Page 3 of If She Remembered
"Case?"he asked, just as she received the text from Duran with the address.
"Maybe.It’s a suspicious death here in Richmond.Duran wants me to review the scene, see if I can put any pieces together."
"How suspicious are we talking?"He wasn’t asking with skepticism but out of pure curiosity.At least, that’s how it sounded.She was listening carefully for any signs of irritation but heard none.
"Not sure yet,” Kate said.“Local police think there's something off about what appeared to be natural causes, but they're hesitant to investigate thoroughly because of political connections."
Michael had abandoned his restaurant duties and was now attempting to climb onto the couch between Kate and Allen, clutching his plastic bread.
"Up, up!"he demanded, and Allen lifted him into his lap.
"How long do you think this will take?"Allen asked, helping Michael settle comfortably.
Kate recognized the careful tone in his voice.Three weeks ago, what was supposed to be a simple consultation on a missing person case had turned into a three-day investigation that kept her away from home much longer than anyone had anticipated.Allen had been as understanding as possible, but clearly frustrated by the unpredictability.
"Duran said he doesn't expect it to require much time.Probably just a visit to the crime scene and maybe a few hours back at the field office with DeMarco after that.There’s just no way to know for sure until I get started.”
"And if it looks like more than that?"
"Then we'll reassess," Kate said."But honestly, local cases are usually more straightforward.No travel, no extended time away.If there's something to investigate, I can probably handle most of it from here."
Allen nodded slowly, bouncing Michael gently on his knee."Okay.But remember, we have the final cake tasting Tuesday evening, and the florist appointment Thursday afternoon."
"I'll be there for both," Kate promised."This is probably nothing more than crossing some T's and dotting some I's for nervous local cops."
"Cake!"Michael announced, apparently having followed enough of their conversation to identify the relevant word.
"Not yet, buddy," Allen said."But soon."
Kate leaned over and kissed Michael's forehead, then Allen's cheek."I'll make it as quick as possible."
"What if you find something?"
"Then I'll find something," Kate said."But I won't let it take over our lives.We've got a wedding to plan and a restaurant to support."She gestured toward Michael's play kitchen.
Allen smiled, though she could see the slight tension around his eyes."Alright.Go solve mysteries and fight crime.Michael and I will hold down the fort."
"More soup!"Michael declared.
"See?"Allen said."We'll be fine.And Kate?"
"Yeah?"
"Have fun.But not too much fun."
Kate laughed and stood up, already mentally preparing herself for the crime scene.A suspicious death in her own backyard was certainly unusual, and the political complications added an interesting wrinkle.But she felt confident in her ability to handle whatever the case might involve without disrupting the careful balance she'd finally achieved between her professional instincts and her personal priorities.
"I love you," she told Allen, then scooped Michael up for a quick hug."And I love you too, little chef."
"Love you, Mama," Michael said, then squirmed to be put down so he could return to his important work.
As Kate headed upstairs to change, she felt the familiar stirring of professional curiosity.A suspicious death, political complications, and local police looking for federal backup.It had all the elements of an interesting case, and she was looking forward to seeing how quickly she could wrap it up.
CHAPTER TWO
Kate pulled her car into the narrow driveway behind a white Ford sedan and studied the Bennett residence.The two-story colonial sat on a modest lot in what appeared to be a neighborhood caught in the slow transition between middle-class stability and economic decline.The house itself was unremarkable, with beige vinyl siding, black shutters that had seen better days, and a small, attached garage with a door that hung slightly crooked on its tracks.
The front yard was dominated by mature oak and maple trees that had clearly been planted decades ago when the neighborhood was new.Their sprawling branches created a canopy that kept most of the grass in perpetual shade, resulting in patchy brown spots and areas where moss had taken over.Fallen leaves from the previous autumn still clung to corners where the wind had deposited them, and a few scattered toys suggested that neighborhood children sometimes used the space for play.
