Anyone else who could be here—anyone who would be helpful and non-stressful—had a key and could let themselves in.
Another knock.
He caught his lower lip between his teeth as he headed for the door, ready to tell whoever was there to go away.
When he opened the door, though, he didn’t find a salesperson or someone preaching gospel. Didn’t even find a well-meaning town busybody.
Instead there was a nervous looking stranger. A woman, tall and slim, with golden-brown hair hanging loose around her shoulders and wide, grey eyes, unadorned with makeup. Behind her was parked a nondescript silver rental car—he could make out the sticker.
She hitched her bag up on her shoulder and swung her hands at her sides. She wore jeans and a cargo jacket.
There was nothing about her description that should set off his internal alarm bells, but he couldn’t turn off his cop brain. “Can I help you?”
She nodded slowly. “I’m looking for Sean Foster.”
“I’m his brother, Dean.”
Another nod. Her eyes flicked up and down his face, searching for more information.
That was all she was getting. If Sean had gotten into trouble, or owed this woman something…
“Is he here?”
Dean crossed his arms and lifted his chin. “What do you want with him?”
She swallowed hard. “I asked at Mac’s. The diner?”
Was that a question? He gave an equally dense response. “I’m familiar with it.”
She coloured. “Of course. They said he was staying here.”
No point in lying to her. “He’s asleep right now.”
Her eyes flicked past Dean’s shoulder, tightening in confusion.
Yeah, Sean was sleeping in the middle of the day. What was it to her? “Maybe it would be best for you to come back another time.”
“Right.” She licked her lips, her tongue darting out in nervous, quick movements. “Maybe we should talk, anyway.”
“Us?”
She fluttered her hands again, this time in a weak gesture inviting him out onto his own porch.
He glanced behind him into the empty front room and the staircase. Yeah, probably best. He stepped outside and closed the door. “What do we need to talk about? If you’re looking for Sean, you should know he’s not in great shape right now.”
Her face blanched and for a second, Dean felt badly for dealing her that blow. But a second was all it took for her to square her shoulders and tighten her mouth. “Then it’s all the better that I’m here.”
“And why is that?”
She shoved her hand back through her hair and glanced to the side. “I guess he didn’t tell you.”
“Tell us what?”
With a sigh, she held out her hand and looked him right in the eye. “I’m Jenna. Sean’s wife.”
THE END
