Page 28 of Sinful Promise
“They’re okay.” He takes a step forward, placing a hand on her elbow. He’s so fucking smooth as he turns her inward and helps himself to her home. “Your children are wherever you put them, Mrs. Patterson. They’re safe.”
“Th-they’re at school,” she stammers. “I dropped them off at school this morning.”
I follow in their wake, and close the door once I’m inside. Fletch leads Whitney into her living room, but I take my time, peeking into the hall and glancing toward the large kitchen.
“I’m so sorry to inform you, Mrs. Patterson…” Fletch’s tone is gentle. Practiced. The perfect professional. “But Jason Patterson, your husband… He was involved in a hit-and-run accident earlier today.”
“He… he had a car accident?” As I come into the living room, I find the woman perched on the edge of a high-back chair, and Fletch, sitting on the coffee table so their hands are linked and his eyes bore into hers. “Did he—”
“Jason was struck by a speeding vehicle. The authorities were called, and an ambulance attended the scene. But—”
“He’s at the hospital?” She goes to stand up, but Fletch’s hands keep her down. His strength, the only reason she doesn’t swing away and bolt from the room. “I’ve got to—I have to—”
“Mrs. Patterson.” He softens his tone further. “Your husband is dead.”
“What?” Her voice crackles with the pain we hear every time we make these house calls. “No, he—” She shakes her head. “That’s impossible! He’s at work.”
“We understand this is difficult news to hear.” Slowly, I come into the room and stop by the bay window so she sees me, but I’m not in her space. “Our job is to find out how this happened. We need to find whoever drove that car. We have—”
“Whoever dro—” Shocked. Stunned. In this state, her thoughts will be trickling in at a frustratingly slow pace. “You don’t know who was driving?”
“We don’t.” Fletch strokes the woman’s narrow wrist with his thumb. “Whoever hit Jason drove away right after. And now we—”
“But why wouldn’t they stop?” She chokes on her breath and tugs her hand free of Fletch’s so she can wipe her cheek. “Did they not know? How could they not—”
“That’s what we’re trying to understand,” I murmur. “Neither Detective Fletcher nor I think it’s possible the driver was unaware of what happened.”
“So they drove away on purpose? They just left him there?”
“Mrs. Patterson?” Fletch’s voice is liquid butter. Smooth and crooning. “Have you and Mr. Patterson been having troubles lately?”
“What?” She shoots up like she has an electrical current in her spine, knocking her chair back and crying out at the deep thump when it hits the floor. “No, we haven’t been having troubles! Jason and I—”
“The only reason we ask,” I insert, “is because Jason wasn’t wearing his wedding ring.”
“But he—”
“Does he take it off often?” Fletch asks. “Leave it at home for cleaning?”
“No!” she barks out. “Healwayswears his ring.”
Well, he wasn’t this morning, and it wasn’t in any of his pockets.
Reaching up in silence, I finger the chain hung around my neck, the ring Minka gifted me after our wedding. I’ll never not have it. I’ll never take it off.
But Jason did.
“Would it be okay if I look around, Mrs. Patterson?” I push away from the window and force a small, comforting smile as the woman sobs into her hands. “It might help us get a clearer picture of Jason’s life.”
“Yes. I don’t…” She flicks her wrist and sobs. “Go. I don’t care.”
“Has Jason mentioned anything lately?” As I walk away, Fletch continues his questions. “Anyone he’s had trouble with? Someone at work he had an argument with?”
I study the long line of framed pictures on the mantel as I pass—the Pattersons are a happy, outdoorsy, educated, tightknit family—then I move into the kitchen to find a clean counter and no dishes in the sink. Coffee machine in the corner, and one of those ‘I cook everything’ machines that cost a mortgage.
I’d rather spend my money on takeout.
Heading across the kitchen and checking through doors to find a laundry room, and after that, a mudroom, I push through in silence and keep one part of my mind trained on the fact that my partner is in another part of this house with someone whocouldbe a stone-cold killer.
