with her shoulder. “She was shy, almost introverted, but I liked her. She was sweet with the dog.”
The microwave beeped, and Matt removed his dinner. The scent of his dad’s gravy filled the kitchen.
“I matched her with a little dog, a super nervous type. We named him Chicken because he was so scared. I thought Shannon would be a good fit for him because her house would be quiet. She said she didn’t get much company and worked from home. Their personalities matched. She was skittish too.”
Matt carried the steaming dish to the table. His sister sat across from him.
“Want some?” He gestured to the food.
“Are you kidding?” Cady rubbed her stomach. “Dad already fed me.”
Matt dug in. “What else do you remember about Shannon?”
“I felt really awful for her. Someone in her family was sick.” Cady lifted a finger and cocked her head, trying to remember.
“Her mother.” Fork in hand, Matt stared at his food. Shannon Phelps would never have a homecooked meal prepared by her parent again.
“What’s wrong?” Cady asked.
“Shannon’s sister was killed.”
“What?” Realization lit in Cady’s eyes. “The woman found at the Dead Horse Road bridge.”
“Yeah. Keep her identity to yourself, OK?” Matt sighed and picked at his food. He needed to eat regardless of his appetite. “Shannon doesn’t need extra gossip on top of media attention.”
“Sure. That’s horrible. She wanted the dog for company. I hope he helped.”
“Me too,” Matt said.
Soon, Shannon would have no family left in the world. She’d already lost her father and her sister. Her mother was dying. And someone had broken into her house to leave her a nasty message.
Why? Matt could not think of a motivation to frighten Shannon.
For one second, he considered what he’d do if someone hurt a member of his family. Then he pushed the thought away. It was too painful to even contemplate. While Bree was working hard to reconnect with her family, Matt had always had the support and love of his. When he’d been shot and his career abruptly cut off, it was his family who’d gotten him through the ordeal.
“How was the dog adjusting?” Cady asked.
“He was still nervous,” Matt said. “I doubt that’s going to change.”
“I hope he isn’t too much for her to handle.” She frowned. “It can take months for a rescue’s true personality to come out. I’ll reach out to her and check up on him.”
Cady took animal rescue seriously. She worried about every animal she placed. Adopters had to sign a form promising to return dogs to the organization if the placement didn’t work out.
“I suspect she’s overwhelmed by her situation, not by the dog.”
Cady pressed her lips together into an angry line. “I hope you find her sister’s killer.”
Determination and empathy flooded Matt. Already damaged, Shannon’s life was in free fall because someone had murdered Holly. The sisters might not have seen eye to eye on their mother’s care, but they’d still had each other. There was nothing like family. Now Shannon was alone and facing another bout with grief.
He stabbed a piece of meat. “Don’t worry. I will.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Bree parked her SUV next to the house. From there, she could see through the kitchen window. Dana opened the oven to check on dinner. Bree’s brother, Adam, pulled dishes from the upper cabinet, while Kayla gathered utensils from the drawer. Luke sat at the table, writing in a spiral notebook.
The domestic scene punched Bree in the heart. She’d never had this in her entire life. She’d been separated from her siblings after their parents’ deaths and raised alone by a cousin. The absence of Adam and Erin in her childhood had been profound, and the isolation had left a mark. Bree had to work hard at maintaining personal relationships. She often had to force herself not to make quick decisions, but to step back and evaluate situations. Her instinct to withdraw from any relationship that could render her vulnerable was pure self-preservation, born of a lonely and traumatic childhood. Before her parents’ murder-suicide, she’d lived in an abusive and terrifying home. For most of her life, she’d had no one to rely on but herself.
But she was an adult now, and she was determined to put the past behind her. Her own sister’s murder had taught her the importance of family. If only she’d learned that lesson before Erin had died.
With tears gathering in the corners of her eyes, she slid out of the SUV and veered toward the barn. She rolled open the heavy door and