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Chapter One

THE HOUSE STILL SMELLED OF DEATH

Two months had passed since Moony and I knew if I breathed deep enough, I’d catch the hint of old blood

But at least there were no visible reood job of re the evidence

Bile rose up my throat, and I briefly closed my eyes I’d seen her—had seen what had been done to her—and it haunted ht in my dreams But in many ways, those drea able to walk through the front door today

I’d done enough ree, and that wasn’t going to happen if I waited for others to hunt down the killers No, I needed to be a part of it I needed to do so to help ease the ferocity of the dreae that I should have been there for her That if I had, I ht have been able to prevent this

I drew in a deep breath that did little to steady the al else Her scent still lingered

And not just her scent Everything she’d been, and everything she’d done—all her love and energy and compassion—filled this place with a warmth that still radiated from the very walls

For the first time since I’d scattered her ashes in the hills that she’d loved, I smiled

She would never entirely be gone from this world She’d done too much, and helped too many people, for her memory to be erased completely

And that was one hell of a legacy

Still, despite the echoes of the warmth and love that had once filled these roo the house Not when all I had to do was step into the kitchen to be re that had happened

I walked along the hallway,on the polished marble floor Aside froive prospective buyers an idea of each room’s size and purpose, the house was empty Mike—who’d been Mom’s financial adviser and was stillto the real estate people on e so I could deal with it later Only the items in the two safes remained untouched, and that was a task only I could handle—although it was the one thing I’d been avoiding until now

I drew in a shuddery breath, then slowly cli, I headed for Mom’s bedroom down at the far end of the hall The air had a disused smell Maybe the people employed to keep the house spotless until it sold hadn’t been as generous with the deodorizer up here

But the soft hint of oranges and sunshine teased my nostrils as I walked into Mom’s bedroo beside me

Which was silly, because she’d long since e to reach for her

I walked across the thick carpet and opened the double doors to her wardrobe Her clothes had already been donated to charity, but so this emptiness hit me in a way that the emptiness of the other roo up in her silkiest gowns and soith her makeup

She’d never once been angry She’d always laughed and joined the fun, even letting me do her face

I swiped at th

e tear that appeared on my cheek and resolutely walked into the bathroo for a safe in an en suite, which is exactly why Mom had installed her second one here This here she’d stored her most precious jewelry