Page 9 of Forever Gone

“Diane! Coffee for the sheriff, honey!”

From somewhere near the kitchen, Diane called back, “He knows where the coffee maker is. And so do you!”

Robert lifted his brows at Connor.

Connor leaned toward the doorway. “I’ll take mine with a little cream.”

“You’ll get more than cream in it,” Diane shouted.

A cabinet opened in the kitchen, followed by the clink of a mug being set on the counter.

Robert lowered his voice. “Don’t worry about Diane. She just blames you for bringing her sister back to town.”

Connor shifted his attention from the hallway. “Why would that be my fault?”

“You’re the one who called for her help with that last case, after your friend Victor Schmidt was murdered.”

“I didn’t ask her to move here, Bobby. It just… Sort of happened.”

“No, but you reminded her the county existed.”

“I’m fairly sure she remembered.”

Robert waved that aside. “And don’t pretend like you didn’t want it.”

Connor hated when Robert was right.

The killings of Warren Holt and Victor Schmidt had drawn Selena back into Harlan County, first as an investigator and then as something more difficult to define. The case had ended with Renee Beaumont in custody and another family left to measure the damage. Selena could have returned to Washington when it was over. Instead, she had accepted a Kentucky-based FBI role covering violent crime and rural law enforcement.

Connor had wanted her to stay. There was no doubt. But now that was happening, it was like an old wound had suddenly burst its stitches.

Footsteps crossed the kitchen but did not approach. Water ran briefly into the sink.

Connor lowered his voice. “Have Selena and Diane spoken yet?”

Robert’s amusement drained away. His gaze moved to the family photographs along the hallway wall.

“You’re not the only one avoiding Selena.”

“They still haven’t talked?” asked Connor.

“My two girls haven’t so much as breathed a word to each other since she got back.”

Connor frowned. “Not even on the phone?”

“Nothing. Diane finds a reason to leave if Selena comes by. Selena pretends she doesn’t notice. They’ve both got too much pride and too many years of practice.”

“I’m sure they’ll make amends.”

Robert rubbed one palm across the other. “I’d like to believe that.”

“They’re sisters.”

“Being family doesn’t always make people sensible.”

"True," Connor said with a sigh. "Look at my sister and me. It took time to patch things up."

“How’s Jessie’s recovery going?” Robert asked.