River Bodies (Northampton County #1)(60)

“Becca,” Matt called from the top of the basement stairs.

She jumped. Her hand flew to her chest where her heart raced. “I’ll be up in a minute.” She folded the sheet of paper with her father’s sloppy handwriting into a small square and shoved it into the back pocket of her jeans.

Matt started down the steps.

“I’m coming. I’ll be right there.” She stuffed the other papers, marriage certificate and divorce papers, truck title and house deed, back into the lockbox and pushed it under the desk, making sure to put the box of girly magazines in front of it. She stood and spun around as Matt reached the bottom step.

“Holy shit,” he said, looking around at the inventory of lawn-care chemicals and supplies. “Your dad wasn’t messing around.”

“He took his grass very seriously,” she said and wound her way to the steps, stopped in front of him.

“Did something happen?” he asked. “You look upset.”

“No, it’s . . . I’m fine. It was a spider. It startled me.”

“Do you want me to kill it?” He looked over her shoulder.

“No, it’s fine,” she said. She had to get the focus away from her, put it on him. “I saw you on the mower. You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to be helpful.” He smiled his perfect smile. “Although I did have an ulterior motive.” He pushed her short hair across her forehead. “I thought if I could make myself useful, you’d want me to stick around. But it appears my good intentions have been wasted. I got another call from the office.” He hesitated, and she noticed he couldn’t meet her eye. “It doesn’t matter, except that my client isn’t happy, and I have to go.”

“Oh.” It was all she could think to say. He had to go, and she had one less thing to deal with.

He took her hands in his. “I’m sorry. I really wanted to stay, but I have to handle this. Promise me you’ll come home soon.”

“Hey, you two.” Jackie was standing at the top of the stairs with the phone still in her hand. “Could you come up here?”

There was something in Jackie’s voice that had Becca racing up the steps.



Jackie held the phone to her chest, covering the receiver, when Becca and Matt came up from the basement. She said to Becca, “Could you check on your dad? He’s been awfully quiet up there, and I’m worried. I’m finally making some headway with the insurance company, and I don’t want to have to hang up on them now.”

Becca motioned to the pile of medical bills. “Is there a problem?”

Jackie shook her head, and at the same time she said, “Yes, I’m still here,” to whoever was on the other end of the phone. She motioned for Becca to head upstairs to her father’s bedroom.

Becca walked out of the kitchen. Matt followed her.

“Do you need my help?” he asked.

“No, I can handle it.”

“But shouldn’t I come with you? Don’t you think it’s about time I meet him?”

“Not now,” she said.

“Then when? It’s not like we have a whole lot of time here.”

“That was insensitive.”

“I didn’t mean it to be.”

“Look, I have to get upstairs to my dad. Can we talk about this later? And besides, I thought you had to leave?”

“I do have to go. I’ve got a car service coming to my place in an hour. Our place,” he corrected.

Right, our place, she thought. How strange it sounded, but she couldn’t think about that now. He leaned in to kiss her. She turned her head, and his lips landed on her cheek instead. He looked surprised, but he turned to go without saying a word about it.



Becca made her way to her father’s bedroom, touching the folded sheet of paper in her back pocket before opening the door.

He wasn’t moving, but it wouldn’t be so unusual if he were sleeping. She approached his bed one small step at a time. Don’t leave me now, she said silently. He opened his eyes when she reached his side. She breathed a sigh of relief.

“I’m checking in on you.” She pulled a blanket up around his shoulders. “Do you need anything?”

He grimaced and writhed. It must be time for his pain medication. She wasn’t sure how long it had been since Jackie had given him anything.

“I’ll check if it’s time for your meds,” she said and turned to go but stopped. She pulled the folded sheet of paper from her pocket. She had to ask him about it. Matt was right about one thing: she was running out of time. She unfolded the paper and held it up for her father to see. “I found this.”

His eyes opened wide.

“I know what it is,” she said. “I think I know why you didn’t want me to say anything.”

He twisted and turned, pulling at the blanket and sheets, agitated and wincing in pain.

“Okay,” she said. “I’m sorry.” Please. “We’ll talk later. I’ll go get Jackie. I’ll get your meds.” She folded the sheet of paper and shoved it back into her pocket as she hurried out of the room. She paused in the hallway, her hand at her throat. She hadn’t meant to upset him. But how was she supposed to find out the truth?