reached out, as if to steady herself on Death’s arm.
“Steady there, girl. Just a handsome guy who looks like your dead husband. Cuban, though. Not Mexican.”
As if that made any difference in the way Casey’s body responded to him. It wasn’t like her feelings knew anything about nationality. Or even what would be helpful.
Jack, straightening up the tables in the bar, saw her before Gomez did. “Hey, Casey. You all right?”
She must have looked awful. Everyone kept asking her that.
“I’m fine. Just…I have to go talk with Andrea’s parents.”
“Sure. I saw them come in. Poor folks.”
Behind Jack, Casey could see Gomez taking notice of her and walking her way. She looked back at Jack’s kind face for strength. “You’ll be out here later?”
“Till twelve-thirty or so. Just like last night.”
Gomez reached them. “They’re waiting for you in Mrs. Williams’ office, Ms. Gray.” His forehead wrinkled. “You okay?”
“Just what I asked her,” Jack said. “You’ll take care of her?”
“Sure. I got her.”
“Hey,” Casey said. “I’m right here. And I’m fine. Where’s Binns?”
“She had to leave,” Gomez said. “Asked me to tell you she’ll call tomorrow.”
Great. “Thanks, Jack. See you later.”
“I’ll be here.”
Casey stepped away from Gomez and walked briskly toward Sissy’s office, not wanting to receive anything from the policeman, including his compassionate expression, the scent of his cologne, or even the movement of air around him. Just that brief interaction had made her feel all giddy, and that wasn’t what she needed heading into this conversation.
The light was on in Maria’s office, and Sissy’s door was open. Casey could see Sissy’s hands resting on her desk, and two sets of feet on the opposite side of the doorway—one in women’s low-heeled boots, and one in loafers. Casey shuddered.
“Deep breath,” Death said. “It’s just old people.”
“Old people who just lost their daughter,” Casey muttered.
“Excuse me?” Gomez leaned toward her.
Casey jerked away. “Nothing.”
“Ah, here she is.” Sissy got up and pulled Casey into the room. She wore the same maroon outfit she’d had on earlier, but her make-up had been freshly done, and her expression was all blank and businesslike. “Mr. and Mrs. Parker, this is Daisy Gray, our fitness instructor. She was friends with your daughter.”
Casey stared at her. Friends?
“I’m sure she’d be glad to tell you about Andrea and what she’d been doing here in Florida.”
Sissy gave Casey a bright smile, as fake as they come. Casey swiveled her eyes sideways to look at Death, who was perched on the back of Mr. Parker’s chair, watching Casey with raised eyebrows. The Parkers themselves weren’t really looking at anything. Mr. Parker had slouched so far down he seemed to be sinking into the chair, his eyes level with Sissy’s desktop. Mrs. Parker sat ramrod straight, her eyes aimed straight across the top of Sissy’s desk, even with the aerial photo of the complex. Neither one had acknowledged Casey’s arrival. She wondered if they were even really present in the room.
“Excuse me.” Officer Gomez stood in the doorway. “If you’re not needing me anymore, I’ll be off.”
“Oh, yes, we’re fine, officer,” Sissy gushed. “Thank you so much.”
He looked at Casey.
Yes, she needed him, but not in any way that would be appropriate. “I’ll be fine. Thank you.”
He gave her a gentle smile, and left.
“Go ahead,” Sissy urged Casey. “Tell the Parkers all about their daughter.”
“Um…” Casey really, really wasn’t up for this. Confusing senseis, sexy police officers, crazy women hiding in the palm trees, being expected to talk about a woman she’d only known a few hours… “I actually only got to know Andrea—”
Sissy cleared her throat loudly. “Ms. Gray is going to be modest, no doubt, Mr. and Mrs. Parker. Andrea was a member of Ms. Gray’s aerobics classes, and one of her best students.” She fluttered her eyelashes at Casey, but Casey could see steel underneath the falseness. “She showed a lot of stability there, and at work, where she never missed a day.”
Was it possible Sissy would know this? Casey couldn’t imagine how. It’s not like anyone took attendance at fitness classes. And Sissy certainly wasn’t checking off little boxes to make sure everybody got to work on time.
Sissy opened her eyes wide and gave Casey a frightening stare.
“Andrea was a…regular class member,” Casey said. It wasn’t a lie. In the one day Casey had been there, Andrea had actually attended two sessions. Three if you counted the impromptu self-defense lesson. “She was very fit, and enjoyed the time with the other women.”