Forlot: Thunder Will Come Down - Book Twenty-Seven

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ava and I were on Kara's porch and waiting for her to answer the door. Although that was no reason for me to be nervous, I was. My palms were clammy. My heart skipped a beat. It was Ava's idea to confront Kara. But why?

"Hey, Cindy," Kara greeted, cradling Tamara. Tamara did not notice her mommy because she was too busy playing with Kara's hair. "The children are having a blast. We..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes moved to Ava. She gasped. "Ava is behind you! Watch out!"

"It is okay, Kara," I reassured her. "Ava and I...are working together until Caleb's killer is in jail."

"'Caleb's killer'? Caleb's death was an accident. That is why it was referred as a car accident, right?"

"Whether the killer's motive was to murder him or not is unknown. But the accident was a result of Caleb's pills being replaced."

I could have sworn that beads of sweat were running down Kara's face. Was she just hot? Or was she hiding something?

Kara cleared her throat. "R-replaced?"

"You would not happen to know anything pertaining to that, would you?" Ava asked.

She ignored her question and instead said, "Come in. We will go to the kitchen because my daughters and your kids are in the other room." She pointed at Ava with two fingers, and then at her own eyes. "You are not stepping into my house, and if you try, you will be what my daughters and I have for supper. I am keeping my eyes on you."

"Are you not letting me into your home because you believe that I switched Caleb's pills?"

"I do not have to believe that you did because I know that you did not for the last two months."

"Oh. So you are saying that you are responsible for Caleb Night's death."

"I would never!"

I ordered her to stay outside and followed Kara to the kitchen. She stood in the doorway that separated the other room from the kitchen and carefully set down Tamara. Tamara looked up at her, and the alien encouraged her to join her brothers and sister. The baby held up a little hand, reaching for Kara. More precisely, her nose.

"Daddy?"

She patted her head. "You will see Daddy soon. Now go play with your siblings. You are in charge of the tea party."

Tamara cooed with excitement and crawled off.

"Did you lie to my kid?" I asked. "She will be crushed when she does not see Caleb."

"I did not lie. If what he said is true, that Heaven is real, then that baby girl will be with him."

I could not argue with her there.

Kara was not wearing her regular clothing. Instead of a short-sleeved shirt and pants, she wore a pink, sleeveless dress that reached to her ankles. The kitchen lights caused the dress to sparkle. Silver and delicate earrings dangled from her ears. She said that she was wearing it because she wanted to dress fancy at Tamara's tea party.

"Back to why Ava and I are here," I said. "We have an idea who murdered my husband, but I thought that it would be good if we interviewed my friends and family for clues. That way, the killer would be unable to deny that he or she did it."

The alien pointed at herself. "You do not think that I murdered him, do you?"

"Depends." I crossed my arms. "You knew that Caleb's anxiety pills were switched. How?"

There was a moment of silence. Then she teared up.

"Kara," I said. "Kara, please. Please tell me that you did not switch the pills."

"I did not. I did not touch one pill. I swear. I swear on his life."

"Did you know that what Caleb was taking were sleeping pills? You are familiar with sleeping pills, right?"

She nodded her head slowly. "Sleeping pills are supposed to be taken when you are having trouble sleeping."

"Caleb took his anxiety medicine in the morning and at night. But instead of relief, he was sleepy and cranky and got ticked at the tiniest things. And his anxiety controlled him more than ever before. Because he was not taking his anxiety pills, he was sinking. Sinking into a dark and deep hole that he could not find his way out of."

"I am sorry, Cindy. I am so sorry."

"Did you switch his pills? Or did someone else?"

"I did not do it, okay?!" Kara pushed a kitchen chair, and it fell. "I would never make Caleb suffer more. He suffered too much as it was. I loved him and respected his relationship with you. You know who did not respect the bond that you and Caleb had? Destiny."

I threw my hands in the air. "I was hoping that you were not responsible, Kara, and am glad."

"Actually...I am partly responsible."

"How? You did not help my cousin...did you?"

She hesitated. "...two months ago when Destiny moved in with you and Caleb, I caught her in your restroom messing with Caleb's pills. She had two orange bottles on the sink. One bottle had his name on it. The other had her name. Destiny claimed that the sleeping pills were for her because she had sleepless nights and thought that Caleb needed some too."

"And you bought that lie?"

Her cheeks were now covered with tears. "I wish that I could have done something different. Destiny sounded so concerned about Caleb's health, and I believed her. I took her word and promised her to not tell you or Caleb or anyone because she said that it would be for the best."

"Of course, she would say something along those lines. She is a manipulator."

"I am a fool, Cindy. I am a fool. Your husband is dead because of me." She wiped her nose. "Excuse me."

Kara stormed out of the kitchen, leaving me alone with my thoughts.