Hold on Tight by Stephanie Tyler Read Free Book Online

walk back in, just like that, after the way you pushed me out of your life.”
    Typical Sophie, didn’t offer an explanation, merely shrugged, stood and picked up the large duffel sitting next to her. She swung it over her shoulder and prepared to leave.
    “I didn’t say you needed to leave; you can stay here. I just … I just need some time tonight.” Jamie leaned tiredly on the railing.
    “You’re still really angry with me.”
    “How long did it take you to figure that out, Sophie?”
    “I’d prefer it if you called me PJ.”
    Jamie’s head began to throb. “I’m not calling you by that name.”
    “You’re upset that I didn’t fall all over you for saving me.”
    “You really think that’s what I’m upset about? Fine, PJ , if you’re coming in, come in. If not …”
    But Sophie was already walking away from the house, down the driveway.
    “No wonder I’m so good at running,” she muttered as she watched her sister’s retreating back.
    For a few minutes, she thought about going after Sophie, apologizing. But then her stubborn streak kicked in and she went inside instead, too tired to argue with anyone anymore.
    She flipped on the lights and stood uncertainly in the foyer, because sometimes when she walked in after being away for a bit, it hit her.
    She lived alone.
    She’d never been alone before Mike’s death—she’d moved from her foster father’s house to college. After that, she roomed with another FBI trainee and then she’d moved into Mike’s house, first as his roommate while looking for her own place and then later as his lover.
    But she’d been on her own now for ten months, refused Kevin, her foster father’s invite to stay with him and his wife, Grace, who’d reluctantly helped raise Jamie and her sister. No, this was her time to grow up. To fly, at twenty-eight years old.
    She couldn’t seem to do either correctly. Plus, she still slept with the gun under her pillow. Cliché, but true, because there was no alarm system in place. With Mike, it hadn’t felt necessary and since his death she couldn’t bring herself to have one installed. To admit failure. It would prove that she couldn’t get over her past.
    Instead, she was up most nights, waiting to hear from Sophie and wondering if things would get better.
    When Jamie had returned from Africa two months ago, things seemed better. Now she wasn’t so sure. She’d certainly screwed things up with Sophie just now—so wasn’t sure if she was angrier at herself or her sister.
    What a mess.
    She dropped her bag by the door, locked it behind her securely and kicked off her shoes on her way through the living room. And then she stopped short.
    Things had been moved.
    She was meticulous in everything she did and her house was no exception. Nothing seemed to be missing, just … moved. Her living room furniture was rearranged a bit—the chairs neatly placed across from the couch instead of one under the window and the other next to the couch, the way she’d left them.
    A walk into the kitchen showed that the four-person table had been moved as well. Dishes were all in the cabinets but they’d been rearranged too—not everything, but enough to trip the alarm bells in her mind. She’d done this for too long not to react.
    Cold. She was cold, and with her gun pulled she went to the bedroom and grabbed a sweatshirt. Nothing in here had been touched—clothing still in the same place, both in the drawers and in the closet. Had she come home too soon, foiled someone’s plans?
    Or did they intend to come back?
    She should call someone. The police. Kevin. Her supervisor. But she didn’t call any of them, just sat on the floor and forced herself to breathe.
    And that’s when she saw the small vase full of fresh flowers, sitting on her dresser—the same way it always was after Wanda had been there.
    Wanda was here while I was gone . Dammit. She put a palm to her forehead and remembered the housekeeper she and Mike had hired years