Chapter Five
Barely four hours later, RahRah rolled onto his side on the blanket next to Sarah. Sometime during the few hours she’d slept, he’d jumped onto the double bed and pressed himself between Sarah and a still softly snoring Emily. He licked a paw. His fifteen pounds felt good to Sarah, offsetting the chill that had settled between the twins.
Their disagreement replayed itself in Sarah’s mind. She was guilty of harping on Bill’s involvement with Southwind. Because it had been so late and there was no way to get away from each other in the apartment’s cramped space, they’d called a silent truce and gone to bed. Emily’s breathing quickly became a steady in-and-out rhythm, while Sarah slept fitfully. She woke at one point from a dream in which she was running down a hall carrying her tan cat, with Jane chasing behind them wielding a meat cleaver.
Sarah shuddered. “I won’t let that wicked Jane get you.” She reached for RahRah, who picked that moment to strut over her legs to a place on the bed, just beyond her reach, where the early-morning sunshine came through a crack in the closed curtains.
Before Sarah could lie back on her pillows again, her phone rang. She grabbed it from her nightstand charger. The number flashing on the screen was unfamiliar, but because it was local, she pushed the green button. “Hello,” she said, her voice hushed.
“Morning, Sarah. Peter here. How are you?”
“Fine. And you?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “Emily’s not up yet, but she’ll be in your office with Harlan around ten.”
This time, she gave him an opportunity to talk. Instead, he coughed or cleared his throat. She wasn’t sure which.
“It isn’t Emily I’m calling about. It’s you. I need you to come to the station this morning, too.”
“Why? I don’t have anything to add to your investigation. Besides, with Harlan being with Emily, I need to stay in the office manning the phone and reception desk.”
Whether it was hearing her name or the rising tone of Sarah’s voice, Emily opened her eyes. She tucked the blanket more tightly around her but said nothing.
“Sarah, a few things have come up. I think it would be better if we could discuss them in person.”
“But—”
“I’d really appreciate it if you’d come in after Emily gives her statement.”
Sarah didn’t answer.
“Please. You’ve got a situation we need to address about your cat.”
“RahRah?” She looked across the bed, where RahRah preened himself in the sunlight. “My cat is a police matter?”
“Seems there’s a question whether she’s your cat.”
“Him. RahRah’s a boy.”
Next to her, Emily propped herself up on one elbow.
Sarah motioned her to keep quiet. “Peter, exactly what are you talking about?”
“I’ll explain when you get here. Tell you what, if you’d be more comfortable having Harlan with you, why don’t you either have him turn on his answering machine for an hour or get someone else to cover his office?” He hung up.
She stared at the disconnected phone for a moment before throwing it on the bed.