Page 51 of Romeo

“So you checked on your grandfather, and then what?”

“I grabbed the jewels the killer left behind, packed a bag, and headed out the same way I came in.”

Straightening, I survey the grounds.She had to have been moving fast in order to remain out of sight.There’s not much cover here, but since the killer didn’t follow her out the window, my guess is her quick escape bought her just enough time to keep her out of his sights.

“Okay.Anything else you can remember?”

“No.”

With Romeo at my side, I make my way back through the trees, trying to think like a killer.I follow the fastest path from the house to the trees then take a more roundabout way.“You heard his voice that night and in the hotel, are you sure it was the same man?”

Her gaze levels on mine.“I’m positive.It’s a voice I’ll never forget.”

Thirty minutes later,we’re back at the house.She’s already started cleaning up the kitchen.I can hear her in there, moving about—albeit slowly.She’s unable to sit down, to settle.Is that a new development?Or is she someone who always has to be moving?

I should have insisted she take it easy.But even as I think it, I know that it wouldn’t have been possible.Aside from tying her to a chair, there’s no keeping Jules down.She’s a fighter, and they always bounce back onto their feet even in moments when they aren’t ready.

I should know.I’m a stubborn fighter, too.Even fighters need protecting sometimes.With that in mind, I step out onto the front porch then withdraw my cell phone and call up Tucker.

“What’s up, Riles?”

“Can you check a home security camera feed for me?Jules said the footage is stored for ten days on their home network.”

“Sure thing.Are you on the home network now?”

“Yeah.”Jules had given me the Wi-Fi password right after we’d gotten back to the house.Before she’d gone into full-blown reset cleaning mode.

“Awesome.Hold, please.What exactly am I looking for?We already pulled the footage from the night her grandfather was killed.There wasn’t anything.”

“I want to know what her brother said to her when he was here.”

“Ooh, intrigue.When was he there?”

“About an hour ago.”

“Looking now.”He begins to hum, so I pop a piece of gum into my mouth as I wait.“Okay.I got the feed.Sending it your way now.”

My phone dings, letting me know whatever he sent arrived.“Great, thanks.”

“No problem.How’s she doing?”

“Not great.Do you know if we have any crime scene cleanup contacts here in Seattle?”

“I can look into it.Check the files and all that.”

“That would be great, thanks.Talk soon.”I end the call then open up the file he sent me.The footage is grainy, but the audio is clear enough.

“What do you think you’re doing?”Odie asks.

“I’m back for the funeral.”

“But you’re here.You shouldn’t be here.”

“This is my home, too, Odie.”

He shakes his head angrily.“I don’t care what that deed says.This stopped being your home when you ran out that night.How dare you come here before coming to me?Are you that afraid of your own shadow that you can’t come check in with the only family you have left?”

The hurt on her face is evident enough even through the grainy footage.“I needed to see it all again.”

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