“I’ll ask Elise for a referral. I’ll tell her that I need help with Jay’s death.” Which I do, but I’m not convinced that therapy is going to help anymore. Like I’ve run out of sessions. Like I’ve had my share. Time to accept my life as it is. For the past five years I’ve had Jay to talk to, to hold me in the night when I had a bad dream, to dry my tears when something triggered a memory. But now that he’s gone, I’m alone and will have to carry on by myself if I’m to survive.

Corrine takes my hands in hers. “You’re freezing, Molly. Let’s go inside.”

I rise with her, and she puts her arm around my shoulders. She’s a good big sister, really. Her past is twined with mine, and it hasn’t been easy for her either.

CHAPTER 23 - Rita

CHAPTER 23

Rita

I DIDN’T FEEL LIKE SWINGING BACK BY MY APARTMENT TO CHANGE MY clothes, so I show up at the station in my funeral attire. As I wend my way back to my office, I nearly bump into Doug Schmitt, the other lead detective in our department.

“Hey, Rita. Nice dress.”

“Gee, thanks, Doug. I almost look as fashionable as you do.” He stands like a GQ model in his dark tailored suit, holding a cup of coffee. Doug’s big on appearances, as though his favorite part of the job is trying to look like some suave movie detective. He starts to walk with me as I make my way down the hall.

“Heard you’ve got a homicide cooking,” he says.

“It looks that way.”

He comes to a stop at his office door, sips his coffee. “Why does everything interesting happen when I’m not here?”

“Next time we’ll be sure to schedule a murder for after you get back from vacation.”

He smirks as though we’re in on some big joke. It sticks in his craw that the chief gives me the most high-profile cases. That I’ve got fifteen years of experience on Schmitt doesn’t seem to faze him.

“Well, good luck with that,” he says, and darts inside his office.

As I power up my computer, Chase peers in.

“Lauren said they’ve released Mrs. Bradley’s phone.”

“Good. Anything pertinent?”

“Nope.” Chase clears his throat. “I can run it by her place if you want me to. I was going to head out anyway. I’m supposed to be off.”

“Right.” I’d forgotten. “You don’t mind?”

His gaze shifts to the window. “No problem. It’s on my way.”

I put my hand on my hip. “Maybe we should wait, you know? The funeral just ended.”

“She seemed anxious to have it back. It might make her feel better.”