Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy, #3)(57)

It was time to say our good-byes. Watching Marna leave Jay was heartbreaking. It took Kope’s strong arm around Marna to get her to leave.

I stood silently in the foyer with Kaidan, Patti, and Jay as the others drove away.

“We were lucky to have this time together, weren’t we?” Jay asked.

“Very,” I whispered.

Patti rubbed his back for a second before giving him a small, sad smile and slipping into the kitchen.

Kaidan cleared his throat and looked at Jay. “So . . . got any new tracks for me to hear? Stuff by you?”

“I do have one. . . .” The two of them walked toward the family room, talking music, and I went to help Patti with the dishes.

She was scrubbing and rinsing, but kept leaning her head down to wipe her eyes on the shoulder of her shirt. She gave me a watery smile.

“Lordy, I’m a mess. Can’t stop crying lately.”

“It’s okay.”

Patti reached for me the second I sidled up beside her, wet hands and all. I went into her arms, breathing in her comforting oatmeal scent.

“I love you so much,” she said, still holding me tight. “Thank you for bringing everyone here and letting me be a part of it.”

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a dark spot crept into the side of my vision, near the window. Panicked adrenaline flooded my system. I jumped back from Patti, causing her to yelp, but when I ran to the window there was nothing there.

Kaidan rushed in, scanning the room. I took a deep breath to calm my frayed nerves, then signed, I thought I saw something, but I was wrong. It was probably a cloud or a bird.

His lips tightened. I’m going to check, he signed.

Jay came in with a worried look and he put his arm protectively around Patti. I motioned for them to stay where they were. If there were whisperers here, we were all busted. We had no good reason to be together.

Kaidan went out the front door and I inspected all of the rooms, looking out the windows. Nothing. Kai came back in and shook his head. I let out a relieved breath.

“Sorry,” I said. “I’m paranoid.”

“You have every right to be,” Patti said. Still holding Jay’s arm, she led him into the family room.

Kai and I studied each other, both of us tense and edgy. Switzerland was six hours ahead of us. The Dukes could be headed back to their homelands now. The whisperers could have been spiriting around the world for hours already.

Kaidan signed, You’re sure you didn’t see anything?A dark spot, I signed. It was gone so fast, like a blur. They usually . . . I didn’t know the sign for linger, so I spelled it out. I could see the pulsing in his temples as he ground his teeth together.

He’d be leaving in just over an hour, and then I’d go back to campus. Classes would start in a couple days. We’d continue living our facades until it was time to act.

The four of us stayed together in the living room, surrounded by a worrisome tension. We turned on the television.

Patti gasped and sat up straight, pointing the remote at the television to turn up the volume. Big Rotty’s picture was on the screen. We all sat on the edge of our seats, staring at the news report. A D.C. officer came on.

“We’re not sure what the motives of the perpetrator might be, but this is not the work of an amateur. Body theft is a serious, rare crime. Psychologists on the force warn that the person or persons who generally commit this type of crime are not mentally stable. If you have any news about the theft of the body of James F. Cooper, known to the world as Big Rotty, please contact the authorities immediately. Do not approach the suspects on your own.”

“Oh my gosh,” I whispered.

Big Rotty’s mom was on-screen next. She had long, elaborate weaves of curls around her made-up face, and she didn’t look sad like I’d expected. She was glowing. “I got my own theory. I don’t think my boy’s dead. Mm-mm.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I think he planned all this. He pulled a Machiavelli, and now he at some island living the good life!” She laughed with pride, like her son had hoodwinked the world.

“Wow . . . ,” Jay said.

“I still can’t believe he chose that body,” I said. “He’s always so careful about every detail.”

“He’s got a lot on his mind,” Patti said.

“He’ll shed the body if it becomes an issue,” Kaidan assured us.

Patti put the television on a cooking show and I snuggled close to her like old times, letting her play with my hair. Just that contact meant so much. I watched Kaidan and Jay on the other side of the room. Jay with his guitar, and Kai patting a beat on his knee. They’d work one line at a time, mapping out the notes and rhythm. Within an hour they’d written a gorgeous ballad.

Jay stared over the notes sheet with amazement. Kaidan gave me a wink. He’d helped get Jay’s mind off Marna’s absence in the only way possible.

“I should probably shower and get ready,” Kaidan said with reluctance.

My stomach dropped at the thought of him leaving.

“I’ll come show you where everything is,” I said.

He followed me upstairs, and I pulled a towel and washcloth from the linen closet. He could have done it himself, but I wanted one last moment alone with him. I set the towel on the sink in the bathroom, and I heard the door shut.