Page 60 of Fatal Deception

“Rosalie… How… You weren’t supposed to be here until this afternoon.”

“Yeah, well Duncan greased some wheels. We picked Franny up on our way too.” She dropped her arm with some trepidation, and aimed a wrinkled-nose expression in Copeland’s direction.

But Audra had already gone into full big-sister mode. Had he thought she wouldn’t? She was moving toward Rosalie, arm outstretched. “Let’s go downstairs. I’ll put something together for breakfast. You and Duncan must be exhausted. You should head on home and rest.”

Rosalie didn’t budge. She stared at him over Audra’s shoulder, like she could “gut him like a fish” with her mind.

He didn’t wither. Didshethinkhewould?

“Rosalie.”

Rosalie finally looked from Copeland to Audra. “We’re going to all go downstairs and talk this through,” Rosalie said firmly.“And regardless of the outcome, just know Duncan and I are staying here until things are settled.”

“Rosalie.”

“Try to stop me,” she replied firmly. Then hooked her arm with Audra’s and sailed out of the room, dragging her sister along behind her.

Audra looked back at him a little helplessly, but he only shrugged. He didn’t mind more bodies here. More help. Anything and everything that upped the odds of keeping Audra safe worked for him. Even if it was bound to be…awkward.

He could handle awkward.

Copeland followed them down at a safe distance. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, Franny had already engulfed Rosalie and Audra in a hug so that the three women held on to each other and swayed gently. They spoke in low, private tones. He didn’t have to hear the words to know Rosalie was chastising Audra, and Audra was assuring Rosalie and Franny that everything was fine.

Copeland found himself…relieved. Maybe she was only giving them half truths, but here were two women who cared about her, who wouldtryto take care of her. She wasn’t as solitary and alone as she’d seemed this past week.

Had it only been a week? How had she upended everything inside of him in a few days? It didn’t make any sense. He hadn’t been looking to be upended.

But here he was.

He glanced at the man who came to stand next to him. Duncan Kirk surveyed him. Copeland had once watched this man play baseball on national TV. He’d always been a fan, though he’d never let Duncan know it. Especially when he’d been investigating the murder over at his parents’ place last year.

So Copeland figured he deserved the clear lack of friendliness on Duncan’s face.

“Beckett,” he greeted, but coolly.

Copeland matched his tone. “Kirk.”

“We’ve got everything under control,” Audra said above Rosalie and Franny’s demands. “The police are looking in to a few leads, and nothing violent or dangerous has really happened. It’s all small, petty things.”

Rosalie turned to face Copeland with a glare. “Is she telling the truth?”

Audra looked up at him helplessly, and no doubt his loyalty was to Audra, but he also knew what she wanted from him wasn’t right.

“There’s a lot of truth to what she’s saying,” he agreed. But he couldn’t help thefulltruth. “She’s also downplaying it.”

Audra stiffened, aimed a glare at him. But he could only shrug. “You are. There haven’t been any physical threats made to her, that’s true, but theyarethreats all the same. And you never know when threats will go too far.”

Rosalie looked angry. Franny looked distressed. And Audra got that detached queen-of-the-manor look about her.

“There’s no need to worry—”

“Thereisneed to worry,” Copeland interrupted her, even though it earned him an icy glare. “But there’s no need to panic. We’ve got leads. We’ve got strings to pull. Which is an improvement. That doesn’t mean we can be careless…” He moved his gaze from Rosalie and Franny to Audra. “Or martyrs,” he added firmly.

That chin came up, shoulders back. She was pissed, but there was no way to get through this without making her angry. He already bent as far as he could by not making her leave. Everyone here needed to know how serious the threat was.

“I’m going to make some breakfast,” Audra said, turning on a heel and marching into the kitchen, Rosalie and Franny trailing after her with another round of questions.

Copeland made a move to follow, but Duncan stepped in his way.