Page 627 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“No.”

Sydney nodded. She felt like she’d been taken up on the highest point of a roller coaster and then dropped. “Did they ever find out who killed Judge Crawford?”

“No, they never did.” She shrugged. “Henry had many enemies.” She turned and looked out the window. “I didn’t believe Henry when he told me he had an appointment.” She bit her lip then her voice faltered. “I—I was afraid he was meeting another woman.” When she turned to face Sydney, her eyes were moist. “If what you say is true, then Henry was telling me the truth. All these years …” Her voice trailed off.

“Mrs. Crawford, are you all right?”

The woman didn’t answer.

Sydney felt a touch on her shoulder. She turned to see the housekeeper. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Sydney stood and sighed. She walked over and retrieved the articles from Mrs. Crawford’s lap. “Yes, I believe you’re right.”

Conflicting emotions churnedinside Sydney during her drive back to Stoney Creek. The unanswered questions were mounting. Her whole theory—her reason for moving to Stoney Creek—everything hinged onif. IfAvery and Judge Crawford were planning on meeting, then Avery could have been the big break that Judge Crawford had mentioned to his wife. She had hoped that Mrs. Crawford would give her some concrete information that would help her link Avery and Judge Crawford’s death. It was a pit of snarling questions that’s bottom was growing more fathomless by the day. All she’d really gained from her visit was a splitting headache.

There was still Cecil Prichard. She’d have to find a way to get down to the basement to see his employment file. The basement door was always locked, but Sydney knew that Barb kept the keys in her desk. The ringing of her cell phone startled her. She reached to answer it and instantly recognized Kendall’s hesitant voice.

“Sydney?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been tryin’ to reach you. You haven’t returned any of my calls.”

Sydney kept her voice impersonal. “Yeah, it’s been a crazy week.”

“I need to talk to you. I’m comin’ over.”

“Kendall, it’s not a good time. Besides, I’m not at home right now.” There was a long pause. “I don’t think this is a good idea. We’re just too different.”

“At least let me try to explain.”

She winced. Was it hurt or desperation she detected in his tone? A part of her wanted to relent just to soothe him. He seemed to sense that she was wavering. “Five minutes of your time is all I ask.”

“Okay. I’m headed that way. I’ll meet you there in an hour.”

Kendall was waitingwhen she pulled into her driveway. They walked up to her front door in awkward silence. She was too drained to make polite conversation. Kendall was the one who precipitated their meeting. It was his turn to make the first move.

“Have a seat.” She walked past him to put down her purse.

Kendall sat on the sofa and began drumming his fingers on his thighs. She sat in the oversized chair across from him and waited for him to speak.

He cleared his throat. “Last weekend was a big mistake.”

That was an understatement.

“I should’ve never taken you to a cockfight.”

Never taken her? What about him? She couldn’t understand why he would want to go to such a vile place. “I appreciate your coming here to apologize, Kendall. I really do. It’s like I told you on the phone. The idea of you and me is great.” She paused, searching for the right words to express her feelings. “But in reality—we’re just too different.”

“I didn’t come here to apologize.”

Her mouth dropped. “What?”

“I came to make you understand where I’m comin’ from.”

Her eyes narrowed. That’s what this was about?

He looked her square in the face, his brown eyes pleading with hers. “I, um, I was ten years old the first time Daddy took me to a cockfight. I can imagine how it must’ve looked to someone who’d never seen anything like that before.”

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