Watcher in the Woods (Rockton #4)(120)

Roy’s also being kicked out, and in his case, they’re returning some of his payment. Slowly returning it, and if he talks, he loses that. Even Artie is being kicked out, for attempting to “murder” Garcia’s corpse. Rockton is about to get a whole lot less chaotic. We hope.

Sebastian, Petra, the hostile . . . that all still needs to play out. Sebastian handled himself perfectly with Paul, and so I have no immediate concerns. Petra’s backstory helps me understand her role here, and I have no immediate concerns there either. Both go on a watch list.

As for the hostiles, Mathias’s preliminary findings on the body have revealed nothing we don’t expect. He was malnourished, scarred, frostbitten . . . Exactly what we’d expect, with no obvious signs of long-term drug use. So they are an ongoing situation, with nothing to be done now.

That leaves my sister. The council jumped at her offer to stay. They’d already vetted her—they started background checks as soon as they knew she was in Rockton. I was right about her breakdown. She spent a month at a fancy retreat for “stress-related health issues,” but she resumed her job after that, with a reduced schedule, and the council isn’t concerned about her mental state. She must stay for at least six months, as she offered. That’s their only stipulation.

I find April in the clinic, reorganizing a cupboard.

“You’re in,” I say.

She doesn’t even turn. “I will require a labeler. We can purchase one in Vancouver.”

I lean against the doorframe. “I had to fight for you,” I lie. “It wasn’t easy, but I’ve convinced them to let you stay. You have to agree to a minimum of six months though.”

“I already have.”

“You’ll also get the house next door. Nicole is moving.”

She moves a beaker. “I’ll need additional batteries and tape for the labeler. Several refills of tape.”

I shake my head. “I love you, April.”

She turns, looking alarmed. “What?”

“Put the beaker down. You’ll get your labeler, and whatever else you need. Make a list, and we’ll leave as soon as we can. Tonight, though, we’re going to celebrate.”

“Celebrate what?”

“I solved the case. Caught the killer. Yay for me.”

She looks at me as if I’m suggesting we celebrate me brushing my teeth every day this week. “That’s your job, isn’t it?”

I sigh. “Yes, April it is. But we’ll still celebrate. My success and the long-overdue arrival of a new doctor.”

“A doctor who needs to clean and organize and—”

“Not tonight,” I say, getting between her and the cupboard.

“But Kenny—”

“Hey, Kenny!” I call into the next room. “Can I steal my sister for a drink?”

“Only if you bring me one,” he calls back.

“He really shouldn’t have alcohol.”

“A beer will be fine,” I say. “And you can have tea. Long Island Iced Tea.”

“I don’t actually care for iced—”

“You’ll like this one,” I say as Kenny’s chuckle wafts out from the other room.

“I will go if it is Isabel’s establishment. I would not object to socializing with Isabel. She is a very competent business woman.”

“That she is, and sure, we’ll go to the Roc. She keeps saying I should start drinking there, so other women feel comfortable. We’ll just have to make it very, very clear to the patrons that you are not there for work.”

“Yes, I would prefer not to be accosted with minor medical concerns in my social time.”

“Not that kind of work,” I say. “Isabel’s place is a brothel.”

April stares at me. Then she frowns. “I will never understand your sense of humor, Casey.”

“Oh, I think you’re about to.” I shoo her toward the door and call a goodnight to Kenny as we leave.