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The hungry stare they exchanged was interrupted by a commotion at the end of the long corridor. The deputy, returning from his break, was arguing with Lisa Arnold.
"I want to talk to Ski Nyland."
"It's okay," Ski said. The deputy moved aside. The girl's flip-flops made slapping sounds as she walked toward them.
"How are you, Ms. Arnold?" Ski asked politely.
She hooked a hank of overprocessed, raven-colored hair behind her ear, from which several silver rings dangled. "I'm okay. I mean, I guess. You know, I'm still sad over Davis."
"Of course."
Her gaze slid to Berry. Ski made the introductions.
"I know who you are," the girl said. "It started at your house. He shot your boyfriend, too, right?" Before Berry could correct her, she turned away from them and looked into the ICU. For several moments, she stared at Oren. Finally she said, "I saw on TV that you'd caught him. The deputy that's been parked outside my house came up to the door and told me that he was leaving, that there was no reason for him to guard me anymore."
Ski asked, "Is that the man you saw in the motel, who shot Davis Coldare?"
"That's him, all right. The son of a bitch." But her sneer gave way to rising emotion. "I talked Davis into taking me to that motel. If we'd've stayed at the drive-in, he would still be alive."
"You aren't responsible for what happened, so don't blame yourself," Ski said kindly.
She came around and gave Ski a watery, grateful smile. "Well, I just wanted to come and thank you for catching him."
"I had a lot of help."
"And something else? Thanks for being so nice to me the night it happened."
"You're welcome."
"I'm sorry my stepmother was such a bitch."
Ski smiled. "That's okay."
"Don't take it personal. She's a bitch to everybody." She cast one final, malevolent glace at Oren, then said good-bye and headed down the corridor toward the elevator. Dodge and Caroline stepped off as she got on.
Ski's cell phone rang, and he stepped aside to take the call.
"Any change?" Dodge asked Berry as they approached.
"No."
"Waste of time, just standing here, staring at him."
"Probably, but..."
Ski rejoined them, holding the cell phone against his chest. "We've got a situation at the sheriff's office. The man who found the Mittmayers' car--"
"Jesus. That inbred?" Dodge said with distaste.
Ski smiled. "Mr. Mercury is demanding his reward, accusing everyone in the department of trying to cheat him out of it. I hate to bother you with this now, Caroline, but would it be too much of an inconvenience--"
"Of course not," she said, not even letting him finish. "I'm happy to write him a check."
It was decided that they would go together and get that matter taken care of. They immediately departed for the courthouse. Dodge looked at Berry. "Guess that leaves us at loose ends, and, frankly, I think you should cut bait on this guy. The sooner you do, the better off you'll be."
"Perhaps you're right."
"Trust me. I'm hungry. You hungry?"
