really think it will help…”
Erin hugged the man and laughed aloud at the startled expression on his face. “Sorry,” she said, taking a step back. “But you don’t know what this means to me. I think a birthday party with a cake, balloons, friends and the greatest clown who ever lived is just the thing my family needs right now.” She grabbed her purse, withdrew pen and paper and scribbled her address with directions to her house. “Here.”
He read it. “What time do you need me?”
“I don’t know. This is all spur of the moment.” She thought for a minute. “How about two o’clock? Will that work for you?”
The man nodded and shoved the paper in his pocket. “I’ll be there at two.”
“Thank you, Mr. Peters.” She watched him push his equipment into the hall. “Isn’t that great?” Erin spun around. “Amy and Jack will be so happy.”
“Yes, they will.”
“You’ll come, won’t you? I know you need your rest and you won’t have to stay long, but Jack would be so disappointed if you didn’t make it.”
“Of course, I’ll come. Try keeping me away.”
She smiled and hoped her love for him was evident in her eyes.
“Erin.”
His sober demeanor worried her.
He stood up and cupped her hands in his. “They found Carol’s killer. They arrested him a couple of hours ago.”
“They found him?” Oh, thank You, Lord. Carol did you hear that? They caught the creep. “Are you sure? They really found him?”
Tony nodded.
“I thought you had bad news.” Relief swept over her. “This is wonderful. The whole miserable nightmare is over.” She wanted to dance with happiness. “I can’t believe this. I have to go. I have to tell Tess. I don’t want her to hear it on the news. You have no idea what this means to us. We were so scared.”
He kissed her lightly on the forehead. “I know. So was I. But it’s over. You’re safe now.”
“You know what this means, don’t you?”
“Tell me.”
“No more baking cookies or brewing coffee for cops.” She laughed. “Except for one very special cop who is invited to be underfoot anytime he wants.” She leaned her head lightly against the hollow of his throat, being careful not to put any pressure against the sling on his right arm. “If only we could have found him thirteen days earlier Carol would still be alive.”
“I know.” He held her closer.
“But I don’t understand.” She looked up. “Why did you hesitate telling me?”
A grim expression crossed his features. “Because you know him, Erin. It’s a friend of yours.”
Erin straightened. “A friend?” Her voice sounded incredulous even to her own ears. “No way. No one I know could be the monster who killed Carol.”
Tony held her gaze almost as if he was trying to offer her his strength. “I’m sorry, Erin. Early this morning they arrested Dr. Robert Stone for the murders.”
The strength drained out of her body and she plopped on the edge of the bed. “That’s ridiculous. Robert couldn’t kill anyone. You have the wrong man.”
“I know how you must feel.”
“You don’t have a clue how I feel.” Anger and disbelief laced her words. “You’re crazy if you think Robert could do this.”
“If it’s any consolation, I didn’t think he was capable of it either when I interviewed him.”
Erin stiffened. “You interviewed Robert? When?”
“Robert Stone is Carol’s Mystery Man. He’s the one who reported her missing.”
“I don’t believe you. Carol would have told me if she was dating Robert.”
Tony grasped her hand. “You were best friends. I get that. But even best friends have secrets.”
“No. You’re wrong.” She pulled away from him and stood up. “She didn’t tell me because there wasn’t anything to tell. Robert was Amy’s pediatrician, nothing more.”
“Erin, think about it.” Tony leaned back against the straight-back chair and looked at her. “You know Carol had met someone. You told me yourself that she seemed to be head over heels for the guy, but she wouldn’t identify him.”
“It wasn’t Robert.” Her voice shook and her words came out in a whisper. “She would have told me if it was Robert.”
“Why? Because you dated him, too?”
“Yes. No.” She looked at him in distress. “She would have told me because we were friends.”
Tony tried again to clasp her hand. “If it’s any consolation, she was going to tell you when she got home from her date.”
Erin raised an eyebrow.
“Carol wanted to make sure the guy didn’t still have feelings for you and believed that night would have cleared that up.”
“How?”
“Stone showed me