Organized to Death Read Free Page A

her sister?” Lisbeth asked.
    Tina rubbed the worry stone in her blazer pocket, hard. “She screamed and ran to her, knelt down. I rushed over and knelt beside her. Tried to find a pulse. I told Rach Crystal was gone, and she fell onto her, sobbing. She didn’t begin to collect herself until the paramedics left and the two officers came and searched the house. I imagine that took her mind off it for a few minutes, but she pretty much lost it.”
    “You believe her grief was genuine?”
    “Oh, yes. They were close—only a little more than a year apart. Crystal was critical, but she loved Rach, and Rach loved Crystal. They even bought houses next door to each other after Rach married Nicky.”
    “What did you touch in the house?”
    Distracted, Tina hesitated. Tried to remember. “I don’t think I can remember everything. I came in the front door, walked around. I don’t think I touched anything until we got to the master bedroom. Even there, I wouldn’t have touched much.”
    “What about in the nursery?”
    “I checked Crystal’s pulse—both wrist and neck. Do fingerprints show up on skin?”
    “Sometimes.”
    Tina shuddered. “I almost closed the patio door, stopped myself. I used the phone to call nine one one. I can’t remember anything else.”
    “Okay. We need a bit more background on you. You live in Newport? How long have you lived here?”
    “I’ve been back about five months.” Tina gave her address. “I grew up here, went away to college, then set up my psychologist’s practice in Virginia. Five months ago, I left Virginia and my practice and returned home. That’s my mother’s address I gave you.”
    “Why did you give up your practice?”
    “I don’t wish to talk about that,” Tina said stiffly. She let go of the worry stone and took her hand out of her pocket, clasping her hands together on the table. Forced herself to relax. Deep breaths.
    Lisbeth glanced away, then looked back. “All right. Is there anything else you can tell us?”
    “No. I’ve been away a long time.”
    “Okay.” Lisbeth stood up. John put his notebook in his pocket and turned off the tape recorder.
    “Thank you for your cooperation,” Lisbeth said and held out her hand.
    Tina stood and shook it. Even shook John’s on the way out.
    “John will drive you to your car. If you leave the island, please let us know where to reach you in case we have more questions.”
    “All right,” Tina said, happy to get away. Delighted to get away.
    She didn’t see Rachel or Nicky on the way out. “Where did the Palmers go?” she asked John.
    “They said something about going to Mrs. Palmer’s mother’s house. Will probably stay there until they can go back to their own home.”
    “How long with that take?”
    “Awhile. A lot to search.”
    “You’re going to open all those boxes?” Tina stopped walking and stood in the gray-walled hallway, staring up at John.
    “Murder investigation. Yes, we’ll open them all.”
    “You’ll put everything back?” Tina asked, her voice faint.
    “Won’t have time for that,” John said and started walking toward the door again.
    Tina followed slowly. Rachel would need her more than ever. But was Tina herself up to the task of cleaning all that away ? She guessed she’d find out. They rode to the Palmer’s house in silence.
    John pulled up in front, behind Tina’s new yellow VW with moon roof. Except for the crime scene tape and a few extra cars on the street, everything looked the same as it had when Tina had driven up the two other times that day.
    She thanked John for the ride and climbed into her own car, shivering again. Even for late fall, it seemed colder than usual. Maybe that was because she’d been in Virginia so long. She put the heat on blast, turned on the seat warmer, and drove the few blocks back to her house. The house she grew up in. The home she’d come back to. Maybe that had been a mistake.

CHAPTER 4
    When Tina arrived home, she found Uncle Bob in