Christmas Cover-Up. Lynette Eason

retirement fourteen years ago. He said your sister’s is one of the cases that still haunts him.”

      “So did talking to them help? Because it didn’t do much for me. He’s very gruff, but I don’t think I should take it personally. I think it’s just how he is.”

      “He was gruff with me, too. And I’m not sure if talking to him helped. He basically told me to mind my own business. I’m still going through the file and all their notes.” He tapped the notebook against his palm and studied the woman across from him.

      She intrigued him and while he didn’t want it to be so, it was. For the first time in a long time, he was attracted to someone. Interested in getting to know her on a deeper level than just a working relationship.

      And it had to be someone he couldn’t pursue. He pictured his parents’ reaction if he were to announce that he was seeing the woman they blamed for their younger son’s death.

      And winced.

      No, unfortunately, Katie Randall was off-limits.

      * * *

      Her phone rang and she snagged it. “Hello?”

      “Ms. Randall, this is Deep Clean Services. I just wanted to let you know we arrived at your house about seven-thirty this morning and will be done in about an hour.”

      “Thanks for letting me know.”

      She made payment arrangements, hung up and told Jordan the news. “Guess that means Mariah and I can go home.” She frowned. “Strangely enough, I’m mourning the Christmas tree the most.” Katie sent a text to her roommate to let her know, then turned back to the file. “All right. What else is in here?”

      Katie moved over to sit beside Jordan in the booth so they could see the file without one of them having to try and read upside down.

      Sitting beside him, she noticed his cologne once again, the strength that emanated from him. His warmth. She shivered at being so near him and swallowed hard. An attraction to this man was just not an option. And yet no matter how much her mind protested, her heart had decided to take matters into its own hands.

      Focus. Focus. “You know I got this file from the department and copied everything in it. I used to study it at night when I couldn’t sleep.” Which had been often.

      They scanned the notes, turning the pages one by one. A small slip of paper, stuck to the back of the sheet she’d just been reading, caught the edge of her fingernail and fell off. Katie picked it up. “What’s this?”

      Jordan took it from her. “Looks like an address.”

      “It was stuck to the back of this. Looks like there’s food or something on it.” She scraped the mess off with her fingernail. “How did I miss this?” she muttered. She knew how. She’d been in a hurry to get the file copied before her boss caught her once again working her sister’s case and had returned the original file without seeing the small slip of paper. “Let’s see where the address is.” She grabbed her phone and punched it in the GPS app. She looked up at him. “It’s a place called Jake’s Diner. About thirty miles away, in Anderson.” Katie bit her lip. “Why would this be in here?”

      “It’s a sticky note. Probably Frank or Danny answered the phone and wrote it down. Is there anything else with that information on it?” he asked.

      They flipped through the file again. Twice. Katie shook her head. “Nothing.”

      Jordan rubbed his chin. “Feel like a road trip?”

      She stood. “Definitely. Let’s go.” Katie headed for the cash register and Jordan followed.

      At the door, he said, “I’ll get the car. You pay.”

      She gaped at him. He widened his eyes, the picture of innocence. “What? I wouldn’t want you to think I was trying to turn this into a date or anything.”

      Katie felt the flush start at the base of her throat. “Cute, Gray. Real cute.”

      He winked. “I’ll get the next one.”

      FOUR

      Jordan gave himself a mental smack upside the head as he pulled his car around. Mere minutes ago, he’d reminded himself that an attraction to Katie was not a good thing, and then he’d turned around and deliberately flirted with her. What was he thinking? He sure didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.

      Or the right idea. That he was interested in her. Because that interest could go nowhere as long as his parents blamed her for Neil’s death. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. Lord, I’m going to need Your guidance on this one.

      He could see Katie inside paying. His phone rang and when he saw his father’s number on the screen, guilt swamped him. Swallowing it back, he hit the talk button. “Hi, Dad.”

      “You busy, son?”

      “Working a case, but I’ve got a couple of minutes. What’s up?”

      “You mother wanted me to call and invite you to dinner Sunday night. Can you make it?”

      Jordan ran through his schedule in his head as Katie walked toward him. She climbed in, and he said, “I can make it.”

      “Great. Around five-thirty?”

      “Sure, Dad. I’ll be there.”

      Katie buckled her seat belt and checked her phone.

      Jordan hung up. Katie looked at him. “Your dad?”

      “Yeah.”

      She nodded.

      “What are your parents like?” he asked. She blinked and a deep sorrow crossed her face. Then she smiled. A smile so forced it nearly broke his heart.

      She sighed. “They’re good people. I get along better with my father than my mother.” The smile slid off. “Ever since Lucy’s disappearance, she’s battled depression, has trouble getting out of bed most days.” She shrugged and looked out the window. “People in their church have tried to reach out and help, but she doesn’t respond much.”

      “I’m sorry.” Jordan cranked the car and made a mental note not to go there again.

      “Thanks. I am, too.” She looked back at him and he could make out anger mixed with the sorrow. Then she lowered her gaze. “Is it wrong that I get really angry with her sometimes?”

      Her voice was so low he had to strain to make out the words. “No. I can imagine fourteen years of depression would be very tiring.”

      “It’s not just that. I don’t even know that she can help it, but I needed her, too—” She flushed and shook her head. “Never mind.” She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “Speaking of my mother—” She pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed a number. “Hi, Mom.” Jordan heard the woman’s muffled answer, then Katie said, “Your dinner is being delivered. They’re coming around five-thirty, all right?” She listened a moment. “No, Mom, you won’t have to worry about washing or returning any pans. They’ll all be disposable, okay? I hope you enjoy it.”

      More indistinguishable words and then a sigh from Katie as she said goodbye and hung up.

      He couldn’t help it. “What was that about?”

      “Dad called me the day before yesterday and said my mom had a doctor’s appointment today. My partner’s sister, Christi, has a catering business. I asked her to deliver dinner to my parents tonight so they wouldn’t have to worry about it. In all the excitement, I forgot to let them know.”

      “That’s really thoughtful.” Jordan eyed her.

      She shrugged and flushed. “I don’t know if thoughtful is the right—” She bit the words off and nearly chewed a hole in her lower lip.

      “What?”

      “Never