As they bagged up, Merle was honest.
“Do you know who hurt her?” she asked. “The media said she was mutilated,” she said, whispering.
Oh, boy.
“No, but the FBI will figure it out,” he said, hoping he didn’t just lie to the two women.
Merle wiped her eyes.
“Okay,” she offered. “We’ve been friends since high school. I’ll miss her. When I moved away after high school, she kept in touch, so when I came back, we reconnected immediately. I can’t believe she’s…”
They both looked at her.
“I can’t do this. I should go home!”
The woman broke out in tears and waved her hand as she hustled away to a back room.
Dannie apologized.
“I’m sorry for upsetting her. That wasn’t my intent,” he admitted.
The older woman reassured him.
“They were close. Merle and her husband spent a lot of time with them. She’ll be okay. It’s slow today with everyone going to the memorial at the school. I know it’s not for Phylis, but what we all need right now is healing.”
On that, he agreed.
Because he felt bad, he made a promise.
“When the FBI figures this out, I will swing back in and let you know who hurt your friend,” he offered. “Please tell Merle I keep my promises.”
She patted his hand.
“Thank you,” Bernadette offered.
Taking the bags, he headed out, and there was one more place he needed to stop for things for them. Then, he’d report in and try to get Leah on the case too.
He wasn’t sure which would be more difficult.
Finding this killer.
Or getting Leah access to help.
It looked like he was going to find out.
* * * Blackhawk & Cantrell * * *
Hotel
Same Time
In The Shower
It caught him off guard.
Truthfully, Ethan hadn’t expected to be pulled into the shower, but that’s exactly what happened.
When his mouth was covered with Gene’s, and he held him to his body unrelentingly, there was no point fighting it.
