Page 95 of Day Break

All of them wore expensive clothes and drove luxury cars. If they didn’t already have money, then how could they afford those things?

I just knew there had to be something else behind George’s death.

Since Lee Steinbeck was due to arrive shortly before lunch, I had made a bunch of finger foods for the family instead of sandwiches or a full meal.

I’d seen a video on Lane’s iPad, which he’d let me borrow, about charcuterie boards. I spent most of my morning slicing meats, cheeses, carrots, celery, and a variety of fruits. I arranged everything nicely on a massive wood platter that I found in the back of the pantry and laid out the feast on the kitchen island. Then I added crackers, olives, pickles, and those little cookies that George always enjoyed.

It was a work of art. I was incredibly happy with how it all turned out, but when the family saw the spread, they all complained.

Feeling defeated, I stepped outside and took a walk to the beach with Byron without eating anything myself.

I was sitting in the sand when Lane sat next to me.

“Have I mentioned that my family members are all asses?” he said, taking my hand in his.

I smiled and shrugged. “It’s okay. I won’t be serving them for much longer.”

“No, you won’t. They’re all heading home tomorrow. They’ve even canceled the rental early.” Byron dropped a ball at his feet. He took a moment to toss the ball into the water, and Byron raced after it.

“What about you?” I asked, holding my breath.

“Me?” He glanced over at me. “What do you want to do?”

I glanced away, feeling my heart jump and then fall quickly. No one had ever asked me that before. What I wanted I knew could never be.

I wanted more than anything to stay put. To live where I was. To spend my days and nights with Lane and Byron. To take long daily walks on the beach, this beach.

I wanted George to be here. I missed the advice that he’d give me. The jokes he told when silence fell between us. The way he always managed to make me smile, even when I knew he was hurting.

“Hey,” Lane said, nudging my shoulder until I looked at him.

He surprised me by reaching up and wiping a tear from my cheek. I hadn’t even realized I’d been crying.

“I miss him,” I said with a sob.

Lane’s arms wrapped around me. “I do too,” he said into my hair. “But I can’t afford to be sad now. I’m too pissed off. Angry that someone did this and might get away again.”

“Again?” I tensed and then leaned back, running my eyes over his face. “You think that whoever killed George also killed Sherry?”

It was the first time I’d thought of it. I didn’t know all the details of Lane’s sister’s death. I should have asked earlier.

Lane nodded, then leaned his elbows on his knees. “There aren’t any similarities in their deaths. Other than the fact that they were Robinsons.” He glanced sideways at me. “My sister was sexually abused,” he said. “Some people, even some in my family, assumed… that I could do something like that.”

I shook my head quickly. “I didn’t,” I said truthfully. Then I remembered the journal entry. But before I could mention it to him, he stood up and walked to the edge of the water.

I got up and stood beside him, taking his hand in mine.

“She was beaten to death, like she was a fucking piñata,” he said. “Then she was dumped in a pond not far from here.” He looked out over the water. “The police believed I had something to do with her murder, since I was the last one to see her. We had walked to the corner store together to get snacks. I returned home without her. They found her the following day. The pond they found her in was in the opposite direction of home. From the gas station, she had to head into town.” He turned towards me. “She would have never gone that way by herself.”

“Maybe she was going to meet someone?” I suggested.

Lane frowned. “No.”

“What about Eric?” I asked, remembering the few entries I’d read in Sherry’s diary. I hadn’t gotten much further than a few pages since I’d been so busy lately.

“What?” Lane tensed. “Where did you hear that name?”

“It was in Sherry’s diary. She wrote that she and Eric were in love. She also mentioned something about…” I hated telling him this detail, but maybe it was important. “About being abused.”