Tally and Murray often knew what the other was thinking or feeling, but Murray had always chocked that up to their family being so painfully predictable. Tallulah insisted they had a twin’s intuition, or “twinning.” Whether there was any truth to this or not, Murray stood a little straighter, sober expression suddenly on point. His muscles remembered themselves and their duties before his brain could consciously overcome his libido.
Murray was grateful to see a break in the weather as he guided the pallbearers through loading the coffin. When he rounded the hearse, he found Lucy leaning against the driver’s side door. She scratched wildly in a small notebook, pen flying across the page as an unlit cigarette hung between her lush lips. Murray produced his trusty silver Zippo and flicked it to life. Lucy looked up from her scribblings, poker face solidly in place. Stuffing the tiny notebook and pen into her purse, she put a delicate hand on his as she bent forward to accept the light. The dancing flame reflected in her baby blues, and that twinkle he’d seen when she’d come through the door hadn’t left them either.
“We meet again.” Murray stuffed his hands into his pockets, aware that folks were waiting for him to lead the world’s most somber parade.
“Seems so.” Her lips formed a tempting O as she exhaled. “Murray, was it?”
He couldn’t suppress a cocky grin. “You remembered.”
Lucy shrugged and folded her arms across her chest.
“It’s an old person’s name. Like mine.” She cocked her head to the side, fingers toying with a coppery curl. “Can I hitch a ride with you to the burial site?”
He saw eagerness in her fidgeting, but he wasn’t sure it was for his company. Now he was even more intrigued. Dark eyes had their leisurely way with her, and a slow smile overtook him.
“Didn’t your mother warn you about strangers, Lucy?”
A flaming brow arched high, but the appearance of her lopsided grin revealed playful Lucy once more. “I don’t remember my momma, but granny was fond of saying a stranger’s just a friend you haven’t met yet.”
“Is that what you’re after?” Murray opened the passenger door and gestured for her to climb inside. “A friend?”
She took a long, suggestive drag, her tongue making a delightful spectacle before she released her smoke with an audible sigh. “A girl can never have too many friends.”
He started the ignition and scrambled to switch off the blathering DJ stinking up the airwaves. As they pulled out of the circular drive, he blasted the heater and popped the center console. “Your family seemed surprised to see you today.”
Lucy turned her entire body in his direction. “They aren’t my family.”
“Really…” Murray’s scanned Lucy, sure his unmasked arousal was written all over his face. “Was Old Man Garrett your sugar daddy or something?”
Her brow crimped. “I wasn’t screwing the dead guy. I never even met him.”
“Then why come?” Murry chuckled at the offended side eye she gave him.
“I needed to get out of the rain.”
“I’m supposed to believe you were what? Just out for a stroll…dressed like that?”
She flicked her cigarette out the cracked window. “I don’t care what you believe.”
“Why are you really here?” The set of her jaw said she wasn’t going to crack, so Murray upped the stakes. “Don’t make me pull this car over, young lady.”
“You won’t do that, Murray.” She exhaled through her nostrils, like some exotic dragon lady. She had the eyes of an old soul, wise far beyond her years. “Not with everyone watching.”
Offput that she’d seen right through him and his overblown sense of propriety, he swerved to the right onto the shoulder. Lucy gasped and reached for his arm.
“Okay, fine, fine!” she snapped, and Murray righted the car. Lucy glared at him, but the corners of her mouth twitched, and Murray knew she wasn’t angry. Lucy was now fully engaged.
Proving his point, she leaned a crossed the console, and slipped her hand into his inside pocket. Smiling coyly, she pulled out a handful of jewelry he was sure no one had witnessed him taking from the corpse. “I’ll tell you…after you tell me what you’re planning to do with the goods you stole off that stiff.”
Their eyes locked for long enough that an oncoming driver had to lay on their horn before Murray realized he’d drifted out of his lane. The challenge in Lucy’s gaze was a revelation.
Tally’s voice whispered to him, though she was miles behind in the dank old mansion.
“Lock it down, baby brother. Get your head in the game.”
Tally, twinning or imaginary, was probably onto something. Lucy could ruin them with what she knew. But she seemed more curious than disapproving. And he was surprised to find that he wanted to tell her.
“Your big head, Murray. Not the little one.”
Lucy plucked one diamond cufflink from her palm to inspect it closer. “Oooo…that’s a third of a carat, easy.”
Murray held out his hand, and Lucy pressed the button on the electric window, rolling it down a couple more inches. When she made as if to toss it out, Murray choked out an objection. Lucy smiled sweetly. “I’m waiting.”
Murray bit his lip, unable to hide a smile. She’d bewitched him the first time he’d laid eyes on her. Now she’d disarmed him. He knew he should be freaking out; the loss of the upper hand was never something he’d been comfortable with. One word about what she’d seen him take and they’d have more to worry about than the family business, and yet here he was he was having more fun than he’d had in years.
“He won’t need it where he’s going.”
“Obviously.” Her tone pressed him to continue. “But that’s not an answer.”
Murray inhaled deeply, still deciding which direction to steer the conversation. Finally, he blurted out the truth. “I’ll take it all to a pawn shop in Marion.”
She squinted at him, unflinching and pensive. “Why Marion?”
“Because I cashed in at the one in Greenville three days ago. Gotta spread the
