Page 29 of Hell Hath No Fury

“Got it.”

Matthias glanced at her before shifting the Jeep into gear. “Are we headed to Eric’s house?”

“Definitely.”

* * *

Emma thought of the reluctant promise she’d made to give Nell some space. But that had been before she’d been considered a suspect in Sonny’s death. Now she had questions for Eric. Lots and lots of questions. She hoped to get them answered before the police showed up on his doorstep with their own. She sat in the passenger seat on the short drive from the construction-site-turned-crime-scene and fumed, her fury building like unreleased steam in a boiler.

The house looked the same as earlier. She wondered if Eric really was at home. As soon as Matthias touched the brake, bringing the Jeep to a stop in the driveway, Emma leaped out and stormed across the yard. On the stoop, she jammed the doorbell with one hand and pounded with the other. She was about to bend down and retrieve the key from under the rock when Matthias arrived at her side and the door swung open, revealing a wide-eyed Eric.

“You don’t have to break down my door,” he said. “I told you today wasn’t a good time to visit.”

Emma crowded past him, ignoring his objection. “You haven’t been answering my phone calls or texts lately, so I wasn’t sure you’d let me in.” She wheeled to face him and caught a glimpse of Matthias’s stoic face as he trailed her inside.

“I didn’t return your calls because I didn’t have my phone.”

“Yeah. About that?—”

Eric’s sharp intake of breath cut her off. His hand went to his mouth then reached toward Emma’s bandaged arm. “Are you okay? You told me about what you went through last week.”

Emma touched the healing gunshot wound wrapped in gauze. It only hurt when she tried to lie on her left side. It was the back of her head, which had impacted concrete several times, that still ached. “I’m fine. And don’t try to change the subject.” She lifted her gaze to the second-floor balcony. The guest room and bathroom doors were shut, unlike this morning and yesterday. “You knew I was on my way here. When you weren’t home, but your phone was, I was frantic.”

“I’m sorry about that.” He shot a look at the closed doors as well before lowering his gaze and his voice. “I knew you would be. I had to make a judgment call.”

“It was the wrong one.”

“I’d make it again. You have to understand. It’s Nell. She’s… fragile. She was determined to go to Zeke’s funeral despite everything. If I hadn’t taken her, she’d have gotten there on her own somehow, even if it meant hitchhiking. I had to go with her. To keep her safe. And to keep her from straying.”

Emma’s rage lessened. At least part of it. “You couldn’t have left me a note? Called before you left your phone behind?”

Eric fixed her with a pleading look. One she’d grown up seeing from him. Pleading for her to keep his secrets. Pleading for her help when the school bullies harassed him. “She’s in a bad way, Emma,” he whispered. “She hasn’t been using since I moved her in here, so she’s going through withdrawal. And losing Zeke nearly killed her. I’ve had to keep an eye on her nonstop. She was adamant about you not knowing where we were going. I was afraid what she’d do if I went against her wishes. I was afraid—” His voice cracked. “I was afraid we’d lose her for good. If she stops trusting me, I’m not sure what she’d do next.”

Emma studied him. Saw the distress eating at him. He’d always been a big brother to Nell. And Emma knew how Nell could be.

“I have a question,” Matthias said, keeping his voice as low as Eric’s. “You said Nell was determined to go to Zeke’s funeral despite ‘everything.’ Despite what exactly?”

Eric appeared pained. “Zeke’s family, especially his older brother, let it be known that she wasn’t welcome. They blame her for what happened.”

His words sank in. “Did something happen at the funeral when she did show up?”

“No.” Eric shook his head. “I did my best to make sure she wasn’t seen. We stayed in the rear of the church. At the cemetery, we didn’t get out of the car until after the others left. Then I kept watch while she stood at his grave so she could be with him one last time.”

Emma held his distraught gaze. She still had questions about the land deal and Sonny Jones, but those suddenly seemed unimportant. She threw her arms around her childhood friend. He held on, clinging to her tightly as if he feared losing not just Nell but Emma, too. “Thank you,” she whispered, “for looking out for my sister.Oursister.”

The sound of a crash from upstairs pulled them apart.

“Oh no,” Eric moaned. He took a step toward the staircase.

Emma caught his arm. “Let me.”

He started to argue, but Matthias caught his other arm. “Nell might notwantto see Emma, but I think sheneedsto see her. Besides, you and I should talk.”

Eric hesitated, then backed off. “You’re right.”

Emma took the stairs two at a time and paused at the top. Had the crash come from the guest room or bathroom? She listened. Heard a scrape. She crossed to the bathroom door and rapped softly. “Nell? It’s me.”

“Go away,” came the sobbing reply.