Catching Her Bear (9 page)

He made a note that Brian had a hard time directly answering questions. If what he claimed were true, why have another child? Kalan hoped Elana might be able to shed some light on the situation, assuming she knew of her brother’s existence. “You said you spoke with your parents before tonight?”

If that were true, why didn’t he try to contact Elana as well? In retrospect, it was probably for the best. This man had some serious issues.

He explained how he went up to their door two days ago and had to convince them that he was their son.

“Did they finally believe you?”

“Eventually. I knew too much about the house since I lived there until I was eight.”

Kalan would have to ask his dad if he remembered if the Stanleys had a son. Most likely, his father had no cause to interact with them, especially if they were out of town most of the time.

“Why did you return to the house if your folks didn’t greet you with open arms the other day?”

Brian rubbed his hands together and stared at the pencil in Kalan’s hand. “I didn’t get to speak with them for more than a few minutes before company arrived. I was angry and hurt so I left.”

That made sense. “What time did you arrive at your parents’ house this evening?”

“About fifteen minutes before you showed up.”

Kalan scribbled the time on his pad then leaned back in his seat. “How did you get in if they’d both been stabbed?” He certainly wouldn’t have a key to their front door. It was possible the real killers left the door unlocked, which was why the paramedics had been able to get in.

Brian’s breathing increased. “I knocked on the door, and when they didn’t answer, I looked in through the dining room window. I could see into the living room from there. That’s when I spotted a foot sticking out at an odd angle.”

If Brian were innocent, Kalan couldn’t imagine finding his parents like that. “Did you check to see if the front door was open?”

“No. They were fanatics about locking their doors. Or at least they were when I was growing up.”

“Why didn’t you call 911 right away?” If he had, and hadn’t tried to enter, Brian wouldn’t be sitting there now.

“I don’t know. I was confused. I ran to the back because I knew where they used to keep their spare key. They hadn’t changed its location since I was a kid, so I let myself in and found them.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and then his shoulders sagged. “Damn. The key’s in my other pants.”

“We’ll find it then. What did you do next?” He’d have to investigate if the same key was used for the back door as well as the front.

He looked up. “I tried to save my mother. She was still alive so I called for help.”

Not the action of a pre-meditated murderer. “I’m sorry, Brian.” Until his clothes were processed, along with the bodies, Kalan had no concrete evidence that Brian had killed them. He’d even explained the reason for having the knife in his hand. “You’re free to go, but don’t leave town.”

He bit down on his lip. “I don’t want to stay around here. I want to go back home.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid you don’t have a choice. We shouldn’t be that long. Write down your contact information for me and your therapist’s number.”

Kalan slipped a piece of paper and pencil toward him and Brian jotted down the information.

Sympathy surfaced. If Brian were innocent of the crime, he had to be hurting in his own way. “Do you need someone to escort you back to your hotel?”

“No. I want to walk.”

Once he made sure Brian found his way out of the building, dread filled Kalan once more. Having to tell a woman he was fond of that not only had her parents been murdered but that she might have a brother she didn’t know about, would rank up there as one of his worst calls ever.

First, he needed to see if his father wanted to do a bit of pro bono work. Brian Stanley seemed like the type to hightail it out of town, and Kalan doubted the department would foot the bill to have him watched. Kalan’s dad had not only stepped down as the Beta of the Clan, he’d also hung up his private investigator cuffs, so to speak.

It was close to nine, but perhaps his Dad would be willing to take a late evening drive over to the Silver Lake Hotel.

‡

R
eady to relax
after a long day, Elana put away the bottle of red wine and finished cleaning up the kitchen. She’d tried to make some low-calorie snacks but ended up tossing them in the trash. Cardboard would have tasted better and been cheaper too.

Just as she headed back to the living room to pick up a book to read, a knock sounded on her front door, and her heart skipped a beat. No one ever visited after nine. It wouldn’t be Izzy as she was busy with Rye.

“Just a minute,” Elana called.

Answering the door in a thin T-shirt without a bra wouldn’t be cool, so she ran to the bedroom and slipped on a bathrobe. Once she returned, she looked through the peephole and almost screamed. It was
him
!

Elana plastered her back against the door trying to decide how to handle this embarrassing situation. She wore no makeup and the robe she’d grabbed made her look shapeless.

“Elana, it’s Kalan. Please open up.”

His voice held so much pain it squeezed her heart. Without thinking what she should do, she yanked open the door. Oh, my. He was still in his uniform, looking as hot as ever. When she spotted the clenched hands and a jaw so tight it created lines around his mouth, her stomach did a somersault. “What happened?”

His hair that he usually kept tied back was now loose, yet the man couldn’t have looked sexier if he tried.

“May I come in?”

Her manners had evaporated. “Sure. Do you want a drink?” This afternoon she’d purchased a six-pack of beer on the off chance she had the nerve to invite him over.

“This isn’t a social call.”

As if all of the air had been sucked from her lungs, the delight at seeing him disappeared. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Let’s sit down.”

Elana was barely able to move. Her mind soared. Nothing would have happened to Izzy, as she was powerful enough to stop a person—or at least in the past she’d been able to. No, it couldn’t be Izzy. Rye wouldn’t let any harm come to her.

She grabbed hold of the arm of the gold colored sofa and dropped down, motioning him to sit in the flowered armchair. “Tell me. Please.”

“I’m not sure where to begin.”

Elana sat up straighter. “Just say it.”

“I’m afraid your parents were murdered tonight.” His chest seemed to sink in a bit, and she swore his eyes turned darker.

Nothing could have prepared her for that statement. “That…that can’t be true. You m-must be mistaken. After work, I stopped over at their house. They were… fine.” Her vision blurred, and her throat tightened.

