Read Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel for Free Online

by she’d introduce me to her conglomerate of pets, so that should keep me occupied.”
    “The donut will help too, but don’t count on too much bonding tonight. She’s mad at me for missing the tryouts and liable to take that out on anyone who happens to be in the same room.”
    “Give her some space. I grew up with a hormonal sister. Eventually I discovered she was a bit like the Texas weather where we grew up. Wait a few minutes and her mood will probably change.”
    Avery laughed. “You’re right about that.”
    Solidarity between her and Tess had been the one redeeming outcome of Ethan’s death. The weeks and months that had followed their loss had created a stronger bond between them, forcing them to survive what life had handed them together. It was something she prayed they never lost.
    Upstairs, it took Avery ten minutes just to figure out what she wanted to wear. The pants and top she’d laid out this morning seemed too stuffy. Three outfits later she finally settled on a green print sundress Emily had picked out with her and a missing pair of silver sandals. She hollered at Tess to see if she knew where the shoes were, then remembered she’d worn them Sunday for church and taken them off in the basement.
    Avery hurried downstairs, hesitating at the top of thebasement stairs to listen to Tess talk to Jackson about her pet mice. With a dog out of the equation because of their busy schedule, Tess had somehow managed to talk her into a variety of low-maintenance alternatives that now included three female mice, an African clawed frog, a hamster, and a Birman cat named Tiger.
    Tess laughed at something Jackson said. Avery let out a soft sigh of relief. At least they seemed to be getting along.
    In the basement that she’d converted into an office, she paused in front of the crime board she’d put together, like she’d done a thousand times before over the past four months. Each time reminding her that Michael was never coming back. Each time praying that this time, something would jump out at her so she could find his killer.
    She’d studied the photos and files of her brother’s case until she’d memorized every detail. Witnesses’ photos, suspect photos, crime scene photos, lab reports. It was all in front of her like a jumbled collage that made sense only to her. This was truly her domain. The only place in the entire house with no trace of Tess’s presence.
    “Avery?” Jackson stood at the bottom of the stairs, carrying her missing pair of sandals and wearing a sheepish grin as if he were unsure that he should be here. “Tess sent me down here with these. They were in her room.”
    “Thanks.” Avery plopped down onto her old leather couch to slip them on. “My daughter loves to borrow my stuff.”
    She smiled, unsure when her little girl had found time to morph into a full-fledged preteen. Or, for that matter, when she had become old enough to have a preteen daughter.
    Jackson shoved his thumbs into his jeans’ front pockets. “I came down here for another reason. I feel like I should offer you a rain check on dinner. You’ve had a rough day, and I know you’re tired. If you need to cancel tonight, we can do this another time.”
    Avery hesitated. He was right. Fatigue had settled in, making part of her long for nothing more than a hot bath and a good night’s sleep. But on the other hand she’d been looking forward to tonight for a long time.
    She looked up at him and felt her stomach quiver. “I think I’ll be fine as long as you promise not to keep me out too late.”
    “I think I can manage that.” His smile hinted relief. “So this is how you wind down?”
    He looked around the room, seemingly in no hurry to leave.
    “Working on cases . . . ,” she glanced at the easel set up in the far corner of the room, “and painting when I can find the time.”
    “Watercolor?”
    She nodded. The only splash of color in the room—besides the crime scene photos—was the purple spray