Jeff Resnick Six Pack by L. L. Bartlett

Author:L. L. Bartlett [Bartlett, L. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: halloween, murder, family drama, ghosts, paranormal, christmas, brothers, siblings, psychic, urban crime
Publisher: L.L. Bartlett
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“Wait a minute,” Brenda interrupted. “You mean I don’t get time to shop?”

“I thought you wanted to stop for afternoon tea in Niagara-On-The-Lake on the way home,” I said.

“That, too,” Brenda eagerly agreed.

Richard seemed to squirm in his heavy winter coat. “I don’t want to abuse your generosity. This is a big responsibility,” he told me gravely.

Yes, it was. But Maggie and I were more than qualified to take on the task.

“Go. Enjoy yourselves. And don’t worry. You’ll be gone a little over twenty-four hours. What could possibly happen in that short amount of time?”

Richard opened his mouth as though to give me an extended list of possible disasters, but Brenda leapt forward and clamped a hand over his lips. “Don’t you dare even speculate,” she admonished him.

“You know I’d give my life for CP, but I really don’t think that’s going to be necessary. At least not tonight.”

“Me, either,” Brenda said.

“When’s Maggie going to get here?” Richard asked.

Hey! I was the one who’d changed diapers and walked the floor with CP on many a cold winter’s night. Maggie had a niece and several nephews, but hadn’t had all that much experience with infants. Why did Richard seem to think that her two X chromosomes were more valuable when it came to childcare?

“Don’t worry. Maggie will be here after she gets off work—about five thirty. I’m sure CP and I can manage for the next few hours without her,” I assured him.

His expression was still grave. “Okay,” he said at last. He consulted his watch. “I guess we’d better get going. I’ll just go up and give Betsy a good-night kiss….”

“Oh, no you won’t,” Brenda said. “She’s asleep. I don’t want you waking her. Now let’s go—now!”

Richard still looked skeptical.

“Rich, I know you trust me with your life. Can you give me the benefit of the doubt that I’ll look after CP, too?”

As Richard had once—literally—taken a bullet for me, he had to know I’d do the same for him—and CP. “Yes,” he admitted. “I know you will.” He looked in Brenda’s direction. “Okay. Let’s go.”

“About time, too,” she muttered, then turned to me and leaned up to give my cheek a kiss. “Take care of my girl, Jeffy.”

“I will,” I promised.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” Richard said.

“I’ll be here.” I followed them to the back door and watched them cross the driveway to the garage side door. A minute later, Richard backed out his Mercedes, turning so that the front of the car faced the road. They waved and the garage door went back down as they took off down the driveway. Snowflakes slowly drifted down. I hoped they wouldn’t hit any nasty weather on the two-hour drive.

I closed the back door and suddenly noticed how quiet the house was. I’d lived there for more than three years when I’d been a teenager—after the death of Richard’s and my mother—but it had never felt like any kind of a home to me during the years when Richard’s paternal grandparents had been alive.

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