Free Shadow of Doubt by Terri Blackstock Page A

but it still could have some truth.
    â€œI feel more like all my limbs have been amputated, right down to the trunk,” Celia said. She turned back around. “I’m gonna be sick.”
    â€œNo, you’re not. You’ll get through this, Celia—”
    â€œNo. I’m really gonna be sick.” Allie stepped back as Celia dashed from the room, and she winced as she heard her retching into the toilet.
    Allie went in behind her and held her hair back while she bent over the commode. She should have made her eat, she thought. But Celia had complained of queasiness, and now Allie wondered again if the doctors had overlooked the poison in Celia.
    The doorbell rang, and Celia looked up at her. “Don’t answer it. It’s Jed from the newspaper. He keeps coming to the door trying to get a statement. This’ll be all over tonight’s paper.”
    â€œBut it might be someone with news,” Allie said. “I’ll go see. Will you be all right?”
    Celia got up and stood over the sink to splash water on her face. “Yeah. Don’t let anybody in, Allie. I can’t see anyone right now.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” Allie said, then hurried down the stairs to answer the door.
    Allie saw the man through the peephole, and instantly thought he must be a news anchor from one of the New Orleans stations. He looked like a model, though he was small in stature, with perfectly coiffed blonde hair and large blue eyes. Behind him, a photographer who’d been planted on Aggie’s lawn was photographing and questioning him, but he ignored him.
    â€œWho is it?” she asked through the door.
    â€œDavid Bradford,” he said. “Celia’s brother.”
    Allie caught her breath and let him in, then quickly closed the door on the photographer. “Celia’s brother,” she said, smiling at him. “I should have seen the resemblance.”
    David shot past the small talk. “How is she?”
    â€œWell, she’s…hanging in there. She’ll be better now that you’re here. I’m so glad you came. I’ll go get her.”
    She left him standing there and rushed up the stairs. She found Celia brushing her teeth. “Celia, you have to come. It’s a surprise. I think it’ll cheer you up.”
    â€œAllie, I don’t feel like company. Please…”
    â€œNo, come on. You’ll be glad you did. I promise.”
    Celia stepped to the banister and peered over. Her brother David was coming up, and she caught her breath. “David!”
    â€œHappy birthday,” he said. She met him halfway down and threw her arms around him, and he squeezed her so tight that Allie thought he might crush her. David was only three or four inches taller than Celia, but the similarities were so striking that Allie wondered if they were twins.
    â€œYou didn’t think I’d stay away, did you?” he said, pulling her back from him and getting a good look at her.
    Celia nodded and touched her brother’s cheek. “It’s been a long time.” She looked at Allie. “I guess you’ve met my baby brother, Allie?”
    â€œBaby brother?” Allie asked.
    â€œShe’s only three years older,” David said. “Celia, look at you. Have you slept at all?”
    She shook her head. “How could I? Can you believe this is happening again?”
    â€œThey searched our house,” David said. “Took dishes and food and looked in every nook and cranny. You woulda thought we were criminals.”
    Celia led him into the parlor and sank down on a couch. He took the seat across from her. “I suppose Mom and Dad were embarrassed to death.”
    â€œYou could say that. And just when they were ready to reconcile. The timing…”
    â€œI know,” she said.
    He looked around the room, got up, and ambled to a table with family pictures. He picked up one of Celia as a child, dressed in