“Was your mother murdered?” Taylor asked.
I shook my head. “My mother died in childbirth with me more than thirty years ago.”
Taylor looked horrified. I had already mentioned that at the barbecue.
“Why would she be on the mural of a killer who disappeared twenty years ago?” Flip asked.
That was a very good question. “I don’t know.” I rubbed my hands over my knees. I couldn’t stop myself from looking up at the image of my mother. “We need to search the rest of the house.”
“I think we should get you out of here,” Julian countered. “You seem … shaken.”
I gave him a dirty look. “That’s something your brother would say.”
Julian shook his head. “Galen would want me to take care of you.”
“I don’t need to be taken care of. I was just thrown for a moment.”
“Okay. Let’s go outside anyway.” He reached for me.
I slapped his hand away. “I’m searching this house. I want to see it all. I’m not leaving until I do, and there’s nothing you can do to make me.”
Julian looked as if he were going to argue, but Marjory stopped him with a shake of her head.
“She’s stubborn,” Marjory volunteered. “That’s why she and Galen are the way they are. They butt heads and then make up like horny animals.”
My lips twitched. “I never thought I’d hear you use the word ‘horny,’” I admitted.
“And you’ll never hear me use it again,” Marjory assured me. “You’re right. We need to look around this house.”
“Someone should have searched it after Declan disappeared.” I was grim as Julian helped me to my feet.
“What makes you think they didn’t?” Julian asked.
I nodded to the mural.
“They might not have realized they should look at the faces,” Julian argued. “I wouldn’t have jumped to that conclusion.”
“Maybe.” I cracked my neck. “Let’s see what else this house of horrors has to offer and go from there.”
Julian nodded. “Sounds like a plan, but I’m going with you.”
I was instantly suspicious. “Why?”
“I’m not convinced there isn’t a plane door in this house and you are not going through another one on my watch.”
I blew out a sigh. “Fine, but you’re not the boss of me.”
Julian didn’t capitulate. His brother wouldn’t have either. “We’ll see how it goes.”
12
TWELVE
Declan’s house was creepy. When we got to the second floor, in a room that had no windows, I lost my breath. I could only think one thing:
This is a torture chamber.
Julian was calm as he regarded the space. “Looks like a laboratory of some sort,” he said.
