The Last

r wet hair down to air dry. She still had an hour before she had to meet Ka

r. Mulligan, the care-taker who visited once a week, and turned towards her father's study. The do

ide. She could have sworn that she could still s

ith a leather chair and several book ca

and he also spent a lot of time at the local museum, helpin

esk. Her eyes brimmed with tears and she wiped them away hastily as she scanned the items that lay cluttered on the de

diately saw her father's name inscribed on the cover page. H

time at the museum and how much he loved it there. She read the date and realized that he st

er her arm. Picking up her water bottle,

opened the journal again. She flipped to the last en

ary

ng after it themselves. I feel them watching

rie

they? And why would someo

ages, hoping her father left some

d him in the gut. Seeing Val again after so many years was definitely a sur

edibly attractive young woman. Seeing her had instantly brought back happy memories

across his bare shoulders and took out some steaks

ade didn't want the place, then they'd rent it out to tourists. Kade thought it was a pretty good idea. He was usually so

orts and a forest green polo t-shi

the time. It was nearly half past six. Val was late. Which, in the short time that he'd known

ed in the journal when she hea

re you

! K

e quickly retrieved it off the floor, laying it face down on the

c appearance and immedi

ok?" he asked,

inside, before closing the doo

ispered, "Some

look like you'v

p breath befor

e may have murd

widened at h

, "where would you ge

ing room where the journal was

nal and spun around, a

parents die?" h

efore dropping to the so

parents to come visit me. I guess I was excited about what I'd accomplished and I wanted to show off my fancy new apartment." She sniffed and wiped at her eyes. "Mom was real

hand and her

ily." She looked down at their joined hands, ashamed. "The next day, he dropped everything so he and mom could drive over to meet me. That's when it happened. I

softly. "I'm so sorry." He rested his chin on h

ay from him to sh

ad's desk in his study. He talks about working at the museum

d th

wice and sh

n't make a

ent back a few entries trying to figure out what he was talking about and that's when

" Kade read alou

t or something. I'm going to call the curator, Mr. Haydes at the museum and see what he can tell me about

eum and dialed. On the fifth ring, the answering machine ca

me back as soon as you get this message? Thanks." She

detective work for one day." Kad

said turning in the direction of the study, "Ma

abbed h

." He said when she turned to face hi

d a bit lik

ybe. But I have t

inner. I've already grilled the steaks and they're probably

how pale she lo

rns out to be more than

him a wat

nks