out to Cora’s grandmother’s cabin. I was told they haven’t been there since the murders.”

“I’ll see what I can find on Xander while you’re gone,” Hunter said.

“And I’ll be speaking with the victims’ families,” Simone said.

The agency’s front door opened, and in walked a woman I wasn’t sure I was ready to see this early in the morning.

“Yoo-hoo, Georgiana, are you here?”

“I’m in my office, Mom.”

Simone leaned toward me and whispered, “Ehh, I’m thinking we should go, leave you to talk to your mother alone.”

I shot Simone a wink and said, “Abandon me if you must.”

Hunter and Simone wasted no time exiting my office, and my mother sauntered in. She closed the door behind her, set a plate of quiche covered in plastic wrap on my desk, and plopped down on a chair in front of me.

“I see you’re out and about early today,” I said. “Thanks for the quiche.”

“You have a big case ahead of you. I figured you’d enjoy a few slices of one of your favorite breakfast dishes.”

We stared at each other for a moment, and I contemplated what to say next.

I assumed Harvey had spoken to her, and that was the real reason she’d stopped by my office unannounced.

“How’s your morning been going?” I asked.

My mother raised a brow. “As if you don’t know.”

“I’m guessing you and Harvey have talked.”

She brushed a few crumbs off her shirtsleeve. “Yes, dear. I know all about his desire to be involved in the case.”

“And?”

My mother clasped her hands together, setting them on her lap as she said, “I believe we’ve come to an arrangement.”

I was almost afraid to ask.

“What kind of arrangement?”

“One where I tag along.”

Tag along?

She can’t mean …

“You’re not saying you’re going to tag along with me, are you?” I asked.

As soon as I’d blurted out the words, I realized my approach could have been much more genteel.

Too late now.

My mother swished a hand through the air. “Heaven’s no, child. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I would tag along with you in a heartbeat. Think of the fun we’d have. Mother and daughter, sleuthing together, catching the bad guy. I know you though, and I know you’d never allow it.”

The disappointment on her face was loud and clear, but she was right. Having her along wouldn’t be a good idea.

“When you say you’re going to tag along, what do you mean?”

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