The Secrets We Bury by Debra Webb

Author:Debra Webb
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MIRA Books
Published: 2019-02-21T17:26:33+00:00

Fifteen

Thursday, May 9

The doorbell in the lobby rang at 8:01. Rowan peeked out the living room window on the second floor and spotted the car belonging to Audrey Anderson. Rowan cringed. She had hoped it was Herman.

“Stay, boy,” she said to Freud, running her fingers across his back.

A faithful friend, he did as she asked and watched as she walked out the door. On second thought, maybe if she took Freud, Audrey would be ready to leave. Rowan liked Audrey, but she was a reporter. Rowan had faced enough questions from determined reporters to last her a lifetime. That said, Audrey had mentioned having resources. Maybe it was a worth a listen to whatever she had to say.

Despite her reservations, Rowan patted her thigh and headed down to the first floor. Freud trotted after her. She tried to keep last night’s dream from rolling through her mind as she walked along this corridor, but it was impossible. In the dream she had come home early from school and found her mother standing on the landing adjusting the noose around her neck. Rowan had called out to her and for a moment they had stared at each other. Then her mother jumped over the railing.

Goose bumps rose on her skin even now, but Rowan pushed the thought aside and crossed the lobby to the main entrance. Freud sniffed at the door.

“Sit.” When he obeyed, she said, “Good boy.” Rowan unlocked the dead bolt and opened the door. She produced a smile for her unexpected visitor.

Audrey waved a small paper sack from the local coffee shop. “A mutual friend told me you love bagels, cream cheese and strawberry spread.” She held up the drink tray with two cups of coffee. “And a nice Colombian dark roast.”

Rowan’s stomach signaled that she had better say yes. “Good morning. Come in.”

Freud eyed the other woman, then sniffed her leg. She grimaced but didn’t jump away. Rowan guessed the hotshot reporter had faced bigger worries than a German shepherd wanting to get to know her better.

Rowan glanced outside, then closed the door and locked it. True to his word, Billy had ensured his protection detail was out of sight. As long as that continued to be the case, she could deal with it. If she couldn’t see them, hopefully Julian wouldn’t be able to, either. She did not want anyone else being killed because of her.

“Why don’t we sit?” Rowan suggested.

“Perfect.” Audrey smiled.

When they had settled into one of the seating areas, Rowan said, “Audrey, I wanted to thank you for the lovely tribute your paper did for Officer Miller. I’m certain his family was grateful.”

“I appreciate you saying so. We’ve tried to keep the Gazette a community newspaper. We want that small-town feel to continue as a mainstay of our publishing platform.”

With that out of the way, Rowan asked, “So, what can I do for you this morning?”

Audrey passed her a coffee container and then started laying out the goodies from her bag. “I’ve been thinking about this Alisha Addington.

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