“True, Ms. Lange.” Detective Ellis exchanged a look with a small, wiry auburn haired police officer. “Her assistance has been duly noted and I will also provide a statement to Hillcroft to that effect.”

“Thank you.”

Under the blanket, Randall squeezed her hand.

Chapter 61

Chapter 61

3:48 p.m.

The doorbell rang.

Kate sprang up from the sofa. It couldn’t be Randall. He had gone to Prospect to pick up his children from his mother’s house.

Still, she smoothed her hair before swinging it open.

Eddie stood on the doorstep. Behind him, news trucks lined the street. A reporter hurried up the walkway when she saw the door had been opened.

“Quick!” Kate said. “Get in!”

He hurried over the threshold, and Kate bolted the door behind him. He held a box wrapped in a ribbon. “I bought you these,” he said, handing the box to her.

The box held an exquisite collection of macarons from Le French Fix, Kate’s favorite French pâtisserie in downtown Halifax.

“Thank you.” Kate’s throat tightened. “Come into the kitchen, Eddie. I’ll make tea.”

Eddie followed her, sitting at the table. How many times had they shared a meal at this table over the past year? Kate had lost count.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Kate.” She felt his gaze on her as she arranged the macarons on the plate. The delicate colors soothed her after the craziness of the past forty-eight hours.

She put the plate in front of Eddie. “I’m more worried about you.”

He nodded in acknowledgment of what was unspoken between them. “I’ll be okay.”

Kate sat down opposite him. “Listen, I thought long and hard this afternoon about our partnership.”

His eyes met hers. She saw resignation, pain, and something else in there. “I understand if you want to leave, Kate.”

“I don’t want to leave. But if we’re to be partners, I need to trust you.”

Wariness replaced resignation. “What are you suggesting?”

“I need to know that you are seeking help for your addiction.”

“I have been going to AA, Kate. You know that.”

“But last night—”

“—was a big mistake. I plan to attend AA tonight and reset things with my counselor.”

Relief surged in Kate. “I’m so happy to hear that.”

“But, Kate, I’m not accountable to you. I’m only accountable to myself.”

“I know.” Kate poured water into the teapot. “I don’t want or need a blow-by-blow of your recovery, Eddie. I just need to know that I can rely on you as my law partner.”

Her words settled between them.

Eddie exhaled. “Fair enough.” He bit into a macaron. “I will do my best to fulfill my obligations in that regard. In the meantime, what happened while I was sleeping?”

His reassurance didn’t put her fears completely to rest. But she went along with the change of topic.