“Is there somewhere else you’d like to go?” Decker asked.
“My sister lived in my grandfather’s house in Bluebell Creek. Maybe I should head up there and see about making arrangements.”
“If that’s where you want to go, I can take you.”
“Thank you for your offer. I’m sure Adler won’t mind renting a car. He was in Bluebell Creek earlier this year when my grandfather passed away.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Decker muttered as we walked down the hallway to where the sheriff was waiting for us.
“Miss Knight confirmed her sister’s identity,” Decker said before the sheriff asked or I could speak for myself.
The sheriff nodded and turned to me. “I have your contact information. Here’s my card. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Too dazed to do anything else, I took the card and tucked it into my small cross-body bag and looked beyond him. “Um, do you know where Adler went?”
The sheriff shrugged. “Last time I saw him, he was outside on his cell phone.”
“Okay. Thank you.” It seemed odd that he’d leave while I was identifying my dead sister, but I had left him standing in the hallway.
“Will you be staying in town or heading right back to Boston?”
r /> “I’m not sure. I’m thinking of going up to Bluebell Creek.”
“It’s where her sister lived,” Decker added.
“Before you head out, could I have a minute on another subject?” the sheriff said directly to Decker.
“Go ahead,” I said when Decker turned to me. “I’ll be out front with Ad.”
I went outside, but didn’t see Adler. A few seconds later, he walked out from the other side of the building.
“Where were you?” I asked.
“Making a call.”
Why was he being so short with me? It was so unlike him.
“If you need to get back…”
“What about you? Is there any reason you need to stay here?”
I stared at him. Was he serious? I folded my arms.
“What?” He reached out to touch my arm, but pulled back.
“You didn’t even ask me about Sybil.”
“Right. Um. Sorry. Distracted. It was an important call. Are you doing okay?”
“Am I doing okay? Adler! I just walked into a morgue and saw my dead sister lying on a metal table under a sheet. No! I’m not doing okay!” I dissolved into tears, and when he tried to comfort me, I pulled away.
“I’m sorry, Mil. I don’t know what else to say.”
I looked at him and shook my head, but before I could say anything more, Decker came out of the building.
“There’s been a change of plans.” He walked over and put his hand on my shoulder. “Mila, I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but the house in Bluebell Creek is a crime scene. There won’t be any access to it until the sheriff gives his okay.”
Adler made no secret of the fact he noticed that I didn’t flinch or pull away when Decker touched me. I couldn’t explain my reaction—or lack of reaction—myself. Decker Ashford, a man I barely knew, made me feel safe. Was it just his kindness? Was it that he took charge in a way that didn’t threaten me but, instead, made me feel protected? Or was it because all those years ago, he’d done the same thing?