Cast the First Stone (The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone 1)

t means!”

“And?” His voice falls. “Are you?”

I blink at him. Open my mouth. Close it. “I don’t know.”

That’s when the room starts to pitch. Sideways, my head about to explode. I reach for the wall and find instead his hand on my arm, guiding me to a chair.

I dip my head forward, cradling it in my hands.

His hand falls on my shoulder. “Cold cases, you say?”

So he was listening. I nod.

“Unanswered questions, promises unkept.”

I draw in a breath. Look up at him. “Is this real?”

“Tell me. How did you find me?” Those blue eyes hold mine like a vice.

“We met before.”

He gives the slightest of nods. “We will meet, then.”

I return the nod.

“And what do I tell you?”

“That…that the watch is working.”

He smiles. “Indeed.”

His hand squeezes my shoulder and a moment later, Sheila comes in with the lemonade. She hands it to me. “Fresh squeezed. Nothing artificial. But it’s a little tart, so be careful.” Then she grins and takes Art’s hand just like Eve has taken mine for the past million years.

I really miss Eve.

“Can I get back?” I whisper, taking a drink. It is tart, and my throat tightens, my eyes burning.

“Yes.” He pauses and draws in a breath. “I think so.”

A fist releases inside me.

“Can I change things?”

“How would I know?” he says quietly.

“How long am I here?”

He lifts a shoulder. “But I think you should hurry.”

I finish the lemonade, and down the hallway, the grandfather clock chimes.

He takes the glass from me and nods toward the door. “Be stalwart, Inspector Stone.”

Chapter 14

"I suppose you’re going to miss a lot more breakfasts.”

Eve looked up from the magnifying glass and her examination of the fabric that matched the bomber’s backpack to spot her father as he came into her lab. Inspector Mulligan held his jacket by a thumb over his shoulder, his tie loosened, a haze of whiskers on his face.