Page 47 of Fatal Deception

Laurel and Copeland shared a look. Not disbelieving exactly, but the kind of look that said they were going to look in to it one way or another.

Audra knew she was just going to have to deal with it.

COPELAND WALKEDLAURELout to her car. They paused at the hood, and he glanced back at the house. Audra would know they were talking about her, about her case, but he didn’t want her hearing it even if she knew the topic.

“Can you look in to her mother? I imagine you’ve got enough background to go off of.”

Laurel nodded. “Yeah. What I don’t know I can dig up. And we’ll keep digging on the fake identity. Vicky got the name of the gravestone supplier, so she’s chasing down the payment information there today. If it’s the same name, we’ll keep picking at it until we hit something.”

“I’m getting reports from the fire department about last night. Hopefully there’s some more evidence than we’ve come across. Audra isn’t wrong about people too often, and I don’t think she has rose-colored glasses where her mother’s concerned.”

“But it’s too big of a coincidence not to look in to,” Laurel said, finishing for him.

“Yeah.”

“She probably shouldn’t be staying here.”

He knew it, and it frustrated him, because he also understood why she was being stubborn about it. “She won’t go.”

Laurel studied the house, then him. “So I suppose you won’t either.”

“It’s the job.”

Laurel laughed. “Uh-huh. Thejob.” She shook her head. “I give it six months.”

“You give what six months?”

She opened her car door. “You know, I was pregnant by my first wedding anniversary.”

He gaped at her before he found his voice. “What the hell is that supposed to have to do with anything?”

She shrugged. Held up a finger. “Worked a case.” She held up another finger as she took a step back toward the car. “Fell in love.” With every step, she held up another finger and gave another ridiculous point. “Got married. Kids one, two, three, four.” Then she slid into her driver’s seat. “You’ll beat me, I bet. On a spread like this? I’m guessing five or six.”

“What in the ever-loving hell are you talking about?”

Laurel only laughed and closed the car door, waved as she backed out of the drive. Copeland watched her go, figuring that she was just… Well, obviously she was just messing with him. What did he care about her life? Her kids?

Five or six. She was messing with him. And regardless ofanyof that, he had things to do. Like stick to Audra so she was safe. Like stop whoever was trying to scare her, hurt her, even if itwasher mother.

Five or six. Laurel was out of her mind. And justmessingwith him. He stomped back into the house. Audra was in the kitchen, where he’d left her with instructions to stay put, surprised that she’d done it.

But she was putting together some kind of breakfast. “I really need to go to the grocery store, but I found some waffles hidden in the back of the freezer,” she said with fake, forced cheer. “I’ve got some chores that need handled first, but I suppose you’ll want to come with me for both.”

He wanted to tell her he didn’twantto, but he was going to. But that would be a lie. He wanted to be where she was, and it was a problem that it wasn’t only about safety.

“I don’t like the idea of us leaving this place alone. It gives whoever is doing this time and access. Can’t you have groceries delivered?”

She spared him a disapproving glance as she plated up the frozen waffles she must have toasted in the oven. “No one delivers groceries all the way out here, Copeland.”

“We’ll figure something out.” If he had to he’d ask a favor of someone, since God knew she wouldn’t. He’d figure it out.

She tried to take the plates to the table, but he grabbed them from her. She didn’t look like she was limping quite so badly, but she could be putting on an act. He didn’t know how it could possibly heal when she wasn’t giving it rest.

He put the plates on the table, then looked back at her. She was just standing there, looking at the table. Misery and sadness were etched all over her face. She met his gaze with shiny blue eyes. She wasn’t going to cry. He could tell from the way she held herself. But she wanted to.

“She’s going to look in to my mother.”

He could lie. Reassure. But it would be pointless and wouldn’t help her any. “Yeah.”