“I doubt it, but we’ll see,” I murmured.
“You gettin’ sleepy?”
“I didn’t think it was possible, but yeah, I am.”
“Me too. Sweet dreams, Stella.”
“Sweet dreams, Buck.”
I closed my eyes and tried to picture myself in a place like Crested Butte.
“Hey, sleepyhead,” I heard someone say. “Time to wake up.”
I opened my eyes, and Buck was sitting on the bed, beside me.
“What time is it?”
“A little after ten. Decker, Rock, and I have been up goin’ on three hours.”
I pulled the blanket over my head. “Heathens, all of you.”
“That may be true, but there are some things we need to take care of today.”
I pulled the blanket away from my face and then thought better of it. Even I avoided looking at myself in the mirror right after I woke up. It definitely wasn’t something I wanted to subject anyone else to—especially Buck. “Go away.”
He laughed. “Okay, but if you aren’t up and about in thirty, Decker may be the next person lookin’ for you.”
“Is there coffee?”
“There will be.”
After I showered, I called my aunt’s attorney’s office, expecting to leave a message. Instead, Mr. Owens came right on the line.
“TJ, I was so sorry to hear about Barb.”
“I’m surprised you heard already.”
“Yes, well, I’ve been your aunt’s attorney for quite some time.”
“Who contacted you?”
“You and I have some things to discuss. I’ll have my secretary set up a meeting. When can you come to the office?”
“I…uh…can’t. I’ll be out of town for a while.”
“It’s important, TJ.”
“I’ll have my lawyer get in touch with you.” I ended the call. On my way out to the kitchen, I took it a step further and turned off my phone. There was something about the exchange that didn’t sit right with me, especially when he blew right past my question about who had contacted him.
“Everything okay?” Buck asked, handing me a cup of black coffee.
“I just got off the phone with Barb’s attorney.”
Decker looked up from his computer. “And?”
“Someone contacted him about her death.”
“I thought we were keeping this quiet,” said Buck.