“Yeah. But I’m good. Just... catching my breath and some fresh air.”
Bonnie’s tone shifted slightly—warm, familiar, andmotherly, the kind of tone that settled Tess rather than stirred anything painful. “And how are you and Andy holding up? How’s the house coming along?”
“Better every day. The repairs are moving along, and the living room doesn’t resemble a disaster zone anymore. The contractor said we’ll be able to move back in another two weeks or so. As for Andy, he’s... okay. Teenager-okay.”
Bonnie laughed knowingly. “Ah, yes, angst—the international emotional standard of sixteen-year-old boys.”
She smiled, relaxing a little. “He’s been busy with work at the hardware store and hanging out with friends. He’s even got a girlfriend, although he won’t admit that. Anyway, it all keeps him out of trouble.”
“Well, mostly, I’m sure,” Bonnie teased. “But I’m glad things are settling.”
“Trying to, at least.”
“Good.” Bonnie’s voice brightened. “Now, I’m actually glad I got you on the phone because I was going to call you later.”
Tess arched a brow even though Bonnie couldn’t see it. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to invite you and Andy to come with Brian to Saturday dinner at my house at five.” Bonnie didn’t even try to hide the excitement. “Sean and Grace will be there too. We’re grilling—well, Dan is grilling. Which actually means his nephews will begrilling with him supervising and telling them they’re doing it all wrong.”
She laughed. “I can easily picture that.”
“Anyway, please join us,” the older woman finished. “No arguments. Consider this a summons.”
Warmth unfurled low in Tess’s chest. Leave it to Bonnie to make an invitation sound less like a formality and more like they already belonged.
“That sounds perfect,” she said. Then she winced at a sudden thought. “Brian does know you invited us... right? I don’t want him to feel like I’m overstepping.” Things between them were still new and delicate, like a thread not fully knotted yet, and she didn’t want to be the one to pull it loose.
“I told him I was inviting you, and honestly, he seemed delighted. I wouldn’t do that to you or him.” An unexpected snort of amusement came through the phone. “Dan’s the matchmaker. Me? I might help things along, but I know when to keep my nose out of someone’s business.”
Tess wasn’t sure if she believed that, but she kept it to herself. “Well, in that case, I’m in. I’ll have to let you know about Andy, though. It’ll depend on his mood.”
“Tell him there’s food,” Bonnie said. “That’s all men and growing boys need to hear.”
She shook her head, still smiling. “I can’t argue with that.”
After they exchanged their goodbyes, she stood and slid the phone back into her pocket.
The lot behind the building stretched out quietly in the afternoon sun. Nothing out of place—no dark Escalade, no lingering car idling where it shouldn’t be. Just the familiar row of employee vehicles and a delivery van parked near the loading dock.
But that sense of unease crept up anyway, light but insistent, the same flicker she kept trying to dismiss as nothing.
She glanced around again, slower this time, searching for anything out of place—a shape, a shadow, a face she didn’t recognize. Nothing.
Still, she couldn’t shake it, and it was starting to drive her crazy.
Back inside, she spent the next few hours filling out paperwork, restocking the autopsy suite, filing lab results, and prepping Dr. Hansen’s equipment for tomorrow’s cases. Performing the routine daily tasks pushed the unease from her mind.
At the end of her shift, she washed up, sent Andy a quick text, and headed toward the exit. Patty and the other clerks had already left, so the lobby was quiet.
She pushed through the glass door into the late afternoon heat and squinted against the sun.
The lot was still and less than half full. A few vehicles sat scattered in their usual spots—proof some of the county offices were still grinding through the late afternoon. Her car sat where she’d left it that morning, fourth space from the end of the second row. Everything looked normal.
However, trepidation rippled through her.
She shook it off. Fatigue. Stress. That was all.
Her footsteps made barely a sound on the warm asphalt as she approached the car. She dug into her bag to fish her keys free, muttering a curse when she realized they’d worked their way to the bottom.
