Guilt is Midnight Blue: A Hazel Dean Mystery by Josalyn McAllister

Author:Josalyn McAllister [McAllister, Josalyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Eburnean Books
Published: 2021-05-04T22:00:00+00:00

Elias was pacing in the kitchen when they got home. Hazel recognized relief wash over him when they came in with Eugene.

“Eugene is going to be staying with us for a few days,” Jason said. “Elias, can you make sure that the guest room is ready for him?”

Without a word, Elias took the backpack out of Eugene’s hands and disappeared.

“He was worried about you,” Hazel said. But then Eugene turned red again, and Hazel wished she hadn’t said anything.

Jeremiah appeared from another room. “Hey Eugene! Back again? You needed some video game lessons? Hey Mom, now that Eugene’s back, are you going to make dessert again? How’s your ankle, Eugene? Well, come on. I’ll queue up the game.”

Hazel smiled. Her younger son’s casual acceptance of Eugene’s presence was exactly what he needed. Eugene’s redness faded. He looked over at her, and she nodded, so he hobbled after Jeremiah into the family room.

Hazel glanced at Jason. “We’re having tacos for dinner.”

Jason grinned. “Nice,” he said and started grabbing toppings out of the fridge. “So, this’ll be fine. I’m already off Wallis’ case at work, so that shouldn’t present a problem with conflict of interest or anything. I’ll just let the Judge Proust know anyways, just in case. Eugene will just hang out with the boys. Like Jeremiah suddenly has a twin.”

Hazel frowned. She got a pan out to brown some ground beef. “Maybe,” she murmured. “Hopefully, that’s all it is.”

“What do you mean?” Jason asked, cutting into an avocado.

“Eugene might need a little more maintenance than that,” Hazel said. “You heard the psychologist. He’s not well.”

“She said he needed some rest,” Jason said. “Like emotional rest, it sounded like to me. What would be better than hanging out and playing video games with a couple of carefree boys your own age?”

Hazel nodded. “You’re right. It seems like it should help.” She stirred the ground beef, wondering what would happen once Eugene’s time with them had ended and he had to go back home to his brothers. She shook her head. It would be better to just focus on one day at a time.

Jason interpreted her dazed expression differently. “You should still go to Nora’s tonight,” he said, crushing avocados with some lime juice and salt.

Hazel grew very still, concentrating on the pan of ground beef in front of her. She couldn’t look at Jason. “Are you sure?” she said in a small voice. She considered it. The best help she could give Eugene, really, was to solve Cash’s murder. She still needed to look for evidence. Her reasons had not changed, but now it had become even more urgent. Hazel realized that deep down, she believed that Billy was responsible for Cash’s death. She hadn’t wanted to think it, before. But now, the thought of sending poor Eugene back to that house with that horrible man filled her with desperation. “Okay,” she said, finally. “I’ll go after dinner.”

“Good.” Jason walked back and forth from the kitchen to the dining room several times, putting things on the table, and then called out the door to the family room.

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