a minute. Then I launched into motion, every protective instinct I had on full alert. The crowd was too much for him. “Excuse me.” I pushed by Pierce in the pew and accidentally stepped on his shoe with my heel.
He hissed out a breath.
“Sorry.” I gingerly made my way past bodies to the aisle and then hurried toward the back.
Pauley was fidgeting, his face pale, his body contorting in a buttoned-down white shirt. He yanked at the collar. “No.”
I reached him, careful not to touch. “Pauley? I need some air. Would you please come outside with me?”
He pulled harder on the collar, his eyes darting around.
“Pauley. Outside.” Without touching him, I pushed open the heavy door and walked outside into the drizzly day. It had been a long time since I’d seen one of Pauley’s episodes, partly because his medicinal regimen was good and partly because Pauley was amazing. Even so, anxiety twittered through me. Then I felt guilty about that.
My shoulders relaxed fractionally as I walked down the concrete steps to the cracked sidewalk. Since I’d been surrounded by law enforcement, my bodyguard had been given the rest of the day off, and I was glad there wasn’t another person around to agitate my cousin.
Pauley exited the church and immediately clasped his hands together, his gaze on his brown loafers, his steps a little jerky.
I drew air in, not caring that light rain drizzled over my aching face. In fact, the coolness felt good. “You okay?”
“Yes.” He walked past me and then turned to follow the sidewalk away from the church.
I followed him, avoiding weeds through the concrete, appreciating the older homes and fully-grown trees down the quiet street. Finally, we reached a small park with a couple of swing sets and slides. Pauley moved for a brightly painted green picnic table off to the side and took a seat on the wet top to rock slightly.
I slowed my steps and approached slowly, angling up to sit next to him.
We both looked at an older brick home across the street. Vibrant purple lilac trees decorated the entire left side and around the corner, smelling delicious at a distance and even in the rain.
I cleared my throat.
Pauley looked at me and then back at the house. “The crowd bothers you.”
I blinked. “Yeah. You?”
“Yes.” Rain drizzled down, splotching his brown pants. But he didn’t seem to mind, which was good.
“Why did you attend Scot’s funeral, Pauley?” I set my heels on the bench and curled my fingers around the table. The heavy paint had smoothed the wood enough that it didn’t scratch my still aching palms.
“Scot was my friend.” Pauley tilted his head to the side. “Scot died. Blood stopped pumping to his heart and to his head and he died. My dog died two years ago on a Thursday. He was hit by a car. Scot died on a Friday. He was hit by a bullet. Your dog died on a Monday. He was just old. Everyone dies.”
I tried to keep track of the conversation, but the first statement kept my attention. “You and Scot were friends?” How was this possible?
“Yes. Scot was my friend. Lacey is your best friend, even though you are cousins. She told me you were best friends. But you do not live in the same town.” He rocked slightly. “Lacey is my sister. She is also my friend. But not best.”
I let him talk in his way as he dealt with life. Maybe with death. “Okay. Let’s talk about you and Scot.”
“Scot was my friend.” Pauley clasped his hands together on his pants.
Okay. That truly was news. “How did you and Scot meet?”
“On a Wednesday in February at school. Scot talked to my class, and then Scot talked to me.”
I didn’t like Pauley having a friend unknown to me. I really disliked the fact that the friend had never said a word to me about my cousin. I hated the fact that said friend had been murdered. “What did you and Scot do?” I asked softly.
“Worked on equations. Good work. Smart work.” Pauley said, pushing off the table. “Want to see?”
Yes. Without a doubt. “I’d like that, Pauley. Show me. My car is over there.”
Apparently, attorneys weren’t the only folks with war rooms. Pauley led me through a dusty smelling college library to another hall hosting offices for visiting professors. He had a key to the last dingy maroon-colored door at the far end.
I walked inside to see one entire wall covered by a map