Page 94 of Day Break

“It wouldn’t have mattered unless you could have caught the ferry an hour earlier,” the detective pointed out.

Somehow, that didn’t make me feel any better.

When I stepped out of the study and walked the detective and Officer Whitlock to the front door, my family remained where they were.

“Well?” everyone asked when I stepped into the living room.

I had no proof. Not yet. But I was positive that someone in the family had done this. I knew it in my heart.

For years I’d fooled myself into believing that Sherry’s murder was nothing more than some pervert hunting down my sister, kidnapping her for a sick twisted game. Now, after seeing what someone had done to my grandfather, I was suddenly having doubts about Sherry’s murder.

I wasn’t basing this on evidence or clues. No, this was purely a gut feeling. The more I watched how my family acted upon hearing the details I could now share with them, the more I was sure of it.

Someone in my family was a murderer. And until they got what they wanted, they wouldn’t stop at killing twice.

CHAPTER TWENTY

“Through the blackest night, morning gently tiptoes, feeling its way to dawn.”

- Robert Breault

Chloe

The dynamics of Lane’s family was beyond my comprehension. There was no set hierarchy since George’s death.

The days after his murder, I was busier than I’d ever been.

Lane refused to allow anyone to move into the house, thankfully. So each night after dinner, the entire gang shuffled out the door and headed to the other home. Unfortunately, they would shuffle right back in before breakfast.

George’s will wasn’t read until a week after his murder.

His body had been released and cremated according to his wishes before Lane could tell the rest of the family.

He had hinted that if they had known ahead of time, that they would have buried him instead.

The urn sat in a box in the study until we could spread his ashes in the garden and beach area.

I knew Lane was waiting for a perfect time to do this. Sometime after we were done dealing with his family.

The entire family was requested to meet with Lee Steinbeck, George’s lawyer. It shocked me when Lane told me that I was requested to be there as well.

I was quite sure it was due to the fact that George owed me my last paycheck. After which, I was sure I would be told to get off the property.

Lane had tried to assure me that whatever happened, he would see to it that I was safe. But he had yet to ask me to move into his townhouse in Seattle.

If I was honest with myself, I didn’t even know if I wanted to.

There was no doubt I’d fallen in love and wanted to try and spend the rest of my life with him, though I had yet to tell him. It was scary, telling someone how you felt. I’d never done it before.

Did he feel the same?

We spent every night up in our little apartment above the garage, wrapped around one another. I was still shocked that I had come to enjoy sex so much. He was still showing me things I hadn’t known were possible.

He was also patient with me when I wanted to try things for the first time. Even though he said I turned him on when I fumbled, I still doubted my sexiness.

As our relationship grew, the bond he had with his family faded. I was sure it was because he believed one of them had murdered George. I thought that as well.

He was certain the motive was money. I had my doubts. After all, his family wasn’t poor.