The Cavanaugh Code

Someday she would have to ask Andrew about that.

There were two cars in Carole Stevens’s driveway when Taylor pulled up twenty minutes later. Did the woman have company? she wondered as she parked her car at the curb.

Maybe it was a friend, offering condolences to the poor woman. Taylor was grateful that she wouldn’t have to break the news to Eileen Stevens’s mother about her daughter’s murder. There was nothing worse than having to tell a parent that their child wasn’t coming home again.

There should be a chaplain on the force who took care of that sort of thing. It was hard enough getting through each day alive, always running the risk of being shot—or worse.

Making her way up the front walk, Taylor took out her detective shield and ID. She held it up so that it would be the first thing that the woman would see.

There was a Christmas wreath on the door, in direct contrast to the sorrow that now resided within. Taylor rang the bell. It opened almost immediately.

“Mrs. Stevens?”

The question was merely for form’s sake. The tall, thin woman who opened the front door was an older version of Eileen Stevens. And, eerily like Eileen, the light had been drained out of her eyes.

“Yes.”

Taylor raised her shield slightly, calling attention to it. “I’m Detective McIntyre—”

“Yes, I know.” It was then that the woman opened the door further, allowing Taylor to see that Carole Stevens wasn’t alone. She had a six-foot-three guardian angel next to her. “Laredo told me you’d be coming.”

Taylor’s eyes shifted to Laredo, who smiled at her. She allowed her mouth to curve, but there was no humor in the expression.

“How thoughtful of him.”

Laredo acted as if they’d just exchanged a hearty greeting. “Nice to see you again, Detective.”

“I can’t say the feeling is mutual,” Taylor murmured under her breath. Eileen’s mother didn’t seem to hear her, but she was certain that Laredo did. His smile widened.

“Laredo is just here to support me,” the woman told her, her voice echoing the hollowness that she obviously was feeling inside. Carole glanced at the man beside her and did her best to smile her gratitude. “Chet thought it might be a good idea.”

Taylor looked from Laredo to the woman. Where’d she heard that name before? “Chet?”

“My grandfather,” Laredo reminded her.

The man had a gift, she thought. Without uttering a single, derogatory word, he made her feel as if she were the intruder.

Taylor got down to business. “This isn’t going to take long, Mrs. Stevens,” she promised the woman, doing her best to cut Laredo out of the mix by turning her back toward him.

“I’ve got nothing but time,” Carole told her sadly just before she turned on her heel to lead the way into the living room.

Mrs. Stevens sat down on the sofa, clasping her hands before her as if doing so would give her strength to get through this horrible ordeal. Laredo sat down beside her. Leaving Taylor to take a seat on the chair opposite the sofa. Again she felt isolated, like an outsider.

“I really don’t know how I can help you,” Carole confessed. “I don’t know much about her life.” It was obvious that the admission was painful for the woman. “Eileen and I just recently got back together again. She’d been angry at me for years, holding me responsible for nearly ruining her life.” The sigh that escaped her lips was ragged. “Those were her words, not mine.” Carole raised eyes that were bright with tears. “Do you have any children, Detective?”

The fact that Laredo eyed her with interest, waiting for her answer, didn’t escape Taylor. “I’m not married.”

A sad smile curved the thin lips as a faraway look came into Carole’s eyes. “Neither was I.”