A Deep and Dark December Read Online Free PDF Page B

spirit.
    “I think we’re done,” Graham said.
    “Yeah,” Pax replied on a heavy exhale.
    They made their way back to the living room. Pax went outside while Graham took a moment to wander around the largest room of the house. He could almost smell the chocolate chip cookies Mrs. Lasiter would have waiting when they came home from school and hear Mr. Lasiter yell for them to be quiet while he watched his show. Memories of time spent here with Greg floated in and out with the reality that the Lasiters would only ever be that now—a memory.
    He paced the room, ending up back at the front door, having achieved nothing except a raw ache in his belly. He stopped on his way outside to examine the front door. The key stood out proud from the lock. He hit it with the beam of the flashlight, noting what appeared to be particles of soil stuck to it, confirming what Erin had told him. Stepping out on the porch, he found the pot Erin must have pulled it from. Soil topped the rim and some of it had spilled over onto the deck of the porch.
    Erin.
    He caught her watching him from the back of his cruiser. She looked pissed. And cold. He cursed himself for leaving her out here all this time, then chuckled under his breath as he imagined all the ways she’d probably been cursing him. He checked in with Pax and told him to have the crime scene guys photograph and enter the key in the door as evidence. He rattled off a few more instructions, conscious of Erin’s gaze boring into the back of his head.
    By the time he started for his car, she was shaking in outrage… or was she shivering? Damn. He should have turned the heater on for her.
    He pulled the car door open and got in. “Sorry. Didn’t think it would take that long.”
    “Sur-r-r-re.”
    He turned the key and cranked the heater up. “No. Really.”
    “You c-c-could have l-l-least given me a b-b-blanket.”
    “Ah, no. I couldn’t. Evidence transfer and all.”
    She whispered something under her breath and glared out the window.
    “What was that?”
    “Ass-s-s-hole.”
    “How ladylike and dainty you are.”
    “F-f-fuck off.”
    “Original and clever, too. You should be feeling the heat now.”
    Her furious gaze met his in the rearview mirror. “Like you c-c-care.”
    He stretched his arm across the passenger seat so he could look backwards as he reversed the car. “Actually I do. Some evidence can be destroyed or damaged if it’s subjected to frigid temperatures.”
    She made a frustrated noise and kicked the divider that separated the rows of seats.
    He stifled a laugh. “Watch it. I wouldn’t want to have to arrest you for destroying city property.”
    Her flushed cheeks puffed in and out and she shot him the bird with both hands. He shifted his gaze from the rearview mirror to the road, pretending he hadn’t seen her gesture, and resisted the urge to make a crack about how he’d like to take her up on her offer. He drove past the crowd of gawkers as quickly as possible, wanting to shield Erin as much as possible. It was probably a wasted effort. The first arrivals would have filled in the newcomers and so on in a twisted game of small town Telephone.
    “Give me your aunt’s number and I’ll call her so she can meet us at the station with a change of clothes for you.”
    “She already knows-s-s.”
    “You didn’t call her, did you? I should have confiscated your cell phone. I didn’t want you talking to anyone before giving your statement.”
    “I don’t have to call her for her to know.”
    Graham shifted in his seat and adjusted his grip on the steering wheel. He’d never believed the rumors about Cerie December being some kind of clairvoyant. Talk like that in a small town was usually that—just talk. People said all kinds of shit to further their own agendas or to be plain old mean. He should know. The town’s opinion of him wasn’t anywhere near accurate. He wasn’t now nor would he ever be the golden boy returned.
    “Give me her number.”