B00MV3HMDW_EBOK by Kennedy Layne Page A

of her throat, “no. Only Aunt Lisa came and her visit was short. As for their busy lives, that about chalks it up. Like I said, she ran in different circles. Dad was a blue collar electrician and my mom was a stay at home mother with me. I was in my teens when both of my grandparents died, so besides Aunt Lisa I haven’t seen any of my father’s side of the family since I was around seventeen.”
    “Better?” Ethan asked in a tone Taryn couldn’t decipher. As his fingers slipped off of her skin, she looked over at him but he was concentrating on the highway. Something was different, but she looked out the side window and took in their surroundings instead of asking what was wrong. She needed to be concentrating on the case and what they might find out regarding her father. “I think there’s some ibuprofen in the glove compartment. I saw it there when I stuffed in some napkins.”
    “Aunt Lisa knows that we’re here to talk about Dad.” Taryn saw a sign that indicated their exit was less than a mile away. “She had inquired as to what brought me to Houston and I told her that I had some questions concerning Dad and Mom.”
    “Was that wise?”
    Ethan flipped the turn signal on and followed the exit ramp down to a stop sign. His skepticism was evident and that finally had Taryn smiling. She loved a challenge.
    “Yes, considering I’m monitoring Aunt Lisa’s incoming and outgoing calls, as well as Uncle Gordon’s personal and work lines.” Taryn glanced at the GPS, noticing they were less than five miles away. Her heart rate steadily increased as she thought of how close she was to the truth. She prayed that what she found wouldn’t destroy the family she’d been raised by and that her mother wouldn’t be hurt by something her father had done years ago. “So far nothing out of the ordinary has shown up on their records.”
    The five minutes to their destination passed within a blink of an eye, and before Taryn knew it they were pulling up to a wrought iron fence with a speaker situated on the left hand side of the drive. Although she couldn’t see Ethan’s eyes behind his sunglasses, she could see his raised eyebrow at the extravagant brick and iron rampart that served as an entrance. She saw some horses roaming on the far right side of the property along with a fairly large stable. She didn’t picture Aunt Lisa as the type to ride.
    “Yes?” The woman’s voice was prominent in its announcement. Taryn recognized it immediately.
    “It’s Taryn, Aunt Lisa.”
    Taryn had called out their presence, leaning close to Ethan. His aftershave was barely noticeable so she intentionally inhaled, enjoying the musky scent. She’d always told him that product was her favorite. It seemed to have a calming effect and her pulse steadied. She could handle whatever came her way, especially with Ethan by her side.
    “Wonderful, dear,” Aunt Lisa exclaimed with feigned delight. “Come on up to the main house.”
    With those words the large ornate gate lurched and then glided open, allowing them room to maneuver the SUV up the rest of the two-lane driveway. Taryn studied the layout of the house, noticing the numerous large windows on both the upper and lower levels. The tall white plantation pillars were a little over the top, but it was nothing compared to the landscaping contained in the turnabout. A fountain featuring a sculptured copper water nymph was spouting water at least twelve feet into the air and was surrounded by vibrant and colorful flowers.
    “Your aunt doesn’t sound too happy with our visit,” Ethan murmured, shifting the SUV into park. He left the motor running, the cool air still emerging through the vents. They both were taking in the trim of the porch and Taryn couldn’t help but wonder how much the elaborate design etched into the door cost. “Did I mention I hate family reunions? I wonder if they have popcorn.”
    The laugh Ethan was going for bubbled up and Taryn finally looked away from