whispered, “Your daddy wants to know if you like the name Joshua or Scarlett?” She felt a rhythmic movement and looked at her stomach. She smiled at the slight up-and-down pulse. The baby must have been excited over the names because he or she had hiccups.
Folding the copies of the newspaper carefully, Aubree tucked them into her purse and headed for the bathroom to freshen up. At least one memory of Devin would not be tainted by the investigation.
Haskins entered a few minutes later carrying a dinner tray overflowing with food. “I saw the nurse with your tray, so I thought I’d bring this in and see if you needed anything else.”
“I’m feeling a little better now.” Aubree sat in the chair beside the bed. He placed the tray of steaming mashed potatoes, gravy, and chicken in front of her. “Thank you very much.” Picking up her fork, she swirled the mashed potatoes in the gravy.
“Should be just right for an Idaho gal,” Haskins said as he opened the door to leave. “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
Aubree nodded. “Nothing beats an Idaho potato.” She smiled and took a bite of the creamy mountain.
She ate her meal slowly and tried to concentrate only on the food and not the circumstances. When she finished, she looked at the clock, wishing away the minutes until her mother would arrive. She got up andpaced around the room a few times, and then she sat down again. She had never been very good at waiting.
What if there was more to Devin’s murder than the wrong number? Aubree sat on the edge of the bed and traced the pattern in the blanket as she thought. What if someone was trying to collect on another gambling debt? She shook her head, ashamed at what her mom must think of Devin.
It had been nearly six months since she’d seen her mom. She and Devin traveled to Idaho to give her mother the good news that they were expecting. The trip was a joyful time, and the only sad moments were when they reflected on how excited Aubree’s father would have been to meet his new grandchild.
Her father had passed away nearly four years ago from heart failure. Aubree wondered for the first time if her Dad would have approved of Devin. Would he have sensed Devin was hiding things? Aubree was disappointed in herself as she remembered her Dad’s admonitions to enjoy life but to keep her eyes wide open so she could always see what was really happening. She promised herself she would do better now and hoped that somehow she could get through this mess.
Aubree walked toward the door and opened it to see Haskins sitting in a folding chair, looking at some files. “Excuse me. I wanted to know if Devin’s family has been contacted.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you earlier that we spoke with them late last night.” He stood and stretched, then continued. “They’re planning on coming to the funeral tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Aubree said. “I had no idea it would be so soon.”
“Uh—with everything going on with the investigation, we’re keeping Devin’s funeral under tight security.”
“But aren’t I supposed to help somehow? Pick out the—” Aubree closed her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.
“The casket?” Haskins frowned. “I’m sorry this is all so chaotic. Someone was supposed to bring some stuff by for you to look at. But it’s probably been misplaced in the shuffle.” Haskins offered his arm to Aubree. “Why don’t we walk down the hall and see if we can find some information for you.”
She nodded and took Haskins’ arm. She knew this was real, but it was so horrible that it was like living a nightmare.
“Part of the problem is the FBI will be handling the major details of the case from here on out. They’ll have a specialist to work with you— might be Agent Edwards.”
Aubree raised her eyebrows and gave him a confused glance.
Haskins swallowed. “I think you’ll be briefed on some new information soon.”
“Oh.” She didn’t even want to
Folding the copies of the newspaper carefully, Aubree tucked them into her purse and headed for the bathroom to freshen up. At least one memory of Devin would not be tainted by the investigation.
Haskins entered a few minutes later carrying a dinner tray overflowing with food. “I saw the nurse with your tray, so I thought I’d bring this in and see if you needed anything else.”
“I’m feeling a little better now.” Aubree sat in the chair beside the bed. He placed the tray of steaming mashed potatoes, gravy, and chicken in front of her. “Thank you very much.” Picking up her fork, she swirled the mashed potatoes in the gravy.
“Should be just right for an Idaho gal,” Haskins said as he opened the door to leave. “I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
Aubree nodded. “Nothing beats an Idaho potato.” She smiled and took a bite of the creamy mountain.
She ate her meal slowly and tried to concentrate only on the food and not the circumstances. When she finished, she looked at the clock, wishing away the minutes until her mother would arrive. She got up andpaced around the room a few times, and then she sat down again. She had never been very good at waiting.
What if there was more to Devin’s murder than the wrong number? Aubree sat on the edge of the bed and traced the pattern in the blanket as she thought. What if someone was trying to collect on another gambling debt? She shook her head, ashamed at what her mom must think of Devin.
It had been nearly six months since she’d seen her mom. She and Devin traveled to Idaho to give her mother the good news that they were expecting. The trip was a joyful time, and the only sad moments were when they reflected on how excited Aubree’s father would have been to meet his new grandchild.
Her father had passed away nearly four years ago from heart failure. Aubree wondered for the first time if her Dad would have approved of Devin. Would he have sensed Devin was hiding things? Aubree was disappointed in herself as she remembered her Dad’s admonitions to enjoy life but to keep her eyes wide open so she could always see what was really happening. She promised herself she would do better now and hoped that somehow she could get through this mess.
Aubree walked toward the door and opened it to see Haskins sitting in a folding chair, looking at some files. “Excuse me. I wanted to know if Devin’s family has been contacted.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you earlier that we spoke with them late last night.” He stood and stretched, then continued. “They’re planning on coming to the funeral tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” Aubree said. “I had no idea it would be so soon.”
“Uh—with everything going on with the investigation, we’re keeping Devin’s funeral under tight security.”
“But aren’t I supposed to help somehow? Pick out the—” Aubree closed her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut.
“The casket?” Haskins frowned. “I’m sorry this is all so chaotic. Someone was supposed to bring some stuff by for you to look at. But it’s probably been misplaced in the shuffle.” Haskins offered his arm to Aubree. “Why don’t we walk down the hall and see if we can find some information for you.”
She nodded and took Haskins’ arm. She knew this was real, but it was so horrible that it was like living a nightmare.
“Part of the problem is the FBI will be handling the major details of the case from here on out. They’ll have a specialist to work with you— might be Agent Edwards.”
Aubree raised her eyebrows and gave him a confused glance.
Haskins swallowed. “I think you’ll be briefed on some new information soon.”
“Oh.” She didn’t even want to
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