All She Ever Wanted - Barbara Freethy [31]
"This is beautiful," Natalie murmured. "Is Laura here?"
"She must be here somewhere, although I don't know why she didn't get the damn door." Drew moved toward the entry and yelled up the stairs for Laura, but there was no answer. "I'll be right back."
Natalie sat down on the couch while Cole perused the photographs on the mantel. They could hear Drew yelling for Laura, but she wasn't yelling back. A moment later he reappeared, an irritated look on his face. "I guess she went out with the girls. So, what can I do for you?"
"I ran into Laura yesterday. She didn't tell you?" Natalie asked.
"No, but we've both been moving in opposite directions this weekend. In fact, I have to take off on a business trip shortly." He made a point of checking his watch.
Natalie glanced at Cole, wondering why he wasn't leading the conversation. Hadn't it been his idea to talk to Drew? When the silence between them lengthened, she said, "That's too bad. We thought we could talk about old times. Catch up."
"I usually save those conversations for reunions." Drew frowned. "What are you doing here, Natalie? You took off without saying good-bye to anyone years ago. Why come back now? What do you want?"
"I said good-bye." She was surprised by the animosity in his voice.
"You deserted Laura. She cried for days after you left," Drew continued, a harsh note in his voice. "She doesn't need you in her life now. Maybe she was too polite to tell you that, but—"
"You're not," Cole interjected.
"No, I'm not. Look, Parish, I don't have anything against you, but I'm busy and I don't have time to rehash the past."
Natalie stared at him for a long minute, trying to read between the lines, but Drew wasn't giving anything away. "I'm sorry we bothered you," she said as she got to her feet.
"Hang on a second, Natalie," Cole said. "I have a couple of questions for you, McKinney."
"About what?"
"My sister's death. It has been brought to my attention recently that Emily's death might not have been an accident."
"Who would suggest that?"
"The author of a best-selling novel. Maybe you've heard of it."
"I've heard of it," Drew admitted with a tightening of his lips.
"Do you remember seeing Emily the night she died?" Cole asked. "Did you talk to her? Share a drink with her?"
"I didn't get her drunk, if that's what you're implying." Drew put his hands on his hips in a stance that was pure aggression.
Cole didn't back down. "Did you talk to her?"
"No, I didn't. It was crowded at the party. There were over a hundred people there. I told the police that when they questioned me along with everyone else who was present that night."
"So you weren't upstairs that night? You didn't hear Emily arguing with Natalie?"
"I didn't hear a thing. I told you—I wasn't upstairs."
"The author thinks Natalie pushed Emily off the roof. Do you?"
Drew shot Natalie a quick look. "Of course not. Emily fell. That's what happened. Although ... everyone knew Emily and Natalie were fighting over you. There were lots of rumors after you all left town."
"Where were you when she fell?" Cole asked. "If you don't mind."
"I do mind. I answered that question ten years ago. If you don't remember my answer, I'm sure you can put your hands on a police report. Now, if you don't mind ..." Drew walked into the entryway and opened the front door, leaving them no choice but to follow.
"If I find out you're responsible for this book, you will be sorry." Cole paused by the door. "No one messes with my family."
"No one messes with mine, either," Drew snapped back.
Natalie followed Cole onto