Raisin the Dead by Karoline Barrett Read Free Book Online Page B

was a rental car. Sean stopped short. I glanced at him to find he was considerably paler than he’d been two minutes ago. His brow creased in a deep frown as he squinted.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Do you know her?”
    â€œYeah,” he breathed so softly that I barely heard him. “What the hell?”

CHAPTER 5
    He was clearly surprised to see her. I couldn’t tell if it was good surprised, or bad surprised. He took off at a fast clip. The dogs and I stepped up the pace to keep up. He stopped a foot away from her.
    â€œSean.”
    â€œFelicia.”
    So far, their conversation sounded like a bad soap opera. I waited for more. Tails and tongues wagging, both dogs looked up at us.
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” he asked.
    She reached out her hand. Sean took it. Reluctantly, I’d like to think. I cleared my throat.
    Sean turned to me. “I’m sorry. Molly, this is Felicia Russo.”
    â€œFelicia Adams.” She looked back at Sean. “Blaine and I divorced.”
    I noticed the accent on the word “divorced” and the meaningful look she gave to Sean. I’m nothing if not observant.
    â€œThat’s too bad,” he responded.
    She laughed. “Not! He was a jackass. Anyway, pleased to meet you, Polly.”
    â€œMolly,” I corrected. I doubted if she heard. Her attention was back on Sean.
    â€œI’ll think I’ll go upstairs,” I said. “Nice to meet you, too, Felicia.”
    She nodded her head, but honestly, I don’t think she’d be at all concerned if a sinkhole opened and swallowed me up. Her strong perfume was giving me a headache, even outside, so I wasn’t that upset about having to leave.
    â€œI’ll see you in a little bit.” Sean grabbed my arm lightly, and pulled me in. He kissed me on the cheek.
    â€œOkay.”
    I climbed the steps to my apartment, wondering who Felicia was. I fed Noelle, stripped, and jumped in the shower. I’d just put on clean clothes, popped the lasagna in the oven, made a spinach salad with raspberry vinaigrette, and set my table for two when I heard a knock on my door. “Open,” I called.
    Sean entered. Standing akimbo, he frowned. “Keep your door locked. I keep telling you that.”
    â€œCalista’s murderer was caught.”
    â€œDoesn’t mean there aren’t other lunatics roaming around.”
    â€œLike the lunatic who killed Philip Baldelli? And I don’t mean my mother.”
    He rolled his eyes and took me in his arms (after locking the door), then bent down for a real kiss. The kind that usually leads to a whole lot more. I reluctantly pulled away. First things first. “Where’s your visitor? Should I set another place?”
    â€œJeez, I forgot the wine,” he said, ignoring my question. “Be right back.”
    He left before I could protest. Two minutes later, he was back. I popped the bottle into the fridge, then went to the window. Her car was gone. “You didn’t look too happy to see Felicia.”
    He sank down on the couch and raked his fingers through his hair. “Oh, I’m not, believe me.”
    I sat next to him. “Talk to me. Who is she? Are you all right?”
    â€œI’m fine. She’s Jordan’s twin.”
    My heart almost stopped. I expected ex-girlfriend, high school crush, childhood friend, maybe even ex-stalker. Not his deceased wife’s twin sister. I’d never seen a picture of Jordan, so I had no idea. I certainly wouldn’t have minded if Sean had her picture displayed in his apartment, but he’d assured me that wasn’t something he wanted to do, even before he met me. So, Jordan’s twin. No wonder he’d turned so pale. “Wow. What does she want?”
    â€œShe’s worried about me.” He did those air quote-y things with his fingers around “worried.” “She thinks I’m not dealing with Jordan’s death. She wants to