Page 3 of Masked

“Come on,” Parker said, reaching for her hand. “The living room is this way.”

The officer followed them, and a few minutes later Noah returned with his phone.

“We’ll get this back to you as soon as possible, Mr. Jasper. Can you tell us more about when you last saw Elise?” The officer asked as he put the phone into an evidence bag.

Noah launched into a monotone recollection of his weekend. He’d worked late, and Elise asked if she could go on a last-minute trip for a charity she fundraised for. He’d agreed but told her to be home by tonight because they had things to do tomorrow.

Reva found it odd that it almost sounded like Elise had been asking for permission to go on a trip and was given a curfew, like some teenager. But that wasn’t important. Someone was dead. Killed gruesomely from the sounds of it.

Reva wasn’t sure how much longer she could handle sitting here listening to this conversation. There were too many parallels to the conversation she had with police six years ago.

She leaned over and whispered in Parker’s ear. “Where’s the bathroom?”

He nodded to the door. “Down the hall, past the kitchen. Want me to escort you?”

Reva shook her head. “No. Stay with him.”

In the bathroom, she splashed water on her face and tried to tamp down the emotion that felt lodged in her throat. After several minutes, she stepped back into the hallway and willed herself to head toward the living room. When she reached the entry to the impressive kitchen, she stopped. Maybe everyone could use some coffee. How hard could it be to find the coffee maker?

In the kitchen, the island was set with two plates and a bottle of wine was open on the counter. He’d been expecting her home and was going to feed her. Another wave of sadness washed over her, and she turned toward the wall of cabinets to search for coffee supplies.

“You didn’t strike me as the type to snoop.” The deep voice made her jump, and she whirled with a mug in her hand.

“Sorry. Coffee seemed like it would help right now, so I was going to make it. But I don’t see the coffee maker.”

“Making yourself at home? You must really like my son.”

Reva shrugged. “I just met him a couple of weeks ago.”

“And yet, you were in his bed when the police arrived.”

This conversation was getting uncomfortable fast.

“I’m sorry. I’ll just go back to the living room.”

For the first time, Noah smiled, and her heart twisted at the sight of it. It was a sad smile, but it made him even more handsome, and she fought the urge to hug him.

“The coffee maker is here.” He reached around her and pressed a button on the wall. The countertop split and a fancy machine rose.

“That thing looks like it cost more than my car,” she muttered as she stepped up to it and tried to sort out how to turn it on.

“Alexa, make a pot of coffee,” Noah said.

Then he turned and headed for the living room. Before he stepped into the hall, he said, “I like mine with cream, no sugar. Parker doesn’t drink it.”

Reva blinked and shook her head. What a strange interaction. But she was glad to have something to do other than dwell on the sadness in the other room. Noah seemed unfazed, but grief would hit him soon. There were little touches around the house that said he loved Elise.

A few minutes later, she carried a tray laden with coffee mugs and cream and sugar into the living room and set it down.

“Jesus, Noah. You asked her to make coffee. Elise isn’t even in the ground yet.”

Reva picked up her own coffee and sat next to Parker again. “He caught me in the middle of doing it. He didn’t ask.”

Parker looked at her skeptically before casting a glare at his stepfather.

Noah remained quiet throughout the entire strange exchange. It left her with even more questions about this family. All of them incredibly rude to ask.

The officer had dozens of questions for Noah about where Elise had been and who she was with. Some of the names that popped up surprised Reva. Bradley Givens was the son of a presidential candidate. Carrie Davenport-Mercer was a fairly well-known investigative journalist. Just who was Noah Jasper that he rubbed shoulders with these people?

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