Free Shimmer by Hilary Norman Page B

something that could easily wait.
    Now the two sisters – with the baby perched on Grace’s knees – sat in the kitchen, filling Sam in on the rest.
    â€˜OK.’ Sam turned his attention square on Claudia. ‘You’ve spent more time than Grace with this guy. Do you feel he could be dangerous?’
    â€˜No way,’ Claudia said. ‘He was mean, obviously – it was a mean thing to do, to say the least – but I never felt threatened, not in any physical sense.’ She looked at Grace. ‘Don’t you think I’m right about that?’
    â€˜He has sneaky eyes,’ Grace said.
    A thought occurred to Claudia, causing instant, fresh distress. ‘I hope you guys don’t think I knew he might follow me here?’
    â€˜Of course we don’t,’ Grace said.
    â€˜It never entered my head, or—’
    â€˜Claudia, honey,’ Sam said, ‘we’re not blaming you for this. I just need to know what this guy wants.’
    â€˜Presumably,’ Grace said, ‘what he wanted before.’
    â€˜Money.’ Claudia’s eyes filled with tears. ‘I’m so sorry.’
    â€˜It’s all right.’ Grace stood up and put an arm around her sister’s shoulders.
    â€˜I need to know a little more,’ Sam said. ‘Anything you can tell me.’
    â€˜He’s a scumbag,’ Grace said.
    â€˜I should go home,’ Claudia said. ‘I shouldn’t have left.’
    â€˜You’re not going home till you’re good and ready.’ Sam got up, went to the refrigerator, took out a jug of orange juice and offered it to the women, who both shook their heads. ‘And definitely not because this blackmailing creep showed up here.’
    â€˜He didn’t actually try that again,’ Claudia said.
    â€˜Only because we didn’t let him in,’ Grace said.
    â€˜He’ll be back.’ Sam drank a glass of juice and checked his watch.
    â€˜You have to go,’ Grace said.
    â€˜Alvarez knows I’m here, so I have some time.’
    Life had become a little easier in the department ever since Sergeant Kovac, one of the banes of Sam’s and Martinez’s working life, had transferred out of Violent Crimes to Strategic Investigations and been replaced by Mike Alvarez, who was definitely one of the good guys. With no progress to speak of in the rowboat homicide, however, and the Leehy case fresh in their laps, Sam didn’t want to push his luck.
    â€˜I’m going to ask a patrol to swing by a couple of times as a personal favour – no reports filed, don’t worry.’ He saw the sisters glance at each other. ‘I’m not happy about leaving you here at all,’ he added. ‘So take it or leave it.’
    â€˜We were going to go shopping,’ Grace said.
    â€˜Just over to Bal Harbour,’ Claudia added.
    Grace saw his hesitation. ‘After all these years, Sam, I’m not prepared to let Frank make me a prisoner in my own home.’
    â€˜This isn’t about your father,’ Sam said.
    â€˜In a way, it is,’ Grace said. ‘By extension.’
    â€˜OK.’ Sam gave in. ‘But if you see him, just go sit somewhere real public and call me right away, and if he comes back here after you get back, do not open the door till I get here.’
    â€˜You can’t keep shuttling back and forth,’ Grace said.
    â€˜If some jerk plans on hassling my wife and sister-in-law,’ Sam said grimly, ‘you’ll be surprised how often I can shuttle back.’

23
    A second text from Mildred arrived a little after noon.
    DEAR SAMUEL, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I’M PERFECTLY FINE, THOUGH NIGHTS AROUND MIAMI DO SEEM TO BE JUMPING A LITTLE! YOURS, MILDRED .
    Sam texted her straight back:
    DEAR MILDRED, THANKS FOR THE REASSURANCE. I’LL HOPE TO COME BY SOMETIME SOON, BUT MEANTIME IF YOU NEED ME, JUST CALL. YOURS, SAMUEL .
    Confirmation was in that