Brittle Shadows Read Online Free

door, to the realization someone
was in the apartment, to the intruder’s hurried departure.
    When she had
finished, he uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. “Now don’t take this the
wrong way, but is it possible you dreamed it? Grief can do funny things to
people.”
    She leapt to
her feet. “You think I’m crazy?”
    He ran a hand
through his thick black hair and remained seated. “That’s not what I meant.
You’re in a strange apartment in a strange city, having not long buried your
sister. You said it yourself, you didn’t know where you were when you first
woke up. Is it just possible that the light and the footsteps were an extension
of a nightmare you were having and that’s what woke you?”
    She cocked her
head. For a fleeting moment, he had her doubting herself. “No,” she said,
glaring down at him. “No, I did not imagine it.”
    “I had to ask.
Okay then,” he said, pulling his mobile phone from his pocket, “you need to
report it.”
    She grimaced.
“I thought that’s what I was doing.” The idea of having to go through it all
again, especially if they were to doubt her story, was too much.
    “Sorry, Jemma,”
he said, with a semi-apologetic smile. “I’m not actually here in any official
capacity. That could be construed as a possible conflict of interest, my knowing
you and your sister and all.”
    “That’s that
then,” she said, flopping back down onto the couch.
    “What’s
stopping you reporting it? It won’t take long and I can assure you my
colleagues don’t bite. Not much, anyway.” He bared his teeth and snapped them
together.
    She gave a
half-laugh-half-sigh. “You’re right, of course. It’s just that I’m so tired, I
think I’m past the point of thinking straight.”
    “Well, the boys
in blue can’t investigate what they’re not told about.”
    “But you can.”
    “Can what?”
    “Investigate.
There are cameras all over the place in this building. Whoever it was couldn’t
have got all the way up here without getting their photo snapped at least once.
If we could see that, then at least you would know I wasn’t making it up.”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “No matter,”
she said with a quick shake of the head, “the security guy is going to be more
inclined to talk to you – especially if you flash your badge – isn’t he?” She
gave him what she hoped was a disarming smile.
    He studied her,
his hazel eyes narrowed. She shifted in her seat, uncomfortable under his
intense gaze. Then his face relaxed, a hint of a smile tweaking the corners of
his mouth.
    “You have the
same eyes.”
    “Pardon?”
    He leaned back
in his chair, his hands behind his head. “You and Tanya; you have the same
green eyes.”
    She frowned at
him. While Tanya had been blessed with their mother’s long legs and strawberry
blonde locks, she had inherited more of the Italian genes from her father’s
side. But what bearing did the color of her eyes have on anything? “So? We are…
were sisters.”
    “Just an
observation, that’s all.” He stood. “Okay, where’s the security office? I can’t
promise anything, but I’ll give it a go.”
    “I think I saw
a magnet on the fridge with the phone number,” she said, already moving toward
the kitchen.
    As she reached
around the side of the refrigerator, he opened its door. “There’s empty and
then there’s empty. You have to eat, Jemma. You can’t live on air alone. Even
if it is chilled,” he added.
    She stepped
between him and the open fridge, elbowing the door shut again. “Here,” she
said, handing him the body corporate’s magnetized business card. “You worry
about this. I’ll worry about me.” Grocery shopping was the least of her
concerns.
    One eyebrow
arched, but he said nothing, taking the magnet from her fingers.
    “Don’t mind
me.” She forced a smile. “I’m not always this grumpy.”
    His expression
didn’t change. “No, you’re right: it isn’t any of my business. I’ll call