Page 6 of Touch the Stars
We are more powerful than we think.
How many times had Kris said that to her?She fingered the half-heart charm on her necklace with “Sisters” engraved on it.Kris wore the other half.
“Where are you, Kris?I feel you.You’re still affecting my life.”Stinging tears blurred the crystal-clear stars.“Goddamn, I miss you.You’re in so much fucking trouble right now, I just know it.And I can’t help you.”
Hot tears rolled down her cheeks, and she brushed them away with the backs of her hands.A distant pair of headlights appeared way down the road, coming from the direction of town.
“So, sis.”She ran her tongue over her lips.“I finished moving your stuff into storage and closed up your condo today.I’ll put it on the market next week.Hope you don’t mind…I know how much you love that place.But I can’t afford two mortgage payments—ya really should’ve thought about that before ditching on me.”She huffed a laugh.“Anyway, I guess you’ll just have to stay with me when you get back.”
The headlights brightened as they drew closer.Someone leaving Azura Palms and heading for the highway, obviously.
“It’ll be fun, living together again, y’know.You can stay as long as you want.Until you find another condo—abettercondo.”She sniffled and let out a watery laugh.“Don’t worry, as much as I want my own little Cessna, I will put the money from your condo into a separate account.Your ‘Kris’s New Condo Next Door to Kait Downpayment’ account.”
The soft rumble of the engine attached to the headlights filled the night, and the vehicle slowed as it passed her.Tan, two dark blue stripes along the side, and a star shield on the driver’s door.One of the county sheriff’s SUVs.
Please keep going.
The sound of tires turning and the flash of headlights proved her prayer wasn’t going to be answered.Of course, whoever was on patrol would want to investigate a lone woman sitting on her car hood in the middle of the desert.For all the officer knew, she could be stranded.A moment later, a high-powered flashlight found her.
“Are you all right, ma’am?”A man’s voice, but not Sheriff Garcia’s.
She was familiar with the sheriff’s voice, as he was involved in the investigation of Kris’s disappearance.This was probably one of the deputy sheriffs she hadn’t met yet.
“I’m fine.”She squinted over her shoulder then raised one hand to shield her eyes.“Could you turn that thing somewhere else before you fry my eyeballs?”
“Ms.Bergh?”Concern and curiosity laced his question, then the flashlight beam lowered as far as her neck.
Great, he’d recognized her as one of the Bergh twins, and was now trying to ID her by the birthmark she had but Kris didn’t.Because everyone who watched the news knew that.
“Not the missing Bergh, Deputy.”Just the one left behind.The one who wasn’t dying.
“Ma’am.”The officer lowered the beam to the asphalt.“I am sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, Deputy…?”
“Long, ma’am.”He tipped the brim of his hat with one finger, raising it enough to reveal a hint of the tight-weaved cornrows underneath.
“Thank you, Deputy Long.”
Please don’t ask me to get in my car and move on.
He seemed like a good guy—young, too, pretty close to her age—so maybe he’d be sympathetic.
Deputy Long shifted on his feet and cleared his throat.Yeah, notthatsympathetic, apparently.
“Don’t worry, Deputy.I just need five more minutes, then I’ll head home.I promise.”
“Five minutes?”
“I swear.”
His hazel-green eyes gentled with understanding.“All right, ma’am.I’ll be back this way in ten.If you’re still here, I’d be happy to escort you home.”
Nice, but so not going to happen.“I’ll be gone.”
“Good night, Ms.Bergh.”He touched the brim of his hat again, then pivoted and returned to his SUV.
A moment later the sound of the vehicle door closing reached her ears, but he didn’t leave.He was probably calling her in.Procedure, and all.Finally, the SUV’s transmission thunked into gear, and rolled forward, ready to make another U-turn and continue its patrol to the county line on the other side of the highway.
