Page 36 of Cry Wolf

By the hollowness of her voice, Brett could tell he’d hit a sore spot. At another time and with anyone else, he would have pressed to learn more. But right now, Dania had been through enough. He’d let her tell him when she felt up to it.

She drew a deep breath. “Both my mother’s parents and my dad’s were gone. Dad sold his ranch and worked as an auto mechanic in our new town. He put in long hours to provide for us and put me through college. He was so happy when I graduated. And he adored Matthew...” Her voice trailed off.

“He sounds like a wonderful father.” Brett couldn’t help but be a little envious.

“He was.” Her face softened as she spoke. “He knew life could throw curve balls, and he wanted me to be ready.”

“Curve balls are hard to avoid sometimes.” He pulled into the cul-de-sac and onto the driveway of Gran’s place. He pressed the garage-door opener. Gran had given him one so he could come and go when she wasn’t there. The double-wide door rolled up, and he pulled in. Gran’s light-purple Geo Tracker was parked on the other side of the garage bay.

He should sell her car, but he didn’t have the heart to do it. Every time he pulled in and saw her vehicle, well, it made him feel as though she were still alive. He shut off the engine and pushed the button to close the garage door. “Let’s go in. I haven’t stopped here for a while. I usually come by when I can to check things out and dust—Gran hated dust—but I’ve been at the cabin the last little while. There’s nothing in the fridge, but I keep some canned chili here for nights that I stay over.”

He got out, opened the vehicle’s rear door, and let Jasper escape. The dog was restless, a sign that he needed to stretch his legs. Brett guided him to the back door of the garage, which led to the fenced backyard, and Jasper rushed out.

Dania waited on the stoop to the house. He took her through the dated kitchen/dining area. “My grandfather made the cabinets and the table and chairs. Gran told me he loved working with his hands.”

“Wow. He was talented.” She marveled at his work.

Brett led the way upstairs and stopped at the first door on his right, across the hall from the bathroom. “You can stay in here. It’s Gran’s sewing room. Every winter, she’d make minky blankets to give to different charities.”

“That’s amazing.”

He’d avoided opening this door since Gran’s death, knowing the room would be filled with memories, but now he turned the knob and walked in.

Her old Singer sewing machine waited on the table. Stacks of soft, cuddly minky material were neatly placed around as though she’d been in the middle of putting a blanket together. A lump rose in his throat.

“Are you okay?” Dania looked at him.

“Sure.” Avoiding eye contact, he pointed to the futon against the wall. “You can catch some Zs here.”

She sat on the futon, leaned back, and yawned.

“Can I trust you not to take off?”

“Believe me, I know if I’m going to catch Matthew’s real killer, I’m going to need your help. I’m staying.” She yawned again. “Besides, who would look for me at a U.S. Deputy Marshal’s grandmother’s house? I’m safer here than anywhere else.”

She made a good point. She didn’t plan to run. A flicker of a smile came to her lips. Fine lines creased the corners of her sleepy eyes. She looked as tired as he felt. Before turning to leave, he said, “Don’t answer the door or phone.”

“I’m not moving off this futon anytime soon.” She grabbed a throw pillow and lay on her side.

Spying Gran’s ottoman footrest in front of the futon where she’d stored blankets, he opened it. Gran’s favorite red minky lay on top. He grabbed it and tossed it to Dania. “This will guarantee sweet dreams.”

“Sweet dreams...” She pulled it around her and eased back on the pillow. “That would be a welcome change.”

Even with her cut and dyed hair, he would have recognized her anywhere because she still had those dark Hershey-brown eyes. Though red-rimmed with tiredness, they looked like fine gems. Realizing he was staring, he shut the door and heard Jasper scratching to get in downstairs.

Brett quickly retraced his steps through the kitchen and dining room, letting the dog inside. Jasper followed him up to Brett’s old bedroom across from Gran’s. He should have put Dania in Gran’s room, but he just couldn’t. That was Gran’s space and no one else’s.

On a whim and because he needed to feel Gran’s presence to reassure himself that he’d made the right decision, he opened her bedroom door and stood in the threshold with Jasper beside him.

Gran had loved Jasper. They’d gotten along great and had spent many pleasant hours together. He glanced down at the retriever, who gazed up at him. “It’s okay. I just wanted to visit with her for a bit.”

One of Gran’s blankets covered her brass double bed. It was a rich, deep, dark navy blue. On one side of the bed stood a nightstand with an antique lamp. Beside it rested a picture of Gran, Grandpa, and Brett’s mother. It had been taken before his mom had met Randy and before her life had spun off-kilter. Tucked into the corner of the picture frame was an old school picture of Brett. At nine years old, he’d had ears that looked too big for his head. The picture had been taken the first year he’d come to live with Gran.

On the other side of the bed, next to the window, rested her vanity, where she could use natural light to put on her makeup. Gran had tried to always look her best.

Unlike most grandmothers, she’d kept on top of what was in fashion both with makeup and clothes. She’d always said a person must put their best foot forward and enjoy life, and then she’d smile. She had one of those smiles that could light up a room. She was a kind, loving person with a strong sense of right and wrong. She loved serving others, doing church work, and helping at the rehab center when she could.

“What have I done, Gran?” he softly asked, wishing so badly that she would reply.

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