Violet and Mike, who had been reading the Sunday paper, both gawked at me as if I had announced I was becoming a Tibetan monk.

“Rose, don't be silly. It’s not like you’re puttin’ us out. We want you here. Isn’t that right, Mike?” Violet turned back to the stove and dismissed the silly thought.

Mike smiled. “Rose, you’re welcome here as long as you need to stay.”

“I know, Mike, and I appreciate that so much, but I don’t want to stay here. I really need to go home.”

Violet spun and faced me again, frowning like I was a misbehaving child. I worried she was gonna get whiplash with all the twisting around. “Rose, you cannot go back there! Momma was,” she lowered her voice, “murdered there.”

“I am well aware of that fact, Violet, considerin’ I was the one to discover her.”

“I’m not puttin’ up with this foolishness. You’re stayin’ here, and that’s that.”

I looked at Mike. Our eyes locked and I could see he read the seriousness of my decision. He patted my hand and winked. “Violet, Rose is a grown woman and is capable of makin’ up her own mind. If she wants to go home, then I’ll take her home. When do you want to go?”

I smiled a thank-you. “Right after breakfast, if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all.”

“Rose! You can’t go right after breakfast! We have to go to the funeral home at three o’clock.”

“Then I’ll meet you there.”

Violet fumed all through breakfast. When we finished, I put on my clothes from the previous day, not bothering to take a shower. No sense getting clean, just to put my stinky clothes back on.

Mike waited in the living room. I stopped to kiss Ashley and Mikey good bye, but Violet was noticeably absent. But as we walked out to Mike’s truck, Violet ran out and pulled me into a hug so tight I suspected she was trying to graft me onto her own body, ensuring I could never get away again. I leaned back and smiled into her tear-filled eyes.

“I’m fine, Violet. I’ll be fine.”

“I just worry about you.”

“I know you do, and I love you so much for it.” My voice cracked and the floodgate of tears opened up. “But I have to do this. I know you don’t understand, but trust me, okay?”

Violet bit her quivering lip and tears rolled down her cheeks. She slowly nodded her head.

I kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

I got in the truck and Mike pulled away from the house. Violet stood in the driveway, watching me go.

“You sure you’re really goin’ to be okay?” he asked. “You know you’re not puttin’ us out stayin’ with us.”

“I know, thanks.”

He parked his truck in front of my house. “Do you want me to come in with you?”

I hesitated. I really did want him to come in but couldn’t think of what he would accomplish, other than allowing me to escape responsibility for myself. “No, I’m fine.” I got out of the truck. “Thanks, Mike.”

“Call if you need anything, Rose. I’ll come straight over.”

“I know. See you this afternoon.” I walked toward the house as he drove away. Stopping next to my car, I scanned the yard, still in denial about the events of the previous evening. The scraps of crime scene tape lying in the bushes proved otherwise.

The side door stood slightly ajar. Whoever broke in had busted the doorjamb and now the latch no longer worked. I entered the kitchen, surprised to see my purse and library bag still on the table. After a little digging, I found my wallet, amazed it hadn’t gone missing in all the excitement. The sink full of dirty dishes caught my eye. I’d get to those later.

When I stepped into the living room, I gasped at the sight of the bloodstained sofa, a square cut out from the fabric in the center of the stain. The surrounding curtains and walls were blood-splattered as well. I couldn't face cleaning the mess at the moment so I walked down the hall to the linen closet to grab a sheet. Covering the sofa seemed like a good idea until I could figure out what else to do with it. The dark hall made it difficult to see in the closet. I flipped on the switch, but the light didn’t come on. The electricity hadn’t been turned back on yet.

I knew the utilities connected at the back of the house and I decided to go check it out. I had no idea how to turn the electricity on, but I leaned over and parted the shrubs anyway, looking for the broken connection.

“I already called the utility companies for you.”

I screamed and jumped up, clutching a hand to my chest. Joe stood a few feet away.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

The now-familiar lightheaded feeling returned, but I shook my head to clear it. “That’s okay. Thanks for calling.”

“They said they’d be out early this afternoon, the electricity anyway. The phone will have to wait until Wednesday.” He moved closer. “What are you lookin’ for?”

I laughed. “I don't really know, I’ve never dealt with somethin’ like this before.”

“How’d you know about the footprint?”

I tucked my hair behind my ear, suddenly nervous. How much had he heard the night before? “I’m sorry. What footprint?”

He raised his eyebrows. Joe gave me the impression he was a no-nonsense kind of guy.