She smiles a little. “I do.”
“Just so you know”—I need to tell her this—“it was a wake-up call. I realized I needed to get my affairs in order. I’ve taken care of most everything. My final arrangements, the house. I just don’t know what to do with Sandy if she’s still around when I go. I want her in a good home.”
“You don’t need to worry about anything. I’ll take her.” Liv’s fingers give mine another squeeze. “I’ll take good care of her and love her just the same as you do. You have my word.”
“Are you sure? Preston might not want a dog.”
“Tough.” She shrugs. “The truth is, I’m thinking about moving back to the farm. I think David and I need to slow things down.”
I frown. “And the baby?”
She shrugs again. “I don’t know. I haven’t gotten to that yet.”
“You’ll figure it out.” I reach up and tug at a wisp of hair that’s fallen loose from her ponytail. “You’re good people, Liv. Preston is ... I think he might be okay, too. But take your time. Talk to him. Make sure. If he’s the one, work it out. Don’t hold back over things misunderstood or unsaid.” I feel my lips grinning. “You both should work a little harder at solving the issues between you. I don’t want you to be alone. It sucks. But I also don’t want you to be with the wrong person. That sucks worse.”
She laughs. “I can do that—work harder, I mean.”
I sigh. Feeling utterly calm and relaxed now. Before I pass out entirely, we need to talk about work. “What do you think about these victims rallying together and coming up with this coup?”
Liv shakes her head. “I have to admit, I’m surprised. I wouldn’t have expected any of them to have the guts, frankly.”
“We’ve confirmed what’s going on with all the players but three,” I consider aloud. “Sanchez, Hyatt, and Reeves.”
“Whatever has happened to Fanning,” she says, “it may be one or all of those three. At least, it’s looking that way.” She lets go a big breath. “I haven’t told you about my find last night.”
I struggle to hold my eyes open. “I’m listening.”
“My father was investigating Fanning or digging around in his past. It’s far more than his visits to Fanning in prison.”
I wait for her to go on. She won’t look at me. I get it. Whatever she’s discovered is confusing, maybe even disappointing.
“I found a file on each of Fanning’s victims.” Her brow furrows with mounting concern. “They were hidden in the panic room in the cabinet where he kept the personal files, like the deed to the farm and stuff like that.” She swipes back a tear from one cheek. “I don’t understand it. He never mentioned Fanning or anything about his victims.”
“Are they case files? Was he treating any of them?” Seems like that’s what she’s saying, but I don’t see how we got through all these interviews without one of them having mentioned seeing a shrink with the same name as the detective doing the questioning. Doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
“I don’t think he was treating them—at least, not anyone but Sanchez. The files are more like background information taken from various sources. I don’t understand why he would have wanted this information unless he gathered it for Sanchez or, worst case, for Fanning. That’s the part that really worries me. I can’t believe he would do that.”
“You’re worried he was working for Fanning?”
Another big breath heaves out of her weary body. “Yeah. I don’t want to believe it, but there was obviously something going on that involved Fanning.”
“But maybe not in the way you think,” I counter. “Whatever Dr. Newhouse was doing, it wasn’t to help a man like Fanning. We both know better than that. The only way he would have been working with a piece of shit like that was if the court ordered him to, and since he was retired, you know that can’t be the case. At this point, we don’t know what any of this means.”
She nods, some of the worry disappearing. “You’re right. It would just be nice to understand, the sooner the better.”
“Sanchez will be back tomorrow. Maybe he can tell us what was going on. Maybe the BOLO will locate Hyatt and Reeves. I have a feeling this ends with those three.” I squeeze her hand. “Go home. Get some rest. I’ll be as good as new tomorrow. I promise.”
“No way, partner. I’m staying until I know you’re good for the night, then I’ll get a cab back to my car.”
I’d argue but Liv is as hardheaded as I am. “Fine. Then make yourself useful and feed Sandy.”
Sandy barks as if she knows exactly what I said.
I watch her prance out of the room at Liv’s side.
A frown nags at my forehead again.
This damned case is eating that girl alive. We need more answers. Soon.
