When the video ended, Kate said, “Wow.”
“Yep.”
“Looks like Mr.Parker has an anger problem.”
“Sure does.”
“So where do we find him?”
“According to the Illinois DMV, he lives in a townhome in Bridgeport.”
“His own?”
“Let me see.”
Marcus tapped his phone’s touchscreen a few times, then said, “Doesn’t look like it.Apparently, it’s his mother’s place.”
“Not his father’s?”
“No, and when he was alive, still no.Mrs.Parker became Ms.Rochet eight years ago.It seems she cited infidelity as the reason for the divorce, which tracks with what we’ve heard of Mr.Parker so far.”
“But Michael still had a good relationship with his dad.”
“I mean, nobody wants to hear that their father was killed.”
Kate lowered her eyes.“No.”
Marcus looked at her.“Hey.You, okay?”
She smiled ruefully.“Am I ever?”
He set the phone down.“You want to talk about it?”
She lifted her eyes to his.Marcus’s eyes were so kind, so strong, just like him.
She nearly told him then.She nearly admitted how she felt about him and asked him if he ever felt even a little bit the same way.
But the first crime scene floated in front of her mind.She didn’t think Cheryl was the type of crazy to do anything like what Rosalyn Pierce had done to Donald, but she knew Cheryl would be utterly devastated to learn that Kate, the woman Marcus had insisted wasn’t a threat, the woman Cheryl insisted was, had confessed having feelings for him.
And if Marcus lost Cheryl for good, thenhewould be utterly devastated.It would be Kate’s fault, and she couldn’t do that to him.
So, she took a deep breath, smiled, and said, “Later.It’s not relevant to the case.”
“I’m also your friend, you know,” Marcus reminded her.“Not just your partner.”
“I know.And I will tell you everything one day.But not right now.Right now, I want to talk to Michael Parker.”
Marcus looked a little disappointed, but maybe that was only Kate’s imagination.He nodded and got to his feet.“All right.I’ll drive.I don’t want you wandering off on the road and plowing through a bus stop.”
She slapped his arm, and he chuckled and clapped her on the shoulder.It was nice and friendly, just two buddies in law enforcement off to find justice again.
On the way to Michael’s house, a complication occurred to Kate.“He can’t know Cox.”
Marcus frowned.“Why not?”
“He’s eighteen.He lives in Chicago.So far as we know, Cox has never been to Chicago.And his proselytes have all been adults.Besides, he’s in solitary now, and he’s not allowed communication with the outside world.”
“Three years ago, he wasn’t incarcerated at all,” Marcus reminded her, “and he’s been able to send letters up until a few months ago.I’m not saying that Michael’s definitely a disciple.I still think this could be unrelated.But it doesn’thaveto be unrelated.”