“It happened a little after six.” Kalan said.

“Are you sure? There has to be a mistake.”

Her blood sugar must have suddenly plummeted because the room began to spin, and her body shook. A convulsive sob bubbled up and Kalan jumped up and moved from his chair to the sofa to sit next to her.

He picked up her hands. “I’m so sorry. I know this is terribly hard for you. Losing one’s parents can be life altering.”

Tears dripped down her cheeks unable to choke out a response. She hadn’t realized what their deaths would mean. Sure, they had always been distant, but they had cared for her.

“Do you want me to call someone for you? Izzy perhaps,” he asked.

“No. No one. Izzy is busy,” she said finally finding her voice.

“I bet she would come if you asked her, or perhaps Mrs. Berta?”

She shook her head as the shakes turned more violent. Kalan leaned close and wrapped his arms around her for comfort, and the tears continued to stain her cheeks. Whether it was for all the things she wanted to tell them or because she’d miss them, she didn’t know. Nothing was making sense right now. How could they be dead, and murdered, no less?

Kalan rubbed her back. From the way he was holding her so firmly, it was as if he was grieving right along with her. She leaned back, knowing she looked a mess right now. Her hair was disheveled and her eyes felt as though she’d dumped a pound of sand in them. She swiped a hand across her cheeks. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He looked around. “Let me get you some tissues.”

Kalan quickly retrieved them from the kitchen counter and returned. She blew her nose and dabbed the tissue under her eyes. “Thanks.”

“You sure I can’t call Izzy for you?”

“I’m sure.”

“Want a glass of water or something?”

She didn’t really want anything to drink, but Kalan seemed determined to help make things better. “I’d like that.”

Kalan had to open three cabinets before he found a glass. Once he filled it, he returned and handed it to her. The first sip helped quench her thirst. “That’s better.”

Elana still couldn’t believe this had happened. “Who found them?” There was something he wasn’t telling her. Her mom’s cook had quit a few months ago, so Elana didn’t think she’d harmed them.

“A man called it in.” He held up a hand. “Here’s the strange part. Or at least, it was strange to me when I heard it. He said he’s your brother, Brian.”

Had she not just swallowed, Kalan would be wearing the water. “I don’t have a brother.”

The whole world tilted on its axis. She hadn’t even accepted that her parents could be dead, and now he was telling her she has a brother?

“He said you’d claim that. Tomorrow, I’ll check out his story, but apparently your parents sent your older brother to a mental institution right after you were born.”

She shook her head. “Even if I believe they might have done that, why hide the fact from me?” The picture on the far wall of a waterfall began to blur and bile raced up her throat. The deceptions made her want to vomit.

“I wish I had answers for you.”

“Where’s this man now—the one who claims to be my
brother
?”

“He’s at his hotel in town.”

This was beyond the realm of the bizarre. She wanted to cry and grieve over this new piece of information, but her stomach was so tied up in knots that nothing was working as it should. At times, she’d believed her parents were monsters, but then they’d do something nice. Like tonight, they’d given her a present, saying the red stone reminded them of her good heart.

She furrowed her brows. “Does he know I exist?” There had to be a reason why she’d never met him.

Kalan looked away, the anguish clear on his face. “Yes.”

Why hadn’t her parents told her? If he was in town, had he tried to find her? The whole idea that a man claiming to be her brother was at her parents’ house and happened to find them murdered didn’t add up. “Did he kill them?”

If her parents had sent her away for good, she might be tempted to do them in.

“There’s no evidence that he did. When I arrived on the scene, he was trying to save your mom from bleeding out, only he wasn’t able to.”

Another sob erupted and Kalan rubbed her shoulder, helping to soothe the intense ache. “Did he say why he was there?” she choked out.

“He wanted to talk with them again.”

Numbness encased her, and her stomach threatened to revolt. Kalan once again wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. As much as she enjoyed his strength and warmth, she needed answers more than sympathy. Elana leaned back. “Why did someone kill them? They didn’t socialize. Hell, they weren’t even in town very often.” More tears streamed down her cheeks, though the grief had yet to sink in.

Kalan’s hold tightened. “I’ll figure it out. I promise.”

It almost wouldn’t matter if the criminals were caught. Her parents would still be dead. They’d never see her one flower shop turn into two and then three. Nothing she could do now would make them proud. Elana sucked in a sob, but she wasn’t sure if it was because she wouldn’t see them again, or if she no longer had time to prove to them she was worthy of their love.

Kalan sat back. “It’s my job to ask you where you were around seven thirty tonight?”

Elana swiped a tear from her cheek and almost laughed. “You think I could have killed them?”

He grit his teeth. “No, never. You have a kind heart, but all relatives are suspect.”

She sniffled and tried to remember when she’d spoken with Izzy. “Check my phone records. I think Izzy and I were chatting about that time.” Hopefully, he wouldn’t ask about what.

He brushed away a lock of her tangled hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. “I’m sorry, but I had to ask.”

“I know.” If he believed she might have done such a heinous act, he wouldn’t have held her.

“Listen, I would stay with you, but I have to get back to work.”

She didn’t want to burden him with thinking he needed to watch over her. “Oh, of course.” Being alone wasn’t what she needed though. “I’ll call the Bertas.”

“I’d feel better if you do.”

Her true grief had yet to sink in. “So would I.”

“How about you pack a few things and I’ll take you over there? I don’t want you to have to tell them what happened by yourself.”

He was so nice. “I’d appreciate that.”

As Elana stood, her legs gave way, but Kalan reached up in time to help ease her descent onto the sofa seat.