Page 22 of Deathtoll
He frowned even deeper. Tapped his cane. Bristled. “I told Betty the other day, if I die, just bury me upside down and stick a peach pit up my ass.”
Chapter Seven
Kate
“I got a job!” Emma, dancing in place by the oven with both hands covered in mitts, announced in lieu of a greeting as Kate walked into the house.
“What?” Kate was still distracted—and more than a little stunned—by Mr. Mauro’s declaration outside. And now the delicious scent of dinner, something with tomatoes and oregano, distracted her even more.
Emma pulled out her earbuds and set them on the counter, but kept the victory dance going. “I was checking out the shops on Main Street today after I had lunch at the diner. I walked by the florist and saw a Help Wanted sign in the window. The lady who runs the shop, Alice, interviewed me on the spot.”
Kate dropped her bag in the foyer, tired to the bone, feeling guilty that she was coming home after dark. She had promised herself she wouldn’t work late while her sister was visiting. “Oh. Okay.”
Hurt flashed in Emma’s eyes. She stopped dancing. “I wasn’t planning on living with you. I will get my own apartment.”
Ah, dammit.
“Sorry.” Kate hurried forward. “I’m just preoccupied. If you stay, you’re definitely welcome to live here.” She took her sister’s mittened hands. “I just meant… Flower arranging doesn’t have a lot in common with banking.”
“I need a creative break. It’s temporary.” Emma rolled her eyes. “I’m not setting my finance degree on fire or anything.”
Okay.“Okay.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind if I stay here for a while?”
“We’re family.” Kate squeezed, then let her sister go. “Of course, I’m sure. Did you tell Mom and Dad? They’ll be upset that you’re not going back. Mom is experiencing…um…heightened emotions these days.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Emma had a giantduhstamp over her face. “Why do you think I needed to get out of the house and come up here for an impromptu visit?” She smiled sweetly. “A little distance will be good for them. Dad always wanted to buy into a small vineyard when he retired. But they’re not going to sell the house in LA as long as I’m there.”
Emma left the rest unsaid, but Kate read between the lines. Their parents had been clinging harder to Emma because they’d lost Kate, or thought they had when she had faked her death.
“Anyway.” Her sister smirked. “I don’t want to come between you and Murph. Like, I don’t want to be in the way if he shows up for a booty call.”
“No worries.” Kate’s entire mental library of naked Murph was under Fort Knox-level lockup. Not opening that. Not going there. “When I said we’re taking a break, I meant booty calls included.”
“You know he’s the hottest guy in town, right?”
“Hot isn’t everything.” Kate stepped to the sink and washed her hands so she could set the table. “We have issues.”
“Not insurmountable ones. Biggest problem is that you moved out on him. You got a new home that doesn’t include him at all. How do you think that makes him feel?”
Kate turned off the tap. “Last Christmas, when we drove around to see the lights, he told me he liked this neighborhood. His best friend in elementary school used to live around here. Murph said these ranchers were a great buy. Not a ton of square footage, but you could put an addition on the back and end up with thatanda private courtyard. He said the ceiling in the living room and kitchen could be raised to the rafters. Put in a few skylights. Lots of height and light and open space.”
Emma stared at her. “Does he know you thought about him when you bought this place?” But even as the last word was out, she zeroed in on Kate’s wrist. She grabbed Kate’s elbow. “What the hell happened?”
“Small accident with a patient.”Might as well get it over with.Kate pulled away and unwrapped her neck.
“Like what?” In a split second, Emma was ready to charge off to battle, eyes flashing, mittened hands on her hips. They had their disagreements, but in times of trouble, they would back each other up to the end. “An accidental hanging?”
“He’s troubled.”
“Did Murph knock him out?”
“That’s not what we do. We help people.”
“You’re crazy. You know that, right?”
“That’s what the patient said.”
