Alex Harris 00 - Poisoned

eyes. “I feel...I didn’t get to say good-bye. I know it sounds stupid, but I just feel like I’ve been cheated. I lost my best friend. We had everything in common and we told each other everything. We had so many plans. I was going to get a job teaching as soon as I finished my credential. I wanted to use my acting skills with children in some way. Maybe a children’s theater company. Bradley and I talked about it a lot. We had so many plans; we wanted to have a family…” Her voice was just a whisper now. She got up and walked over to the window staring out into the twilight. A few minutes passed before she spoke again.
    “I wonder who’s going to continue with the family history now? It meant so much to Bradley. I don’t think Roberta’s heart will be into continuing it,” she said still looking at the darkening sky. “He really wasn’t too far into it, but I think he found out some interesting things.”
    “Like what?” I asked as my interest piqued.
    Kendra came back and sat down. “You know, it’s the first time I thought of this. About a week before Bradley was killed, we were talking on the phone and he said he found out something very interesting. He wanted to do a bit more research and then he wanted to tell Roberta and me. He said it was fascinating. He seemed really happy about it. I think he was even going to break down and tell me right then and there, he was pretty hyped up, but then someone knocked on his door and he hung up. I wonder if he ever told Roberta about it? Though I would think she would have told me but with all that’s happened, maybe she just forgot.” Kendra shook her head and a strand of her golden blonde hair attached itself to her tear-stained face. She pushed it away with her long fingers. “I’ve taken enough of your time, Alex. I just wanted to make sure if I do come back, I’ll be able to find something to hold me over while I pursue something in teaching or acting.”
    I walked around my desk and put my arm around the small hunched shoulders of the young woman who had seen too much grief in her time. “Kendra, my sister and I will do everything we can to help when you get back. Not if —when. Your family is here and I know you need to get away and sort things out, but we’ll be here for you when you return.” I picked up my coat and we walked out into the night together. “Good luck, Kendra. Keep in touch.”
    “I will, and thanks.”
    Kendra pulled away from the curb and I wondered if she would ever be able to get on with her life. I also wondered if I was watching a murderer escape.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

    “John! That’s...perverted!” I laughed while he put the finishing touches on his jack-o-lantern. We stood in my kitchen carving the pumpkins I had bought for the front porch, finally managing to find some time to be together.
    “You cannot put that pumpkin on my front porch. There’ll be young children coming to the door.”
    “Well, then we’ll keep this one to ourselves. How’s yours coming?” I turned my pumpkin to face him. It was the traditional cut: triangular nose and eyes, wide, sinister mouth with lots of teeth. “Not very original are you? Here, pass me that squash. I’ll show you how to make a scary face.”
    “I’ll check the pizza while you create your masterpiece.” I went to the oven and looked in. Almost done. A pesto pizza with lots of goat cheese, cherry tomatoes, basil and garlic happily bubbled in the oven. It smelled heavenly. “It’ll be ready in about ten minutes. Let me take a look at what you did.” John turned the squash upon which he had just drawn a face. “Hey, that’s not bad.”
    “So what have you been up to today?”
    I watched him for a few seconds trying to decide if he was just asking an innocent question or trying to bait me.
    “Sam and Millie came into the office and we worked on the proposal for our meeting tomorrow morning. I think we have a good chance at getting the contract. Then tomorrow night Sam and I are taking my parents to the airport.”
    “Oh, right. The big trip. Are they excited?”
    “A trip to London! I should say they’re excited. Will you be able to make it tomorrow night? We’re all going to stop off for dinner first before going to the airport.”
    “I doubt it. Until this case is solved, I don’t think I’ll be doing much of anything. Sorry.”
    “Anything new with the investigation?” I couldn’t help myself. I just had to ask.
    John went to the sink and