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THAT NIGHT, MITCH CAME over for dinner. Zoe already had plans with Chris, so it was just the three of them in the cottage.
Lauren watched her boyfriend cook steaks for them – his specialty. He’d already given Annie some raw sirloin, which she’d thoroughly enjoyed.
“What do you think about Nellie’s case?” she asked. After their session with Rebecca, talking about the case was the last thing she wanted to do, but she thought it would be good to get an inside opinion.
“Castern is gunning for Rebecca, but the evidence doesn’t support him,” he replied.
Lauren thought back over the last few days.
“Deborah, Nellie’s mother-in-law, said Detective Castern was a gentleman and seemed to know what he was doing. But Nellie’s husband said he was horrible. So did Rebecca.”
“You talked to the husband?” Mitch turned around, his expression one of concern.
“Zoe wanted to buy some pillowcases at the store where he worked,” she told him. “I bought some, too. They’re on the pillows right now. Are you staying over?” She hoped his answer was yes.
“Yeah.” A soft smile lightened his face. “If that’s okay with you.”
“Of course it is.”
“Annie?”
“Brrt.” Yes. She sat next to Lauren at the kitchen table.
“Were you in public when you spoke to Nellie’s husband?” Mitch asked.
“Of course.”
“Good.” He gave her a relieved smile. “Make sure there are other people around whenever you talk to someone who could be a suspect.” He looked at her tenderly. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“And I don’t want anything to happen to you, either.” She hoped her expression showed just how much he meant to her.
He gave her a warm, intimate smile.
“I love you, Lauren.”
“And I love you.”