The Last Sister (Columbia River)(12)

“I haven’t gotten to that. We were interrupted because someone had slashed her tires. Again.”

“What?”

“It appears she and her aunts have been the target of some harassment lately. Dead animals left on doorsteps, car damage. Stuff like that.”

Ava was silent.

“I’m about to talk to her and her aunts. I’ll get more information on the father’s death.”

“It’s so weird. Two of them hanged. But the father’s case was solved.”

“It’s definitely odd.”

“While we’re waiting on forensics and the medical examiner,” Ava said, “I’ll get in touch with Sean’s family in Portland and find Lindsay’s family.”

“I’ll contact Sean’s and Lindsay’s friends here in town and dig into the old hanging a little bit.”

“Keep in mind that’s not the case we are here for,” Ava pointed out.

“True, but since the first victim’s daughter plays a role in this case, I want to eliminate any involvement on her part.”

“She is involved,” Ava stated. “She found the bodies.”

“You know what I meant. Did you check in to our hotel yet?” Neither of them had paused since arriving in Bartonville. They’d jumped in with both feet.

“No. I’ll contact them so they don’t give away our reservations.”

“Okay. Let me know what you find on the families.” Zander ended the call and stepped out into the misting rain.



Emily tried to see her aunts through Zander’s eyes.

No doubt he had noticed that all three women wore the same shade of lime green. It was hard to miss. Dory wore a thick, green cardigan because she was always afraid of being cold, and the tip of the always-present facial tissue protruded from her cuff. Thea’s snug-fitting zip jacket was for runners. One that guaranteed she’d be seen while power walking on the side of the road. Vina’s green blouse was simply practical, just like Vina herself.

The three women were as different from one another as could be, but there was nothing they liked better than coordinating their clothing nearly every day. “It shows people we’re united,” Thea had told Emily one time. “When we’re talking to the city council, they know we mean business.”

Emily didn’t think the matching colors were needed. Everyone in town knew the Barton sisters were a formidable trio.

Emily and Zander sat at the old table in the formal dining room, waiting for the aunts, who had dug out a formal tea set that had to be older than the mansion. Dory had been thrilled when Zander agreed to tea. Emily watched him out of the corner of her eye, convinced he was a coffee drinker but pleased he wanted to make her aunts happy. Dory had pulled Emily aside for a moment and with a wink and a whisper told her that Zander could park his shoes under her bed anytime.

Emily couldn’t think of a response.

She knew the aunts were trying to cheer her up and distract her from thinking about that morning. Their efforts were appreciated and even working a little.

The three silver-haired women happily scurried in and out of the dining room, preparing the formal tea even though it was closer to dinnertime.

Zander leaned in to Emily. “Why aren’t you wearing green?” he whispered.

She snorted. “That is their thing. They’ve been doing it since they were teens.”

“Lime green every day?” His eyes were wide.

“No. Matching colors. They discuss it before bed every night. I’d say they match eighty percent of the time. They get a big kick out of it. Trust me, they’re pleased you’ve met them on a coordinated day.”

“Huh.” Zander sat back in his seat. “They’re charming.”

“That’s just one of their Jedi skills.”

“What are their others?”

The three women bustled in with their hands full before she could answer.

“So nice to have unexpected company, even if it’s because of a horrible tragedy,” Thea said as she poured Zander’s tea, her bright-red lipstick clashing with the lime green. “But I’ll have to do an extra hour on the treadmill to combat all these cookies.”

“I’m really sorry about the circumstances, but the cookies do look good,” Zander told her, eyeing the large assortment of sweets. “I’ll have to hit the treadmill too.”

Her aunt smiled. “I can tell you don’t need to. You’re a man who takes care of himself. Have you ever tried Health—”

“Thea!” Emily and her other aunts spoke at the same time.

Thea blinked. “What?”

“Don’t buy anything she tries to sell you,” Dory told Zander earnestly, placing a hand on his sleeve. “They’re all poppycock and scams.”

“They are not,” Thea huffed. “I’ve had excellent results from everything I sell. I wouldn’t support a product if I didn’t believe in it.” She moved to pour Vina’s tea but avoided eye contact with that sister. She enthusiastically embraced every sell-from-home product; she was a born saleswoman. Emily had a drawer full of crazy print leggings that she never wore and a bathroom counter full of expensive skin-care products that didn’t make her skin look any better than the items she bought at Walgreens did.