Chapter 4

ELIZABETH

My cell phone rings, pulling me back to the present. The bathroom has cooled some and no longer burns my cold skin. I'm finally warm after my freezing dip in the pond.

The phone keeps ringing, the tone I've assigned to my sister Claire. So few people call me, I don't need separate ringtones. If it's not an assigned tone, it's always a sales call.

I'd rather answer a sales call than talk to Claire right now.

"She'll worry if you let it go to voicemail," Dave says, leaning against the wall of the tiny bathroom.

I shove up out of the water, the sudden weight on my cut foot throwing a jolt of pain up my leg.

With dripping hands, I hit the answer button on the screen.

"Hey, Claire," I say by way of answer and shoot Dave a withering look. He's no longer with me to see it.

"Hey, sis, how ya doing?" Her voice is overly bright, overly-cheery. The implied questions under the simple words is always the same. What the hell is wrong with you?

I assume my role in our familiar play. "I'm good." I grab a towel and dry myself with one hand. "Just taking a bath after my run." I leave out the part where I nearly froze to death, wanted to freeze to death.

"Still running, even when it's cold?" She doesn't know what else to say.

"Everyday." I step on my cut foot and wince. "I did cut my boot. I'm going to have to order another pair. Can I have them shipped to you?"

Surprisingly, Claire hesitates. "When?" Since I've come to this cabin in the woods, I've let on my property since the crew finished building the cabin nearly two years ago.

"I don't know when for sure. I was going to order the boots tonight, and they should be here in a day or two. Why does that matter?" I leave the bathroom and enter my bedroom, dig through a dresser drawer for panties, sweats and a hoodie. She waits so long to answer my question, I'm fully dressed before she speaks.

"That's actually why I called. I need to be out of town for the next week. I'm going to a restaurant convention in Indianapolis."

"That's great," I reply automatically. Claire owns a sandwich shop in Maddison, the closest town to my woods. I haven't eaten there since to the woods, but it's a popular place. Only twenty miles from Fort Wayne, the small town of Maddison, felt like a world away from the city and the major crimes unit where I worked. The proximity to Maddison and Claire was the primary reason I bought this place.

"I hate to be gone, but I think it will be good for me to learn some new things for the restaurant." She still hedging, and you don't need to be a former Detective to sense it.

"You have every right to go to a convention, Claire. So what's the problem?"

"It's Michelle." She's still hedging.

"Did she get into trouble again?" Claire's daughter, Michelle , has been acting out lately. Nothing major, skipping classes a few times. Two months ago, Nicole found a tiny bag of pot in her room. Warning signs for sure, but I've seen way worse in my career and can't help thinking Claire over- reacts.

"No, she's not in trouble," Claire says.

" Just come out and tell me what you want, Claire." I'm tired and cranky and still have chores to do tonight.

"I don't want to leave her home alone, and I don't want to ask Chris to take her while I'm gone," she says in a rush. Claire's soon to be ex-husband , Chris , has been a major pain in the *** lately. They've tried to keep things civil for Michelle's sake , but Chris has made it clear of Claire doesn't walk his line, he'll go after full custody of their daughter.

"Crap," I mutter, panic swelling in my chest."Michelle can't stay here," I blurt out before I can phrase it more delicately.

Claire's anger radiates through the phone, but her voice is smooth. "I wasn't going to ask if she could stay with you." It sounds like she's Clenching her teeth. I hear the undercurrent of, no one should be living out there like you are.

I back pedal, guilty for my outburst. "I'm sorry, I'm not sure why I said that. What do you need?"

Claire seems placated. "She's old enough to stay home alone, but could you, I don't know, check on her while I'm gone?"

My mind races with the implication of the simple request. "Like , go to your house?" I never leave the woods. I've set this place up to mostly self- sufficient. Anything I need, I can order online, and Claire will bring it to me. I'm not sure my SUV parked under a tree and covered with leaves and snow will even start.

"Jesus, Elizabeth! Just forget it. I wouldn't want Michelle and me to intrude on your precious private time." She makes the words sound like something disgusting. "I'll just have the neighbor check on her."

"Claire, I ....." I'm not sure how I was going to finish the sentence.

"I knew better than to ask you." She continues, rare anger flashing. "I just thought, maybe you could help me out for a change."

I don't have a response. Claire has been the only rock I've had to lean on, doing everything for me without complaint. She's been a much better sister to me than I have ever been to her. Panic at leaving the woods battles the guilty knowledge that I owe her.

I open my mouth to say I'll do it, but Claire has already hung up.

Slumping on my bed, I stare at my phone. With just a few screen touches, I can call her back, make things right. The phone goes to sleep mode, and the screen turns black.

I push the button to wake it up, then open my Amazon app and order replacement boots. With shaking fingers, I change the delivery address to the woods, surprised I even remember it. All my bills are on auto-pay, and what little mail I receive is sent to Claire's house. She brings it with my monthly grocery delivery.

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