"Daddy won't wake up," Caitlin whimpered.

Laura switched the phone to the other ear and glanced at the clock on the night table. Five-thirty. "It's still early, sweetheart. He's probably tired."

"He told me to wake him when I got up. Only he won't wake up...and something smells icky."

Laura sat up in bed, her muscles tensed. He'd promised! He'd vowed he'd never let their daughter see him like that again.

And she'd believed him. She always did. "Is anyone else there?"

"No. Just me and Daddy. Another man was here when I got up before, but I went back to bed and he's not here now. Can you come and get me?"

"Sure, sweetie." Standing, Laura cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder, snatched a pair of jeans from the top of the hamper and wiggled into them.  "I'm on my way, but don't hang up. I'll be there in just a few minutes."

"I hafta go potty."

"Okay, but then come right back to the phone." For the first time since the divorce, she was glad her ex-husband lived only a mile from the shelter. She threw on a sweatshirt over her pajama top, shoved her feet into a pair of flip-flops and hurried outside to the van. 

How could he do this? She climbed inside and started the engine. "One last time," he'd pleaded. "Tomorrow I'll be gone. Please let me see my little girl one last time."

He was going to make a fresh start in a new state, he'd said. There might be more to it, but she hadn't asked. A change might do him some good. Despite his flaws, Eddie had been a good father to Caitlin, and Laura's heart had gone out to the man she'd once loved. She'd be devastated if faced with being away from her child for even a few days. His valiant effort to stay sober for the past year was remarkable and she couldn't deny his request.

So, why would he relapse now? Maybe he was sick? Maybe he'd been gambling again? His drinking and gambling had always gone hand-in-hand.

"I'm back, Mommy."

"Good girl. I'm in the car and I'll be there in a few minutes. When I get there, I want you to unlock the side door and let me in. Okay?"

"Okay."

Laura reached the house in record time, parked, bolted from the van and took the steps in one long stride.

The door swung open and Caitlin stood there in her jammies, her strawberry blonde curls all mussed and, though she wasn't crying, a telltale streak of tears lined her pink cheeks. Laura reached down, gathered the four-year-old into a crushing hug and nestled her face in soft, baby-shampoo scented curls. Edging inside, she shoved the door shut with her backside.

Caitlin wiggled. "Ouch. That squeezing hurts, Mommy."

"Sorry sweetie. I'm just happy to see you. Where's Daddy?"

"Over there." Caitlin pointed toward the living room.

The interior was wrapped in shadows, broken only by slivers of dawn filtering through the blinds. Laura flipped the light switch by the door. Nothing. She tried again and when nothing happened, she glanced up. The light bulb was missing from the fixture. Damn. With Caitlin still in her arms, she went to the window on her right and opened the blinds.

The gray-pink of sunrise gave enough light to see. She glanced down the hall where light shone from a doorway, and setting Caitlin on her feet, Laura gestured toward the bedroom. "Go get your things, punkin. I need to talk to Daddy."

As Caitlin toddled off, Laura stalked across the room to the couch, hands clenched at her thighs. Eddie was lying on his side, his back to her and his face toward the cushion. An acrid scent assaulted her nostrils. Unable to contain her anger and disappointment, she smacked him on the leg.   

"Damn you, Eddie." She nudged him in the small of his back with her knee, this time a bit harder.

Again, he didn't move. Odd. Even when he'd been at his worst she could get a grunt out of him. But...he was too still.

Abnormally still.

The terrifying realization hit her.

Her heart pounded against the wall of her chest as she stepped closer, then leaned in to see his face.  His eyes were open. A dark stain soaked the pillow under his face. She lurched back. Oh, God! 

Covering her mouth with one hand, Laura swallowed back her sudden nausea and glanced toward the bedroom to make sure her daughter hadn't come out. Think. Do something.

Her hand shook uncontrollably as she reached out to find a pulse in his neck. Nothing. Oh, God! He couldn't be . . . Quickly, she felt for the pulse on his wrist. He was cold. His body rigid.

Nine-one-one.  She had to call for help. But she just stood there, unable to move. He was dead. Oh, God. Eddie was dead.

Her heart raced triple time, her thoughts reeled just as fast. Was Eddie so depressed about going away that he'd killed himself? No. He wouldn't do that. And there was no gun she could see. He'd been upbeat when she talked to him last night. He was hopeful about making changes in his life. Most importantly, he'd never do such a thing with Caitlin there. Caitlin.

Oh, my God. Caitlin said she'd seen someone earlier. Had Eddie's murderer seen Caitlin? But no...that didn't make sense. If the person had known she was there...saw her...Caitlin would be--

She bolted for the bedroom. Her little girl thought her father was sleeping. She had no idea he was dead. And she could be in grave danger if anyone knew she'd been there.

"I gots everything," Caitlin said proudly when Laura appeared in the doorway.

"That's great. You said you saw a man here earlier. Did you meet him?" Laura hid her trembling hands behind her back and pasted on a smile.

"Uh-uh. I was peeking through the bedroom door ‘cause I heard loud voices. Then I went back to bed because it's not nice to interrupt people."

Laura breathed a sigh of relief so deep it felt as if her lungs had collapsed. "Did you recognize the man?"

Frowning, Caitlin shook her head. She stretched her arms in the air and yawned. "I'm still tired, Mommy. I want to go home and sleep in my own bed." She flopped back on the rumpled quilt like a limp noodle.

"We will, sweet pea. In a few minutes. You stay right here while I check for anything you might've left in the other rooms." Halfway out the door, Laura turned. "Stay where you are. Don't move. Okay?"

"Okay."

In the hallway, Laura stopped. Took a deep breath. If she called 911, then it would be on the news and everyone would know Caitlin was there.

Eddie's killer would know.

She had to get Caitlin out of there before anyone saw her. But what about Eddie? She couldn't just leave, could she? As she thought it, she realized nothing could help Eddie now.

Propelled by fear for her daughter, Laura tore through the small house, snatching up everything belonging to Caitlin. A red tennis shoe from the bathroom, socks, her small toothbrush...anything that would indicate a child had been there. Seeing nothing else, she went back to the bedroom. Caitlin was curled up on the bed and rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Hey kiddo. We're ready."

"I wanna say bye to Daddy, too."

Laura's mouth went dry. "Uh...you know . . . it's not even six o'clock yet, and Daddy's really sick. I think we should just let him sleep."

Without waiting for a response, Laura reached down, scooped Caitlin into her arms and ran like hell.

Excerpt from And Justice for All by Linda Style
Harlequin Superromance (January 2006)
ISBN 0-373-71323-1
Copyright © 2006 by Linda Style
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher.
The edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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