A Flicker of Doubt (Book 4 in the Candlemaking Mysteries) by Tim Myers Page A

didn’t have to discuss my
horrendous discovery every ten minutes, maybe I could convince
myself it never happened. ‘
    As she approached me, she said, “I can’t
believe you found her in your kayak.”
    “ Speaking of which, how
would you like to buy one, dirt cheap? I’m not going to be needing
mine anymore.”
    “ Harrison, you can’t let
this stop you from paddling. I know how much you love being out on
the river.”
    I took a deep breath and tried to keep my
voice calm. “Erin, if I never go out on the water again, it won’t
break my heart. Do you want it, or should I just put an ad in the
paper?”
    Now she was the one who looked like she
wanted to cry. “If that’s what you really want, we can work
something out but we don’t have to talk about it right now. Would
you like some company?”
    I thought about it a second, then said,
“Sorry, but I’m not in the mood to talk.”
    Erin nodded. “I understand that and I
promise; no questions. I won’t say a word. I’ll just keep you
company.”
    “ I appreciate the offer, but
I’m tired and I’m not really in the mood for company. I just want
to drop this off at the bank, then come back here and
crash.”
    “ I can take your deposit for
you if you’d like, since it’s on my way home. That way you won’t
have to deal with it tonight”
    “ I don’t mind, really, but
thanks for offering.” A hurt expression crossed her face before she
could bury it and I wondered if she thought I didn’t trust her.
“Okay, I give in. Why don’t you ride with me to the bank? I know it
means you’ll have to come back out here with me, but it might be
nice having you go.”
    “ That’s great” she said,
immediately brightening.
    We walked back to my truck parked in its
space behind the building and I held the door open for her.
    “ Thank you, sir,” she
said.
    “ You’re welcome.” We rode in
companionable silence to the bank, and Erin was true to her word. I
glanced over at her a few times, but she was looking out the window
as darkness approached.
    Finally, I said, “The streetlights are
really pretty from River’s Edge.”
    “ You can see them from your
apartment? I thought the trees would get in the way.”
    “ I can see them,” I said,
not wanting to share the information that I had a whole other world
on the roof of the complex. It was as private a place as I could
ever have, accessed only through a scuttle in my apartment closet
My great aunt Belle must have enjoyed it as well, and I knew that
sometimes it was the only thing in the world that kept me
sane.
    Erin didn’t press me on it I got out at the
bank, made the deposit, then we headed back to River’s Edge.
    “ Thank you,” I said as we
neared the complex. “You’re’ as good as your word.”
    “ I was glad to come along.
It’s not often I get to ride instead of drive. It always amazes me
how much more I can see from the passenger side.”
    “ That’s not what I’m
thanking you for, though I do appreciate your company. I meant
about not quizzing me on what happened.”
    “ Harrison, I’m your friend.
If you want to talk, I’m here to listen, but I’m not going to press
you about it”
    I thought about it a second, then asked,
“Would you like to see something really special? I’ll show you if
you swear you don’t tell a soul about it”
    “ I’m intrigued,” she said.
“Where is it?”
    I pointed to toward my place. “Upstairs in
my apartment.”
    Erin laughed. “You certainly know how to get
a girl’s attention, but if you’ve got etchings up there to show me,
I’m going to push you out of your own window.”
    “ It’s nothing like that. I
promise.”
    “ Then lead on,” Erin
said.
    She followed me upstairs to my place, then I
led her back to the bedroom. I noticed an uncertain expression on
her face, but she didn’t say a word. When I stepped into the
closet, she was openly baffled by my behavior.
    It was time to explain before she bolted on
me. “This is