Dead of Winter (Cold Case Psychic #15) - Pandora Pine Page 0,67
been pondering this exact thing when Jude interrupted his train of thought. “Here I’ve been thinking all we’re doing is spinning our wheels, but we must be close, or people wouldn’t be dying.”
“Christ, a thirty-five-year-old cold case, and now two bodies drop inside a week.” Jude was shaking his head.
“We don’t know if Heidi’s body dropped,” Tennyson said. “She had end-stage lung cancer. It might have been a natural death aided along by her endless supply of Virginia Slims.”
“She looked very fragile when we met her yesterday.” Ronan brightened at the idea that Heidi’s death could have been caused by cancer rather than by a mad killer on the loose.
“Fragile enough to buy the farm only hours later?” Jude popped his seatbelt and opened the door. “I should have taken the T-bird. Being seen with the two of you could be hazardous to my health.”
“Talking like that is hazardous to your health.” Ronan growled after him.
“Let’s get to it, before the two of you get any deeper into your own heads.” Fitzgibbon climbed out of the SUV, opening Ronan’s door as he passed it.
The house looked just like it had yesterday with Heidi’s wreck of an Oldsmobile in the driveway. The only difference was the bevy of cops and patrol cars lining the street and Chief Cisco Jackson walking toward them.
“Body’s still in the living room,” Cisco said by way of hello.
“Where’s the neighbor?” Ronan wanted to go interview her instead of going back into Heidi’s house but knew that wasn’t an option. He would have to pull up his big boy pants and get to work.
“I’ve got an officer sitting with her at her house.” Cisco pointed to the grey cape next door. “You can go speak with her later.”
Ronan couldn’t help wondering if her house was in the same condition as Heidi’s. “I’m ready to go in there before I lose my nerve,” Ronan muttered.
An officer behind them sneezed loudly. “You’re going to need masks, Detective O’Mara.” He held four of them in his hands.
“Thanks, Paul.” Ronan took the respirator mask from the young man, whose eyes were bloodshot and watering. “Allergic to cats?”
Paul nodded miserably. “I’ve got Benadryl in my patrol car.” He sneezed again.
“Go take it before you end up in the ER.” Ronan patted his shoulder. When he turned to the others, they were all wearing masks. They were barely recognizable, even his husband. “Is everyone ready?” Without waiting for an answer, Ronan headed toward the house.
Cisco led them into the kitchen, which was now being treated as a crime scene. So far as he could tell, nothing had been moved since yesterday afternoon when they were here. One thing was very obviously missing. “Where are the cats?”
“Animal control took them, for their safety and ours.” Cisco snickered.
“Yeah, they bit two of the medics when they tried to examine Heidi’s body.” Cisco shook his head. “They were going to come in to remove the cats anyway. We just asked them to do it sooner to keep everyone safe.”
“Another reason we’re not getting Everly a kitten.” Christ, that’s all they needed was to worry about a monster cat attacking their child. The mark on his face from Ginger the cat was a reminder of how dangerous cats could be.
“Calm down, Ronan. They were protecting their mistress the same way Dixie would protect you if there was an intruder in the house.” It was hard to tell with Tennyson wearing a mask, but it seemed to Ronan that Ten was laughing at him.
“Not if the murdering burglar had a pork chop in his pocket,” Ronan muttered.
“We’re thinking of getting Aurora a kitten for Christmas. Wouldn’t it be fun if her cat and Everly’s were sisters?” Fitzgibbon’s eyes lit up.
Ronan growled again but otherwise stayed silent. He wasn’t a stupid man. He knew at some point in the future Everly would get her damned cat.
“If you’re done arguing…” Cisco rolled his eyes in obvious annoyance. “Heidi’s in here.”
Jude and Fitzgibbon led the way, with Tennyson and Ronan bringing up the rear. They’d only been in the kitchen yesterday, and hadn’t seen any other part of the house. It was a disaster.
The living room was nearly hoarded out. Old newspapers and copies of National Geographic were stacked everywhere. Among other things, board games were piled to the left of the television and puzzles were tumbled to the right. They were all probably gifts from well-meaning friends or neighbors, which had only added to the