THREE

      The next morning, Nick grabbed two large coffees—one black, one double cream, double sugar—and headed to his sister’s clinic. When he arrived, the first rays of sun were poking over the full foliage of the trees. He could already tell it was going to be a scorcher today. They were in the dog days of summer, and in a few short months, everyone would be grumbling about the snow and cold.

      He glanced at the clock on his dash. The clinic didn’t open for another thirty minutes, but he knew his sister would already be doing paperwork and preparing for the day. Both he and his sister were workaholics in jobs that served the public. Nick always figured that had a lot to do with their upbringing, the children of two entrepreneurs who made and lost their first fortune before they were thirty-five and made it again by forty. The second time was a keeper.

      All the children could have gone into the family business—only their younger sister Kelly had—and continued to live a life of privilege, but instead Christina and Nick seemed determined to save the world. Their parents, although wealthy and living lives unimaginable by most, had been philanthropists and had made things like Christina’s health-care clinic possible. Linda and John Jennings were well respected in Apple Creek even though they only touched down at their home base once or twice a year.

      Nick went around back to the alley and found his sister’s car parked next to the back door. He tried the handle, but found it locked. He was relieved. Christina was a smart, compassionate doctor and street savvy. Even in small towns, addicts and other low-life criminals sought out drugs from whatever source they could find them. He was glad his sister took her safety seriously.

      Juggling the stacked coffees in one hand, he pulled out his cell phone and texted Christina.

      At back door

      A few seconds later the door opened. Christina initially looked like she was going to scold him for bothering her this early, but when her eyes landed on the coffee, a bright smile crossed her features.

      Christina was his little sister, younger by three years. The two of them grew up in Apple Creek and mostly only had each other and Kelly as playmates on their parents’ sprawling estate. Their mom and dad, both self-employed, could work from anywhere, and when Nick, Christina and Kelly were young, they decided the tranquility of Apple Creek was as good a place as any to build a home.

      “Double cream, double sugar?” Christina reached out with the look of a woman in need of a caffeine fix.

      “Of course. First coffee of the day?”

      “Yes, I usually wait until the office staff comes in to start the coffeemaker.”

      Christina stepped back, allowing her brother entry into the clinic. She peeled back the brown lid from the takeout coffee and inhaled the scent.

      “You really love that stuff.”

      Christina laughed. “Love is a strong word.” She took a long sip with her eyes closed, then lifted them to study him. “What brings you here bright and early, big brother?” She held up her hand. “Oh, let me guess. Does it have anything to do with a pretty, petite blonde who got three stitches in her forehead last night?”

      “Am I that transparent?” A corner of his mouth quirked up.

      “I’m your sister. You’ve always worn your heart on your sleeve.”

      “This has nothing to do with my heart.”

      Christina arched a skeptical brow. “Really?” She put the coffee down and sat on the corner of her desk and crossed her arms over her chest.

      “I know you can’t break doctor-patient confidentiality.”

      “But you’re hoping I might?”

      “No, but is there something I need to know? To protect her.”

      Christina laughed. “Right. You’re looking for an excuse to talk to her again. I don’t blame you. It’s been, what...a year or so since you and Amber went your separate ways.”

      Just the mention of the name Amber sent Nick’s mood spiraling into the depths of the foulest garbage dump. He and Amber had met five years ago at a Christmas party at his parents’ home. They hit it off and had been inseparable until Nick was deployed. Turned out, Amber wasn’t the kind to wait. Turned out, Amber and someone—Troy or Trey or something like that—were secretly dating behind his back.

      Amber sent him a Dear John letter while he was still deployed. It was like getting punched while dodging IEDs.

      “Yeah, do me a favor, don’t mention Amber.” Nick hadn’t dated anyone seriously since. He didn’t trust his instincts. He had thought Amber was the one. Turns out so did Troy/Trey. They were married a few months ago at the country club. Their wedding had been featured prominently on the front page of the LifeStyle section of the newspaper. Nick suspected Amber loved money more than him, and when she realized he wasn’t going to follow in his parents’ footsteps, she decided she had better find another meal ticket.

      The coffee roiled in his gut. How had he not seen through Amber?

      Christina pushed off her desk and turned around to fumble with some neatly stacked papers. He knew his sister well enough to know she was struggling to decide how much to tell him about Sarah.

      Nick respected her job, the need for confidentiality. But he’d also hate to ignore his instincts on this one. Sure, his dating instincts were terrible, but his law enforcement instincts were usually spot-on.

      Sarah was afraid of something. More than a rock thrown through the basement window.

      Christina picked up a clipboard and held it close to her chest. “You might want to pay Sarah a visit. You could tell her you’re following up from last night. I think she needs someone to talk to.”

      He studied his sister closely.

      “And hey, maybe you could ask her out for dinner.”

      Nick’s head jerked back. “I’m done with women with secrets.”

      Christina pinned him with her gaze. “You’re going to have to get over Amber.”

      “I’m over her.”

      Christina didn’t say anything, suggesting she doubted him. “Then, go out and visit Sarah. Maybe you’ll surprise yourself.”

      “I don’t make a habit of asking crime victims out on a date.”

      Christina touched his arm. “Will you please get over yourself? We live in a small town. If an attractive young woman happens to move here, there’s nothing wrong with asking her out on a date.”

      Nick felt flustered in only the way a little sister could fluster a big brother. “I didn’t come out here to ask you for dating advice.