Free Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter Page B

coffee.
    "Sleep well?" Eddie asked.
    "Like a baby," Tessa returned, kissing the top of his head.
    Cathy waved her spatula in Sara's direction. "You could learn from your sister."
    Tessa had the common sense to ignore this comment. She opened the French door leading to the deck and jerked her head outside, indicating Sara should follow.
    Sara did as she was told, holding her breath until the door was closed firmly behind her. She whispered, "Devon Lockwood?"
    "I still haven't told them about your date with Jeb," Tessa countered.
    Sara pressed her lips together, silently agreeing to the truce.
    Tessa tucked one of her legs underneath her as she sat on the porch swing. "What were you doing out so late?"
    "I was at the morgue," Sara answered, sitting beside her sister. She rubbed her arms, fighting the early morning chill. Sara was still in her scrubs and a thin white T-shirt, hardly enough for the temperature. "I needed to check some things. Lena-" She stopped herself, not sure she could tell Tessa what had happened with Lena Adams in the morgue last night. The accusations still stung, even though Sara knew it was Lena's grief talking.
    She said, "I wanted to get it over with, you know?"
    All mirth had left Tessa's features. "Did you find anything?"
    "I faxed a report to Jeffrey. I think it's going to help him get some solid leads." She stopped, making sure she had Tessa's attention. "Listen, Tessie. Be careful, okay? I mean, keep the doors locked. Don't go out alone. That kind of thing."
    "Yeah." Tessa squeezed her hand. "Okay. Sure."
    "I mean-" Sara stopped, not wanting to terrify her sister, but not wanting to put her in danger either. "You're both the same age. You and Sibyl. Do you see what I'm getting at?"
    "Yeah," Tessa answered, but it was obvious she did not want to talk about it. Sara couldn't blame her sister. Knowing in intimate detail what had happened to Sibyl Adams, Sara was finding it hard to get through the day.
    "I put the postcard-" Tessa began, but Sara stopped her.
    "I found it in my briefcase," she said. "Thanks."
    "Yeah," Tessa said, a stillness to her voice.
    Sara stared out at the lake, not thinking about the postcard, not thinking about Sibyl Adams or Jeffrey or anything. There was something so peaceful about the water that for the first time in weeks, Sara felt herself relax. If she squinted her eyes, she could see the dock at the back of her own house. It had a covered boathouse, a small floating barnlike structure, like most of the docks on the lake.
    She imagined herself sitting in one of the deck chairs, sipping a margarita, reading a trashy novel. Why she pictured herself doing this, Sara did not know. She seldom had time to sit lately, she did not like the taste of alcohol, and at the end of the day she was nearly cross-eyed from reading patient charts, pediatric journals, and forensic field manuals.
    Tessa interrupted her thoughts. "I guess you didn't get much sleep last night?"
    Sara shook her head as she leaned against her sisters shoulder. "How was it being around Jeffrey yesterday?"
    "I wish I could take a pill and forget all about him." Tessa raised her arm, putting it around Sara's shoulders. "Is that why you couldn't sleep?"
    Sara sighed, closing her eyes. "I don't know. I was just thinking about Sibyl. About Jeffrey."
    "Two years is a long time to carry a torch for somebody," Tessa said. "If you really want to get over him, then you need to start dating." She stopped Sara's protest. "I mean real dates, where you don't drop the guy as soon as he gets close."
    Sara sat up, pulling her knees to her chest. She knew what her sister was suggesting. "I'm not like you. I can't just sleep around." Tessa didn't take offense at this. Sara had not expected her to. That Tessa Linton enjoyed an active sex life was pretty much known to everyone in town but their father.
    "I was just sixteen when Steve and I got together," Sara began, referring to her first serious boyfriend. "Then, well, you know what