“I don’t know. I’m working double shifts, I’m behind at school, and Summer needs me at home more. Things aren’t going great for her.”
“I could take some of your shifts. Could you at least chat with Noel and make a decision then?” Marie pleaded. “That’s not too much to ask, is it?”
Casey didn’t appreciate the petulant tone. “I’ll think about it.”
“Well, if your commitments are more important than an innocent man’s entire future, I can’t fight that kind of selfishness.”
“She’s not selfish.” Lou slid his arm around Casey’s waist. “She’s covered for you at work this past week, and is taking care of Jasmine’s pets like you asked. She’s also looking after this huge house and parenting a cranky teen who misses her mom. Worse, you could be putting a bull’s eye on her and Summer.”
“I’m sorry.” The words caught in her throat. “I don’t know what else to do.”
Casey took a deep calming breath. If she turned Marie down, the woman would be hell to work with. Security functioned better with strong co-operation and communication among team members. Besides, she was curious to hear Noel’s take on who killed Jasmine. Casey rubbed her temple. Deep inside her skull, a headache had begun to form.
“Look, I’ll talk to your brother and then decide what to do.”
“Thank you.” Marie removed a slip of paper from her purse. “This is Noel’s cell phone number.” She handed the paper to Casey. “One more thing. I’m really worried about Jeremy. Could you drive by Birch’s place and see if he’s okay? He lives in Coquitlam, not far from Jasmine’s apartment.”
“How do you know?”
“I drove Jasmine out to his trailer one day because he wouldn’t bring Jeremy back when he was supposed to. The trailer park’s easy to find.”
Pushy broad. “How am I supposed to do that without being recognized by Birch? He saw me at your house.”
“Like I said, you’re smart and resourceful.” Marie handed her another slip of paper. “Here’s Birch’s address and mail route. I checked off the addresses I’ve already been to.”
The front door opened and slammed shut. Summer stomped past the living room entrance. Cheyenne galloped into the hallway to greet her.
“Summer?” Casey called.
“I have to go.” Marie started to leave. “I’ll give Noel your phone number.” She hurried out of the house, as if afraid Casey would change her mind.
Casey stepped into the hallway and found Summer slumped against the wall just before the kitchen entrance.
“What is it, Summer?”
“Grandma’s bugging me to live with her again. She thinks my friends are a bad influence just because Tiffany and Ashley got caught smoking.” Summer rubbed Cheyenne’s head. “The principal practically forced me to say I saw them doing it.”
Casey said, “Were you smoking too?”
“If I was, you would have gotten a phone call on Friday.”
“There’s no need for the snarky tone. So tell me, have you tried cigarettes before?”
Summer avoided eye contact. “No.”
She never had been a good liar. “The truth, please.” Casey rubbed her throbbing temple. “I promise not to scream in shock.”
“I tried it once, but it nearly made me puke.”
“How did your grandmother find out about the incident?”
“She lit a cigarette in the car and I asked her why she smoked, and she said it relaxes her.” Summer scratched Cheyenne’s ears. “I told her Tiffany said the same thing, and then Grandma started asking questions and she, like, totally freaked.”
Casey rubbed her forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me your friends smoked?”
“They didn’t want me to.”
Wonderful. She should have remembered that twelve-year-old girls with absentee mothers made secrets and acting out inevitable. Hadn’t her own rebelliousness escalated after Dad kicked Mother out of the house? “You know you don’t have to listen to your friends, right?”
“Yeah.” Summer peered at her. “Are you sure I won’t have to move in with Grandma?”
“You’re staying with me, kiddo. We’re a team.”
Casey hugged her, well aware that Winifred’s wants weren’t as troubling as the impact of devious peers. Summer’s old friends wouldn’t have asked her to keep secrets, but clearly these girls did.
“Never do what anyone—especially friends—tell you to if it makes you uncomfortable, okay?”
“’Kay.”
Casey thought of Marie. They weren’t even friends and Marie was pushing her into an uncomfortable—maybe even dangerous—situation. “So,” she said, stepping back, “how’s the math homework coming?”
“Not good.” Summer shrugged. “Can you help me?”
“I have to work on an essay, so how about we work together?”
Cheyenne started whimpering at the door.
“I’ll take Cheyenne out first.”
“All right, I’ll meet you upstairs.”
After they left, Casey leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. The headache could become a migraine. She didn’t get them often; only when under major stress or after too much chocolate and wine. She’d take something for it now. There was too much to do to end up in bed for the rest of the day. On the upside, a chat with the gorgeous Noel Merryweather would be a welcome break from homework and endless chores.
Casey opened her eyes and stood up straight. Had she agreed to meet the guy because she was attracted to him? Was she that shallow?
“I should be off,” Lou said, approaching her. “Is everything okay? Your cheeks are a bit flushed.”
Oh, good lord; she’d been thinking about another man while her boyfriend was here. How tacky was that? “I’m all right. Summer had an argument with Winifred, but she’s fine now. We’re going to do homework together.”
Lou kissed her. “Sounds like you’ve got everything under control.”
She didn’t know how to tell him that sounds could be deceiving, so she returned his kiss and said nothing.
NINE
THE MOMENT CASEY PARKED IN the driveway of Noel Merryweather’s single-story, sandstone home, the street became hidden behind a tall, evergreen hedge. The greenery stretched along the front of his property and down both sides. Privacy was a double-edged sword. No one knew your business, even when you needed them to. A wheelchair-bound person living alone, even one with Noel’s upper body strength, could be vulnerable to danger. Judging by the intercom and the sign stating that this house was protected by a security system, Noel thought so too. The system hadn’t kept him out of trouble, though.
Casey checked her makeup in the mirror, and then adjusted the pale blue chiffon scarf around her neck. She felt a little guilty for dressing up to see him, if one could call a scarf and a pair of silver earrings dressing up. At least she hadn’t gone all out. Her navy pants and jacket were old.
She had to admit that part of her looked forward to this visit. Not in a swooning, Jello-legs way, but in a sexist, eye-candy way. If Noel wasn’t a murder suspect, he’d qualify as one of life’s guilty pleasures. She’d met great-looking, charismatic guys before and had even been attracted to some of them. Never in a million years, though, would she let herself fall for a man she didn’t trust. Besides, she had a man, and Lou was the best.
Casey stepped out of her car and strolled along the cement walkway past a neatly trimmed lawn. She’d reached the ramp leading to the door when it opened and Noel appeared. Oh lord, he must have been watching her. Had he seen her check her makeup?
Her cheeks grew warm. “Hi.”
Thanks to the black T-shirt hugging his biceps, Noel looked even more appealing than he had at the funeral. Today, his hair was tied back in a ponytail. A white husky stood next to his wheelchair.