Dead of Winter (Cold Case Psychic #15) - Pandora Pine Page 0,75

I hope Butchie runs.” With those words, Jude unbuckled his seatbelt and got out of the SUV.

“Are you ready to do this?” Ronan asked.

“As ready as I’m going to get,” Ten agreed. He was just glad he wasn’t going to be the one tackling Butchie, or Kate, for that matter. He opened the door and got out of the SUV. When he walked around to the passenger side, Ronan was standing there quietly. “Are you okay?”

Ronan nodded. “I just hope neither of these people had anything to do with the death of their sister. The Washingtons have been living an American tragedy for the last thirty-five years. I don’t want to add to their burden.”

Ten gave Ronan’s hand a squeeze. “I hear you, but the truth has to come out. It’s been hidden for long enough. We’re going to go in there and do our jobs. It’s all we can do.”

Nodding, Ronan signaled Fitzgibbon and Jude to get into position before he walked up to the Washingtons front door. His hand was steady as he rang the bell.

There was no answer. Ten could hear a commotion going on inside and knew it was Butchie and Kate scrambling to get out the back door. “We’ve got runners.”

Ronan snorted. “We’ve got the hyena and the whiner.”

Ten was about to respond when the front door opened. “Detective O’Mara! This is a surprise.” Butch Washington, wearing a guilty look, opened the door and ushered them into the house. “Muriel! Tennyson and Ronan O’Mara are here.”

“Do you have news about the case?” Muriel was wiping her hands off on a towel.

“We need to speak with Butchie and Kate,” Ronan said softly, not betraying any emotions.

“I’m afraid they aren’t here at the moment. I don’t know when they’ll be back.” Muriel offered a brittle smile.

“I do,” Ten said. He walked into the dining room and took a seat at the table. His chair was next to the one occupied by Skye’s hoodie.

“I don’t understand,” Muriel look turned wary.

“Psychic, remember?” Ten tapped the side of his head.

Butch stepped forward. “Look here—”

“No, you look!” Ten interrupted. It wasn’t like him to be rude to a grieving family, but he’d had enough. “We’ve been trying to get in touch with your son and daughter since the investigation was reopened.”

“Our kids had nothing to do with Skye’s death.” Butch’s hands were fisted at his sides.

“If that’s the case, then they should have spoken with us in the beginning. We’ve done nothing but waste time and resources here. Ronan and I took this case as a favor to the police chief, but also because we understood how hard it’s been not to know what happened to your youngest daughter.”

“Got them!” Jude announced triumphantly as he walked into the house with a firm grip on Kate Washington’s left elbow.

“Let go of me!” Kate howled. “I want this fucker arrested for assault, and I’m going to sue for unlawful imprisonment.”

“Sit down, Kate,” Tennyson commanded. He knew full well he had no authority to speak to her this way, but his patience was gone.

“Here’s the brother.” Fitzgibbon pushed Butchie into the house. Both men were panting for breath.

“What the fuck, Mom?” Butchie whined to Muriel.

“These men are trying to solve your sister’s murder. They work for the Salem Police Department. Why on earth wouldn’t either of you speak with them?” She frowned at her adult children.

“Because we’ve had enough!” Butchie bellowed.

“Enough of what?” Muriel looked and sounded bewildered.

“Enough of Skye,” Kate said matter-of-factly. “Enough of living in the past. Enough of our lives stopping in their tracks when Skye died. You had two other kids who needed you, but all your time and attention went to Skye.” Kate made eye contact with her brother who slumped into the seat next to her.

Butch, Sr. looked stunned. His mouth opened but no sound came out.

“Don’t look so surprised, Dad.” Butchie rolled his eyes. “Don’t stand there and pretend like you didn’t notice our pain.”

“Stop!” Ronan held up both hands like a referee in a prize fight. “I couldn’t care less if the two of you weren’t hugged enough as teenagers. What I do care about is your sister. What happened the night she died?”

“What evidence do you have to prove we killed Skye?” Kate had gone from reliving her teenage angst to spitfire in record time.

Ten dug deep for a reserve of patience. “All we wanted to do was speak with you about that night,” Tennyson said, feeling like Kate was on his last nerve. “The