with a tiny department eight months ago could ever compare to the career of a cop in New York. But their grandfather, the previous police chief, had been terminal.
Jess was the one who had sat beside his bed those last few months to ensure he had family around him. It had just made the most sense, considering Jess lived here. Ellie lived on the East Coast.
Now their Grandfather was gone and buried. Ellie was back here long enough to get the paperwork done, help her sister pack the house and deal with the old man’s things, and then she’d be off on sabbatical.
Write another book, Eleanor. She winced, picturing her boss’s face right in hers. Close enough she could feel his breath. You need to pull your weight, and we need a bestseller for this department.
Jess glanced at the screen of her phone, then slid it into her back pocket. “As soon as we’re done with Mr. Holmford, I have to get to work. We have a new case and things are starting to get interesting.”
Even having grown up with a police chief for a grandfather, Ellie still didn’t know what that meant.
Jess spoke again. “How are things going at the university?”
“Things are fine,” Ellie said. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
“If you’d actually breathe, I might believe you mean that.” Jess glanced over again, assessing her.
Ellie hadn’t liked that “cop” stare when their grandfather did it. She didn’t like it now from her little sister.
“You get that I’m trained to interrogate people, right?”
“Criminals. Not your own sister. And we all have the right to remain silent.” Ellie sighed. “Let’s just get to the lawyer’s office and get this done.”
There had been zero choice in coming back this time, just like there hadn’t been for the funeral. She couldn’t have left her sister to do all this alone. Being back in the old house with her sister felt good, but the memories in and through the rest of town put her on edge. That was the only reason she felt under a microscope.
Ellie was a history professor. She didn’t know how that science stuff worked, but probably whatever scientists watched that closely—that intimately—knew they were being studied.
“You think there’s anything in the will? Besides the house, at least.”
“What about his cabin, or the car?” Ellie took another sip. Hot liquid encountered the burned taste buds on her tongue and she winced.
Across the street, a man parked in his car watched them pass. It’s nothing, just ignore it. Would she always be suspicious of every man who glanced her way? No. That was no way to live her life. She might have avoided Last Chance for years, but innocent people should never be a source of fear for her. That wouldn’t be fair to someone just trying to live their life.
Ellie had been targeted specifically by one person—and his friends. But that had been years ago. And it was done now.
If she was inclined to thank God for anything, she would start with the news report she’d read a few weeks ago. The one that gave her peace. Some, at least. There was no reason for her fear now.
“Who knows what all there is?” Jess shrugged one shoulder. “But the chief wasn’t exactly hiding anything. You know he never could keep a surprise.”
Ellie chuckled. “That is true.” The old man had ruined more than one surprise party.
Their grandfather.
The police chief.
Jess had connected with him as a cop and had called him “chief” even in middle school. Ellie had existed at odds with the old man. Her grandfather hadn’t understood her.
He’d tried to help her when she needed it. But at the time, Ellie couldn’t accept it. Not from him or anyone. She knew he’d felt rejected by that. Life had never given them the opportunity to fix that. They’d exchanged emails for years. Catching up on each other’s news. But they’d never really made amends or worked to deepen their relationship. With Ellie’s book becoming so successful, and then her busy teaching schedule, there just hadn’t been time.
Ellie felt the burn in her eyes and glanced up at the sky so her lenses would transition to sunglasses and her sister wouldn’t see the sheen of tears. Not that Ellie would cry. She never did. Crying didn’t fix anything, and she wasn’t one to wallow.
“Thanks for coming.”
“I know.” Ellie smiled at her sister. “You said that already.”
Jess shook her head. “What with you being busy and all, I was kind of surprised you came