Tall, Silent & Lethal (Pyte/Sentinel #4)(9)

Cloe felt her eyes widen at that announcement. “No, that’s fine. I’ll do it when the rest of my chores are done.” No way was she about to sit around while an old man climbed a ladder and fell, then had a massive heart attack and died. Yeah, she could live without the added guilt.

Ms. Petersen looked back at her list for a moment before putting it away. “Let’s see, there’s also cooking, shopping, and running errands,” she said, worry taking over her features as she finished her small list with a distressed, “Oh, no!”

She threw her arms up and tried to get to her feet. It took several tries and one of Cloe’s hands before she managed to stand up. “There’s nothing in the house to eat!” she announced as she grabbed her cane and headed towards an oversized black purse. “I’m afraid my brother forgot to do the shopping again,” she said with a weary sigh. “It’s one of the reasons why I finally decided to get a helper.”

Cloe nodded, wondering just how much this woman expected of her brother. If he was anything like his sister he probably had enough problems with just taking care of himself.

Ms. Petersen pulled out another list. “Would you mind terribly going grocery shopping? You can add whatever you want to the list for snacks.”

Cloe took the list and placed it in her pocket. “That’s very kind, but it wouldn’t be right. Meals are one thing, but I wouldn’t feel right about having you pay for my snacks. I’ll pay for them and if I have something you like then we’ll share.”

“Oh!” Ms. Petersen looked absolutely delighted. Then she frowned. “I’m afraid I wouldn’t know what kind of snacks they have nowadays. It’s been so long since I’ve been to the grocery store. Usually my brother takes the list and storms off.”

Cloe’s heart broke at Marta’s wistful expression. She had no doubt that Ms. Petersen would prefer to go shopping for herself and get out of the house. Cloe didn’t know much about her brother, but the least he could do was take his sister out for a ride.

“Why don’t you join me? That way if you see something that you like you can get it,” Cloe suggested.

“Well, I don’t know,” she said, looking down at her cane. “I wouldn’t want to slow you down. That’s why my brother doesn’t take me.”

Unless her brother was the Road Runner he had no business talking. No doubt he was just as slow.

“That’s fine. I’m sure they have an electric scooter at the store that you can use.”

“Really?” Ms. Petersen smiled, looking excited.

“Really. Do you want to go…..,” Cloe’s voice trailed off as she watched Ms. Petersen grab her oversized bag and hurry to the front door as though she was afraid that Cloe was going to change her mind.

Poor thing, Cloe thought, following after her.

*-*-*-*

With a pained sigh, Christofer climbed the stairs, slowly. It was time to make Marta’s dinner. Actually, it was past time to make her dinner, he realized after a quick glance down at his watch.

Shit.

He must have been more exhausted than he’d thought. He’d slept for a good five hours. Feeling like an ass**le for making her wait, he moved his ass faster.

Trying not to cringe when he saw the dirty counters, floor and stove, he made his way to the refrigerator. He couldn’t remember the last time that he’d scrubbed down the kitchen, but it definitely needed it. After he finished this next project he’d focus on getting the house cleaned up for his sister.

“Shit,” he muttered as he opened the refrigerator door and then the cabinets to find them empty. Looked like he forgot to go shopping, again, he realized with a wince.

“I guess it’s pizza tonight,” he mumbled, unable to help but feel a little relieved that he didn’t have to cook tonight. He grabbed the portable phone and headed into Marta’s part of the house. “Marta, what do you want on your pizza?” he yelled.

No answer.

“Marta?”

When she didn’t answer, he closed his eyes and listened for her heartbeat. Nothing. Dread filled him. As much as he hated living in this town, he loved her and couldn’t imagine his life without her.

He ran to her room and damn near fell to his knees with relief when he didn’t find her body. Then he went to the living room and when he didn’t find her there, he searched the rest of the house, but there was no sign of her. He closed his eyes and inhaled again only to shake his head in disgust when he picked up Cloe’s lingering scent on his clothes.

He ran outside and searched the backyard and adjoining woods, but there wasn’t any sign of her. This wasn’t like Marta. She never left the house to visit one of her friends without telling him first. More to the point, she couldn't leave the house if he didn’t give her a ride.

An old memory of watching her being dragged from their childhood home tried to take over, but he pushed it aside before he lost control. Not knowing what else to do, he headed back into the house to find his cellphone. He called all her friends, who yelled at him for calling at the ungodly hour of seven o’clock until he explained to them that Marta was missing. Then they panicked and began reminiscing about past events that had terrified them, like when Evelyn’s poodle went missing for nearly a half hour. Before he did something like snap at the old women, he politely got off the phone, knowing Marta would hit him upside his head with her cane if he upset any of her friends.