“True, unless he’s around his kids or Emma,” Saria said. “Drake said Jake is scary crazy over Emma. He was pretty upset that she was pregnant again. Drake went to calm him down.”

“Drake’s pretty good at that.”

“I miss him. I thought if I drank some hot chocolate I’d feel better.” She sent him a small smile. “Chocolate will keep me out of the swamp. I hate sleepin’ without Drake, and nights when he’s gone I usually make my trips to do my night photography so it isn’t so bad without him.” She sounded distracted, as if she was leaving an important piece of information out.

“Thanks for not goin’,” Remy said, choosing his words carefully. “I know it’s difficult for you to change your routine, especially when you’ve got a paying client. I really appreciate that I don’ have to worry about you.”

“You sound tired, Remy.”

He toed a chair around and sank down into it, studying his sister’s face. She looked strained, something rare for Saria. She was self-possessed, sure of herself and uncaring of other people’s opinions of her. It was unlike her to be so restless with Drake gone.

“I am tired,” he admitted. Handling Saria took care. One didn’t leap in with her. You gave a little to get something back. He was a skilled interrogator and once in a while he could coax his independent sister to tell him what was troubling her—and something definitely was. He rubbed the back of his neck knowing her cat’s eyes would be able to see the gesture there in the dark. “Talk to me.”

Saria crossed to the counter, putting her hand on the coffeemaker to test the heat. “You aren’t drinkin’ coffee are you?”

“No. I figured I’m already jacked up, I don’ need coffee to keep the buzz goin’.”

“You always get this way when you’re worried, Remy. Is it Pete’s murder?”

Remy shrugged. “If the killer stays with the pattern he had four years ago, he’ll be hittin’ tonight or tomorrow night and I’m no closer to catchin’ him then I was when he struck back then. For all the evidence he leaves at the crime scene, so far, nothin’ links anyone. I don’ even have a single suspect, and he’s goin’ to kill another innocent person. Someone with a family. Pete was a damned good man.”

Saria put a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Yes he was. You’ll get him this time, Remy, I know you will.” She pulled up the chair beside his and sat down, leaning toward him. “I know you always think you’re responsible for everyone around you, but you aren’t. You can only do so much.”