Page 13 of Ruthless Beast

Coffee? I need whiskey.

“No. Thank you.”

Dannie and I follow Cox to his office. My best friend has her arm around me, no doubt concerned that I’ll hit the floor again. The initial shock has passed, leaving behind a numbness that’s hard to describe to someone who’s never lost a loved one.

Once we’re back in his office, Cox closes the door and sits down on the edge of his desk while Dannie and I settle on the couch.

“Where did you find him?” Dannie asks.

“In his car outside his apartment.”

“Who called you?” I want to know.

“Someone who lives in his building—a neighbor. She was suspicious when your brother had been seemingly sitting out there in his vehicle for a few hours.”

“Was it an attempted mugging or something?” I ask again.

“If it was, the attacker must have been interrupted because all of David’s valuables were still on him.”

“This is insane,” Dannie says incredulously. “David lives in a gated community. It’s safe out there. How could this happen?”

I’m trying to keep myself from falling apart, so I don’t say too much. The shock of it all is still coursing through my veins.

“Do you know of anyone who would want to harm your brother, Emily?”

“No,” I answer simply.

"Please call me if you think of anything that may have bearing on this case.”

“I thought you said this was a mugging gone wrong,” Dannie interjects.

“That’s what it appears to be,” he answers. “But we have to consider all possibilities.”

“Can we go home now?” I ask, feeling completely deflated.

“Of course. I’ll be in touch.”

“Come, Ems. Let’s go home. I’ll drive.”

Dannie and I leave the precinct as the sun peeks over the horizon. My first day without David. I don’t know how I’m going to do this.

* * *

It’s been two days, and I cannot bring myself to get out of bed. Daniella is clearly concerned about me, as she hasn't been to any of her classes and won’t leave me alone in the apartment for longer than half an hour or so.

“I’ll be fine, Dannie,” I say when she checks in on me.

“I’m not leaving you, Ems.”

David’s death is a terrible shock for both of us. Dannie has been in love with Davy since the moment she first saw him when he picked me up from high school. My best friend is taking his death almost as badly as I am. I’m grateful for her comfort.

“We have to make funeral arrangements, Sweety,” she says once she’s sitting next to me on the bed.

“I know.”

“I’ll help you.”

I burst into tears at the thought of David’s lifeless body buried in the ground. Another Thornton gone forever. I’m all alone now.

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