Paradise Valley Mysteries 2 Boxed Set: Books 4 to 6 plus a BONUS Short Story (Paradise Valley Mysteries Box Set) by Debra Burroughs

Author:Debra Burroughs [Burroughs, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Paradise Valley Mystery Series
Publisher: Lake House Books
Published: 2014-11-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

“Let me take you home, Babe,” Colin offered. “It’s getting dark and it’s a long way down these winding roads.”

Emily nodded despondently, her eyes glistening.

Colin asked one of the other officers to drive Emily’s car down to the police station. Her shoulders slumped and, from the downcast expression on her face, he could tell that finding her friend dead had been very traumatic, especially when she may have been just minutes away from saving her.

As they drove down the mountain, Colin glanced over at Emily occasionally. She was unusually quiet, staring out the window, seemingly lost in thought. He reached over and took her hand, hoping it would offer some comfort.

She smiled at him weakly, then returned to looking out the window.

“Do you think Patrick Murphy really was there to rescue Elise?” Colin asked.

He thought they might discuss the case as they drove back to Paradise Valley, exchanging thoughts and where to go from here. That was their usual way, working through the case together, talking over possibilities and strategies.

“I don’t know.” Emily leaned her elbow on the car door and raked her fingers through her loose blonde curls.

“Any gut feelings? Theories?”

“Can we not talk about it right now?” She turned back to the window and wiped her hand over her damp cheek.

This wasn’t like her, so affected by a dead body. Perhaps it was because this was someone she knew. Since the race was no longer on to find Elise before something tragic happened to her, Colin decided to give her some space. She would talk when she was ready.

~*~

As Emily gazed out the window into the dark forest, she couldn’t help but remember the night she’d found her late husband Evan, laying on the floor of his office, a gunshot to the head, blood matting his sandy blond hair.

Seeing Elise murdered in the same way dredged up the feelings of shock, grief and helplessness. No wonder it all seemed so surreal, so déjà vu. Sure, Evan hadn’t been bound and gagged in a chair, but the bloody head, the gaping hole, a bullet in the head to end their lives—it was all too painfully similar.

She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window, hoping Colin wouldn’t ask her any more questions. She needed time to process it, to distance herself from overwhelming emotions.

~*~

“Here we are,” Colin said, turning into Emily’s driveway.

She hadn’t said more than a handful of words to him all the way home. He wanted to ask her why, but maybe it would be better if he left it alone for now.

He hopped out of the Jeep and sprinted around the vehicle to open her door.

“Thanks,” she said, looking up into his eyes as she climbed out, giving him a hint of a smile.

He took her hand and walked her to the door. She looked so sad, he hated to leave her. But he needed to get down to the station and make sure Patrick Murphy was being held for questioning. Then he would check with the hospital to see how Jake Mitchell was doing.

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