I forced a smile. “Jolene is going to write a feature story on the firm.”
Clark straightened. “That’s fantastic news. Let me show you around.” He drew her toward his office.
“Thank you,” Quint said, snatching a beer from a stack on Oliver’s desk. He looked typical Quint in dark jeans and a green T-shirt with a faded logo for search and rescue across the back. “She’s actually pretty interesting and has a great sense of humor. I’m hoping you two can bury the hatchet and start over.”
For Quint, I’d do anything. Plus, if Jolene published a positive story about the law firm, it really would help us out. “You’re lucky you’re so pretty, Quintino,” I drawled.
“Aren’t I, though?” He waved at his mom, who was across the room with one of his brothers. “You look all grown up and lawyerly tonight, too.” He glanced down at my feet. “I don’t know anything about shoes, but if I did, I think I’d be really impressed with those.”
I kicked back a heel and twisted my ankle to show off the design. “Yeah. They’re pretty, right? I bought them on credit and should probably find a client or two soon.” They were Prada heels with sparkly silver discs. I loved them, couldn’t afford them, but bought them anyway. Life was short.
Clark and Jolene returned, and Jolene spent a few moments taking pictures with her cell phone. “I’m going to interview a few of the folks here,” she said, moving toward a group of businesspeople in the corner. I think one of them owned the local cinema. I’d go introduce myself after Jolene finished asking questions, and Clark had already been there laughing with a couple of them, so all was good.
The party went off without a hitch, and finally, only Clark and I remained. My family had cleaned up before leaving, like usual, so the place was pristine.
We sat in his office sipping champagne.
“Life is good,” Clark said, tipping back his glass. In the semi-darkness and his business clothes, he looked like a successful young lawyer.
“Yeah.” The room was soft and so was my mood. “This is going to work out, Clark. Trust me.”
“I do.” He stood. “I have a couple of meetings tomorrow with prospective clients. You?”
I stood and stretched my back. “Same. I can’t wait to dig in.”
We locked up together and strode outside to the back alley. A streetlight had been installed directly above where we parked. It was new.
“You?” I asked.
Clark looked up. “Nope.”
Aiden. He must’ve had it installed after I’d told him about Sasha, and he hadn’t said a word. My stomach flip-flopped.
“See you tomorrow.” Clark turned for Main Street.
“I can give you a ride,” I called out.
He smiled. “It’s a warm night and I want to walk. My apartment is just down the street. Have a good night, partner.”
“You too, partner,” I said, slipping into my car. My body was nicely tired and my brain buzzing with ideas for my meetings set for the morning. I headed home on auto-pilot with my window down, enjoying the late summer scents of flowers and lingering barbecue smoke.
I reached my country road and then the long driveway, pulling up to my garage. I had my winter rig inside along with different odds and ends, and I never used it during the summer for my Fiat. Even though I knew Aiden was planning to stay in Seattle for the night, it was still a disappointment not to see his motorcycle parked there. It would be a lonely night.
Shrugging off the silliness, I stepped out of the car and wound around the side toward my cottage. I stopped cold. My head reeled and a heaviness descended on my head. Gasping, I rushed toward the porch and leaned over.
Sasha Duponte lay on her side, blood pooled around her head and body.
I gulped and scrambled in my purse for my phone to call 911. “Hurry. There’s a woman bleeding on my porch,” I gasped.
“Is the woman breathing?” The operator asked.
My hand shaking, I knelt on the porch and leaned over Sasha. I didn’t hear anything. I felt for the pulse in her wrist. Nothing, and her skin was cold. Very cold. “No. She’s dead.” I shined my phone closer to Sasha’s vacant blue eyes. They stared blindly beyond me.
Shuddering, I gently closed them and then stepped back and away from the body. “Please hurry,” I whispered into the phone.
Then I looked around at the shadows between the trees on both sides of my sweet house. Normally innocuous, tonight they seemed menacing. Threatening. Was there somebody out there watching me? I reached for my gun and pulled it free from my purse.
The hollow sound of sirens in the distance provided little comfort.
