As I thought about our twin bond, I wondered if that's the way my mother and my aunt felt, if that's why trouble had found them both, because one couldn't stand by while the other was in danger.

My mother said she'd done everything to protect us.

Had she done it for us or for Rachel?

I pushed myself off the door and walked back to the family room. Then I called Kade.

"Everything all right?" he asked.

"Yes, my father and stepmother are flying back to Los Angeles. They're done with this whole situation."

"Just like that, huh?"

"My dad said he'd been through enough hell with my mother. I can't say I totally blame him. He wasn't going to talk to the police or even go back to his hotel, but I think I persuaded him to call Inspector Greenman. We'll see if he actually does it."

"I don't understand why he's avoiding the police."

"It's because he slapped my mom in their public meet and he's afraid someone will try to pin the attempted murder on him."

"Which only makes him seem more suspicious."

"I can't disagree," I said wearily. "But deep down, I think he's just protecting himself. I don't believe he shot her. Anyway, what are you doing? Working?"

"No. I've been reading up on Ian Holden. I looked up his classes, and he's teaching one at ten o'clock tomorrow morning. If we can't get an address for him before that, we should check out his class."

"Sounds good."

"I'm going to do a little work now, unless you need me," Kade said.

I wanted to tell him I was starting to need him every second of the day, but that would sound more than a little desperate. "I'm fine. I can do some cleanup around here."

"All right. Why don't I put in a few hours of work and then pick up some Thai food to share? Interested?"

"Absolutely," I said.

"If you need anything before then, call me. I'm right downstairs."

"I'll be fine," I said, hoping that was true.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

The doorbell woke me up, and I sat up on the family room couch in bemusement. I checked my watch as the bell rang again. It was after seven and it was dark outside. I'd apparently fallen asleep.

I grabbed my phone and saw a couple of texts from Kade, including the last one, which said he was outside. Jumping up, I moved quickly down the hall, checked to make sure it was him, and then let him in.

Relief filled his gaze when he saw me. "I was beginning to worry about you," he said, as he stepped inside, carrying a large paper bag that smelled delicious. "You didn't answer any of my texts."