Page 217 of Remiss
“What’s the address again, Meggie?” Narci asked politely, barely able to look at her.
“Uh…” She pulled out her phone and opened the text message Celia had sent. The address looked so familiar. She gasped.
“Something the matter, Meggie?” Torrin asked, alarm crossing his face.
“I think I know this address.” It couldn’t be.
But it was.
When Diesel turned his Mercedes behind a Ford Explorer, Meggie got out of the car before he cut the engine. It was the very same house Big Joe stored drugs and money. The house where K-P and Kendall’s sister had died.
The house tainted by Logan Donovan.
Diesel stepped beside her. “Are you okay, Aunt Meggie?”
“This isn’t a good house,” she said, and hurriedly explained why.
“Is there a problem?” Narci called from the street as Celia opened the door.
“Come in,” she called, waving Meggie forward.
“Get the flowers and wine, Diesel,” Meggie said, waiting until he handed her Celia’s gifts before she forced herself to move a muscle.
“Are those for me?” Celia asked once she led Meggie to her kitchen.
Meggie looked everywhere, surprised at the light gray walls and white trimming, instead of the overwhelming gloomydarkness that once dominated the place. Two big windows were on each side of a farmhouse sink, allowing sunlight to flood in.
“Are they?” Celia pointed to the flowers and red wine. “For me?”
“Yep.” Wrestling her shock under control, Meggie handed the woman her gifts. She was tall, beautiful, and almost a spitting image of her husband. “Christopher didn’t lie. You look a lot like him.”
“And Bash,” Celia confirmed, and smiled at Diesel. “Hello, Diesel.”
“Celia,” Diesel said with a nod.
“I thought you’d come alone, Meggie. I told you Bash isn’t in town.”
“You did,” Meggie agreed, “but I can’t be too careful.”
“You’re right.” She jutted her chin toward the table. “Sit. I thought we could talk for a bit before I served our sandwiches.”
“That would be nice,” Meggie said, sitting in one of the chairs as Diesel did the same. A moment of awkward silence followed, so she cleared her throat. “You have a very nice kitchen.”
Celia smiled, then walked to a cabinet and pulled out a vase. “I think so. I’ve never had a double-sided refrigerator.”
“The first time I used the ice dispenser on one, I thought it was the coolest thing.” Meggie grinned. “And then to have the water right there? I was in heaven.”
Once Celia filled the vase with water, she sat the bouquet in the center of the table next to a tiny crystal clock, then took a seat at the head. “When did you first discover the wonders of such a refrigerator, Diesel?”
“When I moved in with Aunt Meggie and Uncle Christopher.”
“Ah, right.”
Silence descended again, and Meggie shifted uncomfortably. She was trying not to be suspicious of the woman, her sister-in-law, but she was close to Bash. In Meggie’s mind, that made her a threat to Christopher, herself, their family, and his club. He didn’t think Celia was a plant, so Meggie didn’t want to offend her and come between them. She forced a smile. “Was there a particular reason you invited me to lunch today?”
“I’m thinking about going home, and I wanted to meet you.” Celia met Meggie’s gaze. “I’d also like to meet Kendall. What with her meeting with Bash coming up and all.”
Something that concerned Meggie greatly. “Hmmmm.”
