Alone (Bone Secrets, #4)(56)

Katy’s spare room.

Katy had given Dr. Peres Trinity’s room because of the nice big bed. Trinity had slept on the daybed. She inhaled deeply and caught the scent of smoke. She pulled a handful of hair across her nose. Yep. Odors cling to hair.

How bad was Dr. Peres’s house? Were all her things ruined? How would they get the scent of smoke out of the home? Hair and clothes could be washed, but she didn’t think that would be sufficient for the carpet and furniture.

Poor Dr. Peres.

She’d spent a lot of energy reassuring Trinity yesterday. First after the shooting, and then after the fire. She’d talked about insurance and claims adjusters and companies who specialize in taking care of disasters just like her home, trying to put Trinity at ease as she worried for her neighbor.

A small vibration sent her hunting for her phone.

The sight of a text from Jason made her heart pound. Silly. He’s probably asking about Brooke. She opened the message.

R U OK?

He was asking about her? Her heart raced a bit faster as another text came through.

DID U SEE WHAT HAPPENED AT THE SERVICE?

She texted back. I’M GOOD. NO. RAN OUT. WHAT HAPPENED?

IDIOT WITH GUN. TRIED TO GET IT AWAY.

She sucked in a breath. Jason had been in the middle of that mess? And tried to disarm someone? Seriously? U DID THAT? WHY?

I’M WORRIED. I TOUCHED THE TRIGGER. DON’T WANT POLICE THINKING I PULLED IT.

Alarm rang in her head. He’d touched the trigger? What if he had actually caused the weapon to fire? DID YOU GO TO THE POLICE?

THEY BROUGHT ME IN. TOLD THEM. DON’T KNOW IF THEY BELIEVE.

Why was he telling her? Did he really have no one else to talk to? ARE YOU STILL AT THE STATION?

NO. AT A FRIEND’S. GOTTA GO.

Why was he at a friend’s at eight in the morning? If she’d been taken to the police station, Katy would have dragged her ass home afterward. Maybe he didn’t have a good home to go to. Trinity could sympathize with that. Her last two foster homes had been less than supportive. She’d been left alone to do as she pleased and had found the home atmosphere to be stress-filled and temperamental. She’d spent as much time at friends’ homes as possible.

She got up and wrapped a throw around her shoulders. Quietly opening the door, she peered into the hall. Listening closely, she heard kitchen-type noises. Someone was up. She padded to the kitchen.

Dr. Peres stood at the sink, her back to Trinity, filling the coffee pot. Trinity’s stomach rumbled. The woman didn’t look like a successful professional with a career in the macabre. Dressed in soft yoga pants and a thin long-sleeved T-shirt with her feet bare and her hair pulled back in a messy knot, she looked like someone’s mom.

“Mother” wasn’t a word Trinity would ever use to describe the doctor. Even when Dr. Peres had spoken at her school, she’d been the consummate professional.

Dr. Peres shoved the pot into the brewer and hit a button. Trinity cleared her throat, causing the doctor to immediately turn.

“You’re up.” Dr. Peres’s brown eyes widened and she gave a warm smile. “I woke at the crack of dawn and was totally restless, so I made scones. I don’t think Katy will mind that I invaded her kitchen.” She pulled a tray out of the oven and a delicious scent filled the kitchen.

“Ohh. That smells awesome.” It really did.

Her words made the doctor smile. She cut a triangle out of the huge baked lump and placed it on a plate, shoving it into Trinity’s hands. “Sit,” she ordered. “Want coffee or milk?”

Trinity sat. “Milk, please.” She took a bite of warm yumminess and sighed.

The doctor placed the milk in front of her and sat across from her, watching her eat.

Trinity was instantly self-conscious. “Are you having some?”

“I will in a minute. I never bake or cook for anybody, so forgive me if I stare for a little bit.”

Pity washed over her. “That’s kinda sad. Don’t you have some siblings somewhere?”

The doctor gave a small smile. “No. It was just me and my parents. I’m divorced, so I haven’t done much cooking since then.” She poured a cup of coffee from the barely full carafe, making Trinity cringe at the thought of tasting that super-potent coffee.

Dr. Peres sat and took a huge bite of scone. And smiled. “It always tastes better when there’s someone to eat it with. It’s a waste to bake this just for me.”

“I love to bake,” said Trinity. “But Katy doesn’t like it. She says it’s too tempting to have cake and cookies around.”

Dr. Peres smiled. “Yes, I understand that logic. Should we wake her up?”

Trinity shook her head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she was up half the night.”

“You’re right. I know I had a hard time getting to sleep.” The doctor stabbed at her scone with her fork. Trinity wondered if she’d slept at all.

“Have you been outside? Have you seen the house today?” Trinity asked.

“I can’t see much from here. I went out to get the paper, but it’s pouring rain, and all I could see was the blue tarp where they covered the window. I can still smell the smoke outside.”

“I don’t know if they’ll ever get rid of the smell.” Trinity sniffed at her hair again. “I stink.”