Appalachian Prey - Debbie Herbert

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I’m aware of. Are you arresting Ed?”

      “J.D.’s questioning him now.”

      She jumped off his lap. “And the kids? I have to get down there. They might need me.” Guilt snaked its way through her gut, insidious and slimy. Who was she kidding? Nobody needed her. She and Darla had had a major argument over the stolen money. The last time she’d seen her sister, she’d stormed out of the house, threatening to put the cops on her tail.

      Frantically, she grabbed her purse off the table, eager to leave and keep her mind and hands busy instead of dwelling on the news. “I’ve got to pack a few clothes, and...and...” She blindly stumbled into the coffee table and rubbed her shins.

      “I’ll drive you.” Harlan took her purse and set it on the sofa. “Go ahead and pack. Take your time. There’s no rush.”

      She shook her head. “No. I’ll need my own vehicle. I don’t want to be dependent on you to drive me everywhere while I’m back.”

      “Yeah, about that. The easiest thing all around is for you to stay with me. Ed and the kids have his parents to help out, and there’s no sense in you wasting money on a motel.”

      No. He didn’t love her, and she wouldn’t be a burden to him or anyone else. Lilah thought fast. There was always Uncle Thad and Aunt Vi, but with their eight children, it tended to be a bit noisy and cramped.

      “I can stay with my Aunt Ruth who lives about forty miles from here. She has health problems so she’ll appreciate my help around the house and my company.” She stifled the impulse to cross her fingers behind her back. Ruth was nearly seventy years old and had never married or had children—a quiet woman like her preferred the solitary life. Yes, she’d recently had minor surgery but, truth be told, Ruth was just fine on her own.

      His brow furrowed. “She doesn’t have anyone else to take care of her? I don’t like you working so hard.”

      “No. Besides, what’s it to you?”

      His eyes trailed down to her belly. “Somebody needs to look out for you.”

      Lilah couldn’t help it. She blushed.

      Harlan quirked a brow. “Since when have you ever been shy with me?”

      Yeah, he was right about that. No point in modesty after he knew every inch of her body. Lilah shook off the sudden images of Harlan’s intimate kisses. Now wasn’t the time for remembering such things.

      “I’ll need to call the Red Cross again and get word to Jimmy.”

      “I can do it for you,” Harlan volunteered.

      “No. I’m family. I should.” Lord, she didn’t want to, though. Her brother had enough stress without hearing that yet another family member had been murdered.

      “We’ll do it together. Tonight.”

      Lilah wavered. It would be nice to stay with Harlan. There was nowhere she’d feel more protected. On the other hand, going to his place would stir up the old memories of the time they’d spent together. A happier time when she’d thought they’d be together forever.

      Harlan obviously sensed her hesitation and moved in for the kill. “Come on,” he said in his husky, sexy voice. “It’ll give us an opportunity to talk. I’m still not convinced the baby isn’t mine.”

      The baby. Lilah’s hand went to her stomach. She had to consider more than just her own feelings. Harlan could protect her...protect them. It didn’t mean they were a couple again. And there was no denying that she and all her family were in danger. This was far from over—something deep and rotten and evil lay at the bottom of these two deaths.

      It was only a matter of time before the killer struck again.

      Who would be next?

       Chapter Five

      “It’s a formality.”

      Harlan placed his broad hand on the small of her back and guided her into the antiseptic, frigid forensics room located in the bowels of the county hospital.

      Lilah’s breath came in rapid, shallow bursts. I can’t do this. She thought of Ed. He was always in the background at family gatherings, a quiet presence and foil to Darla’s chatter and dramatics. A seemingly decent guy.

      But now, the normally stoic Ed was barely holding himself together. His large hands were trembling by his sides.

      I have to be here. It’s the last kindness I can do for my sister. Help her family in their time of need.

      “It will all be over in a minute,” Harlan whispered reassuringly in her ear.

      “Right.” One quick glance, a thumbs-up to the coroner from Ed and she was out of there.

      An older woman in pastel blue scrubs and a white coat nodded at her briskly, but not unkindly. Lilah’s gaze dropped to the gurney where a body was draped over with a white sheet. Darla’s body. She forced her leaden feet forward and nodded, glad Harlan’s hand remained at the base of her spine. Ed groaned and then pinched his lips together in determination. Lilah patted his arm.

      At his nod, the woman turned down the sheet with a practiced flick of her wrist.

      Red lipstick blazed against pale alabaster skin tinged with a morgue-blue undertone. Dishwater-blond hair fell carelessly over stiff shoulders. The curve of her jaw and cheekbones, the delicate arch of her brows, a certain sculpting of the nose and lips—Lilah could see herself in the family genetics. Thank heavens they had only revealed her face. There was no hint of the violence she’d endured. But if rolled over, Darla’s body would have been visibly marred by shotgun pellets.

      The sheet was short on the left side and Lilah observed Darla’s lifeless hand that peeked out from under the edge of the cover.

      “It’s her,” Ed croaked. “Darla Marie Tedder Stovall.”

      The woman immediately pulled the sheet back over Darla, covering her face.

      Harlan nodded to the technician. “Thank you, ma’am.”

      “The secretary out front will have you sign a paper confirming the identification. Sorry for your loss.”

      They were officially dismissed.

      Lilah wanted to say goodbye to Darla, say she was sorry that sharp words were the last ones spoken between them. But it was too late. She swallowed the regret and walked out of the cold room, breathing deeply as they headed toward the desk. A young man handed them a clipboard and pen. “Sign here,” he said, motioning to the signature line at the bottom of the sheet.

      Ed scribbled his name with shaking hands.

      “There’s freshly brewed coffee,” he offered them. “Can I get y’all a cup?”

      Ed shook his head and looked up at the ceiling.

      “Yes—I mean, no.” She sure could use the comfort of warm caffeinated liquid, but her own needs were secondary for the next few months.

      “How about some water?” Harlan asked her, his deep voice rumbling behind her.

      “What I really want is to get out of here first.”

      Harlan nodded. “Thanks, but we’re fine,” he told the tech, ushering them to the elevator.

      Once inside, Harlan pressed the button and they rumbled up to the main floor. Ed exhaled and scrubbed at his face.

      She couldn’t imagine the pain he must be in. “How are the kids doing this morning?” she said around the burn in her throat.

      “Mom’s watching them.”

      The elevator door opened and they emerged into the main lobby. The hustle and bustle seemed miles away from the stillness of the basement

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