A Willing Murder (Medlar Mystery 1)
NINETEEN
The next morning, there was a note under Kate’s door, and she picked it up.
We apologize. Jack will behave...not sure if I can.
—Jack and Sara
Kate laughed. Was this how real families worked? she wondered. Respect for each other’s feelings? Apologies for making other family members angry?
Her uncles always made her furious, then they said her anger was a character flaw in her. If she was a well-adjusted person, she’d take their suggestions—i.e., their endless criticism—with a smile of gratitude.
When she opened her bedroom door, no one was about. But then she saw the toe of Jack’s cast sticking out from behind the kitchen counter. She yelled, “I forgive you!”
Jack stood up. “Thank you. I think I’ve injured my good leg from hiding from your righteous wrath. And by the way, I love Alastair Stewart. Admire him immensely. Think he’ll make a fine husband and father. Can I be your best man?”
By the time he finished, she was laughing. “Well, maybe he is trying too hard but I like the effort he’s making. When this is done, I plan to see a lot more of him.”
“He’s so skinny you can’t have missed much.”
She narrowed her eyes at him and he threw up his hands.
“Sorry. I’m a sore loser, so shoot me.”
Kate laughed.
After breakfast, they got into Jack’s old truck and drove down to Pembroke Pines to the Chevy dealer. On the drive, Kate repeated everything Alastair had told her about what Sheriff Flynn said.
“He’s telling everything he knows to outsiders,” Jack said.
“Except about Evan,” Kate said. “The sheriff doesn’t seem to have told about your truck.”
Jack nodded. “That’s good. If the murderer thinks we know about that...” He didn’t finish.
The dealership didn’t want Jack’s old pickup for a trade-in, but since he bought all his vehicles for his company there, they relented.
“I really do need to look at your finances,” Kate said and Jack smiled.
She and Sara chose a beautiful truck: bright red, double cab, lots of chrome and fog headlights. Jack took one look at it, snorted, then told the dealer he wanted the black single cab.
“Sure glad we could help you choose,” Kate said.
It took nearly two hours for all the paperwork. Sara said she’d pay cash if they’d do it quicker, but Jack refused her offer.
While they waited, Kate picked up a magazine. Sara went to the far side of the room and gave her full attention to her cell phone.
Jack took a seat next to Kate. “So when do you go out with him again?”
“We have an overnighter planned for this weekend.” When Jack was silent, she looked up. “Someday you’re going to have to deal with my having a real relationship.”
Jack gave a little smile. “So this one isn’t real?”
She put her magazine down. “I don’t know. Alastair is lovely. A real gentleman, but there’s something missing.”
Jack leaned back in the chair, his leg in its cast stretched out. “Passion, maybe? That feeling where he so wants to touch you that he can’t sleep? When he leans over you, the smell of your hair makes him dizzy? The way seeing you even talk to another man makes him feel so primal that he wants to hit, maim and kill? That’s what’s missing?”
She was blinking at him.
“Sir, your truck is ready,” the dealer said.