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“It was one of the boots Eve was wearing that night. Some kids were messing around in Ransom Caves and found it wedged in a crevice between two rocks,” I explain.
“I’m surprised you even bothered to come over here,” Nola says dismissively. “I thought the police gave up on finding Eve’s killer years ago.”
“No one ever gave up, Nola,” I say gently. “My dad never did.”
“Could have fooled me,” Nola shoots back. “Your dad had decades to solve it and he got nowhere. What makes you think it will be any different this time?”
“Technology. The chief thinks there’s a chance we can get some usable DNA.”
Nola gives a derisive snort. “Really?” she asks.
“Really,” I assure her. “The evidence will be sent off to the lab this week.”
“Interesting,” Nola says, eyebrows arched. “My mother tried to get you people to look for new DNA years ago and got nowhere.”
“My dad never gave up on trying to find out who killed Eve,” I say, my voice rising. “He read through the files all the time.” I thought back to the many hours my dad would sit in our wood-paneled den with boxes and file folders strewn on the floor and across his desk. If I would come into the room while he was reviewing the files, he’d quickly close the folder or cover up a photograph, but I knew it was Eve. I’m working here, he’d snap and I’d quickly retreat. Later, he’d apologize for his sharp tone.
“A lot of good that did,” Nola sniffs.
“I thought you’d be happy about this,” I say in exasperation. “I thought you’d be glad that we’re focusing on the case again.”
“And you’re leading the investigation?” Nola asks, looking down at me skeptically.
“I am,” I confirm.
“Like father, like daughter,” Nola says. “Though I must say, you are the last person I would have expected to go into law enforcement.”
“Oh, why is that?” I ask, my hackles raised.
Nola shrugs. “Just that you weren’t known as much of an upstanding citizen back in the day.”
“You can talk,” I snap. “You grew up to be a vet. With your history, no one would have ever predicted that. A taxidermist maybe, but a vet?”
“You’re going to have a baby,” Nola says suddenly, seemingly noticing my condition for the first time. She reaches out and lays both hands on my belly. Her fingers are cold even through my shirt. Her fingernails are chewed ragged, the skin around her cuticles raw and red. I take an involuntary step backward from her touch and her hands remain outstretched, hanging in midair as if giving the baby a blessing.
“Yes, I’m due in August.” I cross my arms over my stomach.
“Your first?” Nola asks and I nod. “You planning on giving it a sister?” she asks.
“Let me have this baby and then I’ll let you know.” I give a forced laugh. If Nola only knew the journey that Shaun and I had to take to get here, she wouldn’t make such an offhand comment. Except, this is Nola, so of course she would.
“Everyone should have a sister,” Nola says and moves to go back inside the house, then stops suddenly. “Do you ever think of the night we found her?” Nola asks.
The switch in conversation is so abrupt that it takes me a second to catch up. “Of course I do. I still have nightmares about it.”
“You were the one who wanted to look there. At the caves,” Nola says accusingly.
“What’s your point?” I ask. Sister of the victim or not, I am losing patience with Nola. “We looked everywhere else. It made sense.”
“I guess I should be thankful for that,” Nola said, sounding anything but grateful. “If you hadn’t suggested it, we might still be looking for Eve. But your dad wasn’t able to find who killed Eve so I don’t have a lot of faith in your investigative abilities either.”
“Yeah, well, who do you think did it then?” I ask before I can stop myself. It does no good to engage with Nola.
She shrugs. “Based on the beating that Eve took, I’m guessing it was someone pretty angry with her. Who do you think did it?”
“I can’t make any judgments until I see the whole picture.”
“Judgments.” Nola laughs.
