[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
He stood directly behind her, so close he could hear her breathing, smell the fruity shampoo she used. He
longed to touch her. To coax her back into his arms. Tell her everything, anything that would convince
her to stay.
"And that's supposed to make me feel what?" she asked softly, voice vibrating with emotion. "Sorry for
you? You think there's anyone alive who hasn't experienced real pain? Personal tragedy?"
"I wasn't asking for your pity. I was being honest."
"Well, bully for you."
She pushed the screen door open. Stepped out into the alley. And ran smack-dab into Matt.
"Avery!" Matt caught her arm, steadying her. "What are you doing here?"
"Ask your brother." She glanced back at Hunter, standing at the door. "Maybe he'll give you a straight
answer."
"I don't understand."
She shook her head, stood on tiptoe and kissed Matt's cneek. "Call me later, Matt. I've got to go."
CHAPTER 41
Hunter watched Avery go. She had asked Matt to call her later. Why? To make certain he knew about
the call on Trudy Pruitt's answering machine? Or because they were sleeping together?
"What was Avery doing here?"
Hunter faced his brother. "Nothing kinky. Unfortunately."
A muscle in his brother's jaw twitched. "Prick."
"So I've been called on more than one occasion." One corner of his mouth lifted. "This seems to be my
morning for visitors. Lucky me."
Matt moved his gaze over him, taking in the fact he wore nothing but a pair of shorts, that he had
obviously not been out of bed long. "What did she mean, about getting a straight answer out of you?"
Hunter leaned against the door frame, mug cradled between his palms. "I haven't a clue."
"Bullshit."
He lifted the mug to his lips, sipped. "Believe what you will. It's a free country."
"How free?"
"I don't follow."
"Maybe you're one of those Americans who believe your personal freedoms entitle you to trample on the
freedoms of others? Maybe even take the law into your own hands? Or take a life?"
Hunter laughed. "I'm a lawyer. I uphold the law."
"Funny, that's what I do, too."
"What can I do for you, Matt?"
"I'm here on official business, Hunter."
"And here I'd thought you might be wanting a brotherly chat. I'm devastated."
Matt ignored his sarcasm. "May I come in?"
Wordlessly, he stepped away from the door. Matt entered the kitchen. He moved his gaze over the
room, then brought it back to Hunter. "Where were you night before last? Between nine and ten-thirty?"
The night Trudy Pruitt was murdered.
Hunter folded his arms across his chest. "I was here. Working."
"Alone?"
"With Sarah."
"Sarah?"
Hunter nodded in the direction of the dog. "And her pups."
A look of annoyance passed over his brother's face. "You seem to spend an awful lot of time here,
alone."
"I like it that way."
"You hear about Trudy Pruitt?"
"Yeah."
"You know the woman?"
"Nope. Not personally."
"Not personally. What does that mean?"
"I'd heard of her. I knew who she was. Who her kids were."
Hunter waited. This was where Matt would call Hunter a liar, challenge his story, throw up the message
on the recorder. If he had checked Pruitt's answering machine.
And if he did, this was where Hunter would lawyer-up.
"Mind if I have a look around?"
Hunter laughed, the sound humorless. His brother and his crew of small-town constables had just flunked
crime scene investigation 101. "Yeah, I mind. You want a look around, you get a search warrant."
"Expect it."
"Want to tell me why you're so interested in me?"
"You'll know soon enough."
"Right. You don't have dick. Go fish someplace else."
Matt shook his head. "For a lawyer, you're not very smart."
"And for a cop, you're not very observant."
"I don't have time for this." Matt made a sound of disgust and turned toward the door. "I'll see you when
I've got that warrant."
"You'd love to pin this on me, wouldn't you, Matt? For a lot of different reasons, all of which have
nothing to do with guilt or innocence."
His brother stopped. But didn't turn. "Name one."
"Avery."
The barb hit his mark, Hunter saw. His brother stiffened. Swung to face him. "Stay away from her. She's
too good for you."
"At least we agree on something. A miracle."
"You're such an asshole. I can't believe you're my brother."
"Your twin," Hunter corrected. "Your other half."
Matt laughed, the sound tight. "We're nothing alike. I believe in family and community, hard work,
loyalty."
"Just that I'm alive pisses you off, doesn't it?"
"Stay away from Avery."
"Why should I? She doesn't belong to you anymore. You let her go."
Matt flexed his fingers, longing, Hunter knew, to take a swing at him. How many times as kids had they
argued, then come to blows, determined to beat the other senseless.
Even so, they had been a team then. Now, they were adversaries.
"What do you have to offer her?" Matt challenged. "Nothing. You're a broken-down drunk who "
"A former drunk. There's a difference, brother." He took a step toward the other man. "Don't you see it?
She and I are the same. We never fit in here. We never will."
Matt trembled with fury. This time it was he who took a step forward. "All these years, is this what it's
been about, Hunter? Avery? Jealousy? Over what I am and what I had?"
"Had. You said it, Matt. No longer. You chose Cypress Springs over her."
"Shut up! Shut the fuck up!"
Hunter closed the remaining distance between them. They stood nose to nose, his twin's fury, his lust for
blood palpable. Hunter recognized it because the same emotion charged through him.
"Make me," Hunter said.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]