Page 20 of Hell Hath No Fury

Eric fell quiet, but Emma heard the sound of a door closing before he spoke in a hushed tone. “Nell’s a raw nerve right now. She really loved Zeke.”

“Even though he got her using again?”

Eric’s tone sharpened. “See? Now that’s exactly what she didn’t want to face. You blaming Zeke. Being judgy. Her words, not mine.”

Emma closed her eyes. Eric had a point. As Nell’s big sister, Emma tried—too hard at times—to protect her. To reel her back in. But since their parents had died in a tragic car crash that both Emma and Nell blamed themselves for, there was no reeling Nell in. “Where is she now?”

“She’s here.”

“At your place?”

“Yes. I told you she’s been staying in my guest room. It took some convincing on my part to get her to come back with me after the funeral, but she did. Emma, she hasn’t taken anything for the last three days. I realize that’s not a lot, but?—”

“One day at a time.”

“Right. I know you want to see her, and I want that, too. Butshe went to pieces yesterday, and I don’t think she can handle one more thing. Even if that thing is you.”

“I’m not going back to Erie without seeing her.”

“Fine. But not today. Okay?”

Retorts rolled through Emma’s mind. Nell had been avoiding her using one excuse or another for far too long.

“Emma?” Eric’s warning tone sounded way too much like her mother’s used to. “I mean it. Not today.”

“Okay,” she said reluctantly.

“Good. Now where are you, and what did Matthias mean when he said, ‘It’s Sonny Jones?’”

* * *

One of the newly arrived uniformed state troopers stopped Matthias before he reached the grave. “I’m afraid you need to stay back, sir.”

Matthias introduced himself as a detective without mentioning Erie.

The trooper eyed him. “I thought I knew all the local police.”

From behind Matthias, came a voice. “It’s okay, Trooper Ryan. I’ve got this.”

Matthias turned to see a man he’d hoped he’d never have to encounter again. Square-jawed, broad-shouldered, and wearing a dark suit and an even darker scowl, he thrust a hand toward Matthias. “I’m surprised to see you here, Honeywell.”

“Fergusson.” Matthias clasped the offered hand. “I could say the same about you.”

“What? You mean you haven’t kept track of me?” He didn’t include even a hint of a smile with his sarcasm. “After I left Erie Police, PSP accepted my application. My wife has family in Pittsburgh, so I transferred to Troop B. Five years ago, there was an opening in the Criminal Investigation Division. I applied and got it.”

Matthias knew damned well there was more to Joe Fergusson’s move than he let on. A case they’d both worked had ended badly. Matthias carried the resulting internal scars, and he’d been the lucky one.

“What about you?” Fergusson asked. “What brings you this far south?”

Matthias weighed how much he wanted this guy to know, but being evasive would only bring more questions. “My girlfriend used to live down the road. We’re visiting.”

“But why are youhere?” Fergusson pointed to the ground. “I mean, you’re way out of your jurisdiction. You hear about a homicide and can’t resist checking it out?”

“Something like that.” Matthias motioned toward the body. “What’ve you got?”

Fergusson studied him for a long moment. Then he shrugged. “Victim’s Greyson Jones, the guy who’s developing this property.”

Matthias didn’t reveal that he already knew as much.