Ripple of Secrets: Rose Gardner Mystery Novella #6.5 (Rose Gardner series Book 3) by Denise Grover Swank Page A

said, lifting an eyebrow. “So you’re a regular here?”
    “It’s a small town and I spend a lot of time at the courthouse. Not to mention the food is good.”
    She held up her hands and leaned back in her chair. “No need to get so defensive. I was just asking.”
    Bringing her here had been a huge mistake. “What are you doing in Henryetta, anyway, Kate?” I asked, sounding tired.
    “I’m hoping to eat blueberry pancakes if Bonnie ever comes back with my coffee and your usual .”
    “You can get blueberry pancakes anywhere. Why are you here harassing me?”
    Her smile fell. “Is that how you see this? Me harassing you?”
    I placed my forearms on the table and leaned toward her, lowering my voice. “Look, you left two years ago after making my life hell and letting me know you were done with me and the rest of our family, so you can’t be surprised if I’m a bit suspicious.”
    Her lips twisted as she seemed to consider my statement. “Fair enough,” she finally said. “But I assure you that I come in peace.”
    “Forgive me if I reserve judgment on that.”
    “Challenge accepted.”
    Her statement made me trust her less. My sister considered everything in life a challenge or a game. The real question was what she hoped to gain at the end of this particular “challenge,” because I sure as hell had a hard time believing it was me.
    Bonnie came back and set a cup of coffee in front of Kate and a coffee and a glass of orange juice in front of me. “Are you two ready to order?”
    I poured creamer into my coffee. I’d had a cinnamon roll at Maeve’s, but this day was already turning out to be crap. I could use more comfort food. “I’ll take fried eggs and a side of bacon.”
    Kate leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “I hear you make exceptional blueberry pancakes.”
    Bonnie grinned. “I don’t personally make them, but Glenn does a pretty decent job.”
    “Then give me an order of those with a side of bacon.”
    “Gave up the vegan stage?” I asked.
    Kate gave me a withering glare. “You saw me eat turkey yesterday.”
    “You’re presuming I paid attention to what you ate,” I countered, even though I had noticed.
    Bonnie laughed. “You sound like me and my brother. We bicker like cats and dogs, but if someone messes with us, we’re the first ones to come to each other’s defense.”
    After Bonnie disappeared into the kitchen, I glanced at Kate and realized she was staring at me with a strange expression.
    “What?” I asked as I picked up my coffee.
    “Why aren’t you and I like that?” The words sounded more serious than anything she’d said since showing up at our parents’ house the previous day.
    I took a sip, then put the cup down. “Maybe because you always hated my guts.”
    “I did not.”
    I shrugged. “Typically the older sibling finds the younger one annoying. The roles were reversed in our case.”
    She was quiet for several seconds.
    “Why are you here, Kate?”
    “I told you.”
    “You wanted to chat.” I sat back in my chair and crossed my arms over my chest. “Let’s start with you. Two years ago I tried calling you, only to discover your phone was disconnected. Then I stopped by your apartment, and your roommate said you’d moved out. I stopped by the shop where you worked and your boss told me you’d quit. No forwarding address. You didn’t even pick up your last paycheck.” I sat upright and put my hands on the table. “Who does that?”
    Her eyes filled with defiance and she shrugged. “Someone who wants a fresh start.”
    “I filed a damned missing person’s report on you, Kate.”
    “I bet Mom and Dad loved that,” she sneered. “Their ne’er-do-well daughter makes the trashy tabloids.”
    “Don’t flatter yourself. It barely made the news.”
    “After a little Simmons intervention, no doubt.”
    I didn’t deny it, although I’d had no part in it. “Last summer I ran into one of your friends who told me you’d gone out to