Our realtor shook her head and opened the door again. I glimpsed a light pink pump lying on its side. It's possible they hadn't taken the time to clean up after getting dressed this morning.

"Melissa, are you okay?" Larken asked, taking a step into the closet.

The hairs on my arm rose, and I moved closer, squeezing in behind her. Something heavy smacked into my heart in my chest, bringing up a batch of worry. Something was not right here.

A body, I assumed Melissa, lay on the white carpet. Her knees were tucked in, but otherwise it seemed she'd just fallen to the side and decided not to stand up again. She had on a short black pencil skirt with a light pink blouse and held a silk scarf in her hand with a blue and green swirled pattern.

I waved my hand at Broadrick when she didn't move.

"Melissa," Larken asked again, inching closer to the woman and bending over her. She touched her shoulder, jarring it to the side and then wretched her hand back in horror. "Melissa!"

Larken rammed into me as she straightened and then tried stepping back out of the closet, instead meeting with the resistance of my body. I gave an oomph as I fell into the closet door, and it slammed open against the wall. Broadrick caught me before I tumbled over.

A high shrill scream came from Larken's throat, and she turned to us with horror etched into her face. She shook her head, her hand coming up around her neck higher, and released another scream. I stepped out of her way as her eyes bulged and she searched the space for something.

She bumped her way past me and ran into Broadrick with her hip, racing to get away from the closet. "She's.... she's..."

"Cold," I answered for her after removing my hand from Melissa's uncovered shoulder. That wasn't a good sign. I scanned the area for the cause but came back with nothing. The closet had clothing hung on the rods or folded on shelves like you'd expect in any walk-in closet. Not a thing was out of place except the body.

Broadrick pushed his way in beside me. My gaze fell to his position where two feet away a brown smudge discolored the white carpet. Was it from the body? "What the hell, Vonnie?"

"Don't look at me," I said and raised my hands in the air. "I've been with you."

It looked like she'd dropped dead in the middle of the day. There was no blood or signs of a struggle. What the hell happened?

"Aren't you going to save her?" Larken screeched from the closet entrance as she paced in front of it.

I shook my head. "I don't think there's any saving her. Call 911."

"Ma'am." Broadrick moved closer, stepping over NB's leash as our dog peeked around the closet, sniffing the row of shoes on the side wall. Broadrick jerked back in shock as Melissa's head lulled to the side, revealing a smooth metal rod sticking out of her ear. "What the fuck is that?"

I leaned forward, staying away from the body as much as possible. The rod had flat metal end. An image of my grandma knitting Christmas scarves in the living area of her nursing home filled my mind. The flat part kept a piece of yarn from falling off the end. "It looks like a knitting needle. We need to get out of here."

Broadrick was standing in the middle of a crime scene.

I ripped on NB's leash, getting him back on track right as he lifted his leg to pee on Melissa's pink pump on her foot. Broadrick and I backed out of the closet. He reached for his phone, and I caught Larken's gaze as she paced in the open space of the bedroom, muttering something into her cell. Her voice rose and fell before her entire body shuddered, and tears spilled from her in one quick gasp.

I reached for the phone, taking it from her and placed it against my ear.

"Miss, I need you to calm down, please. I have a response team in motion, but there must be someone to meet them at the front door of the residence," the operator spoke in a calm tone that I had to force myself to hear over Larken's sobs.

Sun beat in from the large windows, stretching the length of the room, forcing me to shield my eyes. I walked toward the hallway and made my way past the overly white living room to the front door. "I'm here now. How far out is the response team?"

"Oh," the woman said. "Good, let's all remain calm. Do you feel confident enough to check the body for a response and possibly begin CPR?"

I bit my bottom lip. No way in hell was I kissing a dead body. "Ummm. I don't think that's necessary."

A fresh scream came from the hallway as Broadrick led Larken out with his hands on her shoulders. He guided her to the couch, and she just stood beside it, looking like the breeze from the ceiling fan might push her over. "Vonnie, some help?"

I raised my left shoulder in response to his widened eyes. "I'm on the phone."

"The island's first response team is entering the building now, and I have crews deploying from the mainland within five minutes," the operator said.

Wow, impressive.

I opened the door to the condo and stepped outside to wait for the emergency team. NB walked in a circle, wrapping his leash around my ankles. Two men and a woman in matching white outfits that looked like they belonged in WWII walked quickly into the building.

"They're here," I said to the operator and pointed to the open doorway. The tallest of the men nodded at me, and they turned as a unit into the space. Their shoes clacked on the reddish tile of the hallway between condos.

A door behind me opened, and an older woman with white hair and a matching pantsuit-man, they loved the color white around here-marched into the hallway. "What in the Dickens is going on out here? The screaming is interfering with my stories."

I placed the phone against my shoulder, making it easier to whisper. NB tugged on his leash, trying to reach the far end of the hallway. "There's a body in the closet."

She gave me a tsk, coupled with a strong, uncaring headshake. "There'll be two bodies if I miss hearing who fathered Joan's baby. It's been a three-month lead up and I won't have any shenanigans today."

I stepped back as she stuck her hands on her hips and waited for my answer. "Right. I'll ask her to quiet down her screaming over the dead body."

"See that you do. And don't let that dog pee on anything in this hallway," the woman said before turning into her apartment and slamming the door.

I jerked on NB's leash, stopping him mid leg lift. "My word, dog. You don't have to pee on everything all the time. I'm taking you to the vet."

Those words stilled him as he sniffed for a new place to relieve himself.

Broadrick came out the front door of the condo looking haggard, but the wails from inside had calmed. "They're giving her something to relax."

"Poor guy." I patted his shoulder. He'd withstood explosions, but one crying woman might do him in.

"What a day." He leaned against the hallway beside the door.

"Good news, though," I said with a grin. "I like the murder condo. You should buy it."

Broadrick gave a long groan and closed his eyes.