The tension comes off her in waves, but to her credit, she seems to consider what I suggest.Then she bends down, snatches her beer back, and tosses it back in one go.
Wiping the back of her hand across her lips, she glares at me.
“I’m so damn mad, I can’t see straight.”
“I get it.”
“I will not tolerate you keeping anything to do with my son from me again.”
“Understood.”
“I want you to swear to it.”
I lift my right hand.
“I swear.”
She narrows her eyes, probably gauging whether or not I’m making fun of her.Then she pulls her phone from her pocket, unlocks it, and hands it to me.I assume she wants my number, so I enter my cell phone in her contacts.
“Send me a message so I have yours as well,” I suggest, handing her phone back.
When my phone pings with the incoming text, I quickly save her info to my own contacts.
For a moment she stands in front of me, looking like she doesn’t know what her next move should be.
“Thanks for the beer, and if anything comes up…” she starts.
I finish her sentence with a promise.“I’ll let you know.”
Next she nods sharply and turns on her heel, marching back to the station, where she disappears inside.
My eyes follow her all the way across the parking lot, before I grab the empty bottles, my bag of pistachios, and hit the switch for the overhead door.
I’m smiling as I head up the stairs to my apartment.
Chapter5
Tessa
“Detective Androtti?”
I swing around to see a tall, Black man, maybe a little younger than me, approaching.I’ve never seen him before so I respond hesitantly.
“Yes?”
He holds out his hand to me.
“Steve Haynes, Spokane County Sheriff’s office.We spoke?—”
“Yes, yes, of course,” I cut him off as I accept his handshake.“I’m sorry, I wasn’t expecting you.”
We’re standing in the back parking lot of the hospital near the separate entrance to the morgue.I have my travel-sized jar of VapoRub in my pocket, prepared for the potent blend of odors I know will turn my stomach otherwise.The mix of chemicals, bodily fluids, and decomposition gasses is very unpleasant.
I skipped breakfast this morning and stuck to coffee.
“I know, it was a last-minute decision.When I spoke to Pam—Ryan’s mom—yesterday, getting the phone number for Ryan’s dentist, she knew what the implications were and asked me outright if we’d found his body.I really wanted to give her that closure, but instead I had to tiptoe around it and told her I’d have an answer for her today.I was up early this morning, and felt the urge to drive up and be here on her behalf, watching out for her son.It’s the least I can do.”
I nod, understanding the sentiment.
