back to me, they seem more unsettled than before. “What was he saying?”
“He’s going to the police station.”
Candy’s watching me intently. “You don’t think that’s weird?”
I don’t usually sleep late, but I don’t know if that’s the only reason why I’m so irritable all of a sudden. I guess I can’t expect anyone in this house to be a ray of fucking sunshine, but for fuck’s sake.
“I think it’s weird that you’re acting like nothing happened yesterday.” I step closer to her, holding out a hand.
She backs up out of reach. “I’m worried about my mom.”
“Okay, fuck, I get that.” I duck my head forward, bringing my eyes to her level. “What do you want me to do about it?”
She blinks furiously for a second, her mouth parting. “Nothing. I mean, I’m just—” she cuts off with a low growl and pivots on her heel. “Forget it.”
“Candy!”
But she’s already halfway down the stairs, and ignoring the living fuck out of me.
Coffee. That’ll wake me the hell up. But that’s in the kitchen, and if I’m not mistaken, Candy’s headed straight that way.
Fuck it. I should get out of the house anyway. I’ll stop for some coffee at that place down the road, bring her back a latte and some bear claws or something.
We could talk.
Fuck knows, we need to talk.
We need to fuck.
But I force that sinister thought away as I slip into my room and put on a pair of jeans, a shirt, and my red Maple Ridge hoody. What happened yesterday was impulsive and stupid. Kids being kids. Hormones raging and all that shit. Sure, I enjoyed it, and I’m sure she did too, but it didn’t fulfill the purpose it was supposed to.
I shouldn’t still be thinking about her. I was supposed to get her out of my head, not wedge her deeper in. And now, because she’s worried about her mom, so am I. I couldn’t give a shit about Diana with her fake hair and her fake tits…but I’d do anything in the world not to have Candy worry anymore.
Coffee and bear claws.
We’ll talk this out.
Things can go back to normal.
I turn my car’s ignition, and my eyes slide back to the house.
What if normal isn’t an option anymore?
There was a traffic jam en route to the coffee shop. Some idiot took out a traffic light last night, and now the road’s backed up. I almost turn around, but I’m intent on getting that coffee. I get like this sometimes, like I’m stuck on a train track, and there’s no stopping until I’ve reached my destination.
When I finally get back home, the house is silent as the fucking grave. Emma’s grave, I guess, since there probably hasn’t been enough time for insects and shit to start burrowing through her coffin, hunting for her putrefying flesh.
I leave Candy’s coffee and the confections in the kitchen until I’ve tracked her down. My search takes me to the second-floor landing, but instead of heading straight for Candy’s door, I pause in front of Emma’s.
What Dad had said keeps playing on repeat.
Discrepancies.
I slowly push open Emma’s door.
Just like it was yesterday. Utterly pristine and lifeless.
Autopsy.
I thought autopsies were only done if there was some criminal aspect to a person’s death. I mean, I know I’d said a lot of shit at the funeral, but I think the worst Dad could be accused of was negligence, right?
I walk over to the side of her bed and switch on her night lamp. Its warm yellow light glows brighter than normal on this darkly overcast day.
Thump.
I jerk, my teeth clicking together.
The fuck?
Thump, thump.
In the breathless moment that follows, there’s a whistle from outside as a gust of wind buffets the house.
“Fuck.”
I was going to wait for Dad to come back and then tell him about the window, but the wind isn’t letting up, and I know for a fact it’s going to drive me insane if I keep hearing that shutter thumping.
Study’s locked though, and I sure as hell won’t be picking that lock. They make it look easy in movies, but I’ve tried it before. Might be more frustrating attempting that than just letting the window keep banging.
If only there was another way.
Chapter Forty-One
Candy
I try to warm my hands on my cup of coffee, but the cold seems to be coming from inside. Josiah left a few minutes ago, and now the house seems too big and empty around me.
I shrug my shoulders and take a sip of coffee as I