Page 102 of Trouble Comes in Threes

I considered that for a moment, then nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“Hope and I look a bit alike,” she said. “People sometimes think we’re sisters, but we’re cousins. Could she be your cousin?”

I stared at her in surprise. I hadn’t considered that she might actually be related to me. “I don’t have any cousins. Aunt Bessie and Uncle Albert didn’t have kids, and my momma didn’t have any sisters or brothers.” But what about second cousins? I didn’t know much about either side of my family tree. Maybe it was worth looking into.

“You don’t need to worry about my visions, okay?” I said softly as I kissed her forehead. “I’ve got it under control.”

“Okay, Aunt Rose,” she said in a tone that suggested I hadn’t been very convincing.

More guilt. If I hadn’t woken her up with my dream, then she wouldn’t be worried now. But at least she didn’t seem to be concerned about my argument with Joe anymore.

I headed back to my room, ready to climb into bed with Joe and tell him all the things I hadn’t been able to tell him with the kids around, but when I walked in, I found him lying on the bed in sweatpants and a T-shirt with his eyes closed, fast asleep.

The bathroom light was still on, so I brushed my teeth and got ready for bed. He was still asleep when I got into bed, releasing a soft snore, so I snuggled up next to him.

Maybe this was a blessing in disguise. I didn’t want to lie to him, and this way, I wouldn’t have to.

Then again, not telling him was a lie of omission.

I’d deal with that tomorrow.

Chapter Twenty-One

Joe was called into work before the sun rose. It was a short, clipped call that resulted in him getting up and throwing on his uniform.

“What’s goin’ on?” I asked, sitting up in bed while he went into the bathroom.

“Don’t worry about it, darlin’.”

I followed him into the bathroom. “Don’t do that, Joe,” I said, disappointment heavy in my voice. “I’m not a child. Tell me what’s goin’ on.”

He turned at the waist to face me as he brushed his teeth, then spat toothpaste into the sink. “I can’t, Rose. I’m in full media lockdown.”

“I’m not media, Joe.”

He pushed out a sigh and started brushing again. “I know,” he said with his toothbrush in his mouth.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “I’m not going to tell anyone. I didn’t tell Neely Kate about the second murder, and I suspect she’s still holding a grudge because she had to find out from someone else.”

He spat again, then rinsed his toothbrush under running water and rinsed out his mouth. When he stood upright, he turned sideways and leaned his hip against the counter. “There was another murder.”

My stomach dropped. “What happened?”

“Someone was shot.” He paused. “In the head. But it wasn’t a woman, Rose,” he said quickly, moving toward me and gripping my upper arms lightly. “It was a man. Someone found him in the woods by Schute Creek.”

Nausea struck me again. “Someone shot him in the woods?”

“I don’t know yet. The forensic team’s on their way, and I want to meet them there.”

“Did you ask Randy to try to find the guy in my vision?”

“He put out some feelers, but so far, nothing,” Joe said.

“Ashley brought up something I hadn’t considered,” I said. “She said the woman looked a little bit like Violet too. She wondered if the woman could be a cousin, but I told her I don’t have any cousins.”

His face went slack. “You told Ashley about your vision?”

My mouth dropped open. “You think I would do that?”

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