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“I’m actually chasing leads in a murder case from six months ago.” Rachel swallowed hard on the lump in her throat. “A young woman was strangled while out hiking.”
“We heard about that on the news,” Mr. Severs said.
His wife shook her head. “A terrible tragedy. Her parents must be beside themselves. We’d give anything to have our Christy back.”
Rachel paused, trying to come up with the best way to frame her questions. “I read in your daughter’s case file that she was found with a wedding veil over her head.”
Mrs. Severs nodded. “It was horrible. So very horrible. What a cruel thing to do. It was like he was mocking her.”
“What do you mean?” Rachel asked.
“My Christy’s boyfriend had just asked her to marry him the night before. He’d taken her to the Broadmoor for a special dinner. After dinner, he walked her out front of the resort. The trees were all decorated for the coming Christmas season. He asked her to marry him there, and she said yes.” Mrs. Severs’ eyes filled. “She was so happy. She woke us to show off her ring.” The woman pressed a hand to her chest. “Excuse me.”
Mrs. Severs jumped up and ran into the house.
“I’m sorry. My wife still gets emotional talking about the last time we saw our daughter alive. She left before we got up the next morning to work a double shift at the Townhouse Restaurant where she worked. She called before she left that evening, excited about looking through the brides’ magazines my wife had run out and bought.” He looked down at his clasped hands. “You go over and over in your mind what you should have done or said. But it doesn’t change the fact that she’s gone.”
Rachel blinked back tears, her own heart breaking for the Severs and for herself. She’d loved her younger sister with all her heart.
Griff reached for her hand and held it in his.
Mrs. Severs returned to the patio, carrying a large cardboard box. “This is all we have left of our daughter’s things. Her scrapbook from when she backpacked around Europe, her college diploma and the jewelry that made her so happy.” The older woman sifted through the box wistfully.
“My daughter taught elementary school.” Mr. Severs said. “She worked at the restaurant on the weekends to save money to put down on the purchase of a house. She had built up a nice nest egg.”
“Do you mind if I look at her things?” Rachel asked. “I promise to be careful.”
“Sure.” Mrs. Severs laid the box on the table beside Rachel.
Rachel pulled out the scrapbook and stared down at photos of a girl with black hair and green eyes. Much like her sister. Much like herself.
Mrs. Severs smiled at the photo. “She had the most beautiful ebony black hair.” She touched a hand to her short salt and pepper hair. “She got my dark hair and green eyes from her father.” She glanced up at Rachel. “Your hair is very much like Christy’s was. Black, long and wavy. Such a beautiful girl.”
Rachel flipped through more photographs probably taken during high school.
Unsure of what she was looking for, Rachel continued to sift through the cardboard box, setting aside old birthday cards, a stuffed bunny and concert tickets in her attempt to get to the other items buried beneath them. At the bottom, she found a shiny wooden jewelry box.
“Christy bought the box in Spain on her European backpacking adventure.” Mr. Severs snorted. “And we were afraid for her the entire time she was gone, never thinking we’d lose her in our own country.”
Rachel opened the box and stared down at a pretty array of gold and silver earrings, rings and thin chains. She lifted one of the chains and dropped it back in the box, her hands shaking.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs. Severs asked. “You suddenly turned as white as a sheet.”
Rachel forced a smile to her lips. “I was involved in an automobile accident yesterday. I’m not quite up to my old self. Thank you for your concern.”
“Christy got that necklace the day before Bryan proposed. She was so excited, guessing he would propose soon. When he asked her out to dinner, she wore her nicest dress and the necklace with the sweetest words on it.” Christy’s mother raised a necklace out of the box and read the inscription. “I love you.” She turned the heart over. “Until death do us part.” The older woman looked up with tears in her eyes. “She was so excited by his proposal, she forgot to thank him for his other gift.”
Rachel glanced toward Griff.
He gave her an almost imperceptible nod, acknowledging the significance of the necklace.
“Did Christy ever mention feeling like she was being watched or followed?” Rachel asked.
Mrs. Severs shook her head. “No, but men were always hitting on her at the restaurant. Some more than others. She managed to keep them at bay. Bryan was the love of her life. My Christy was so beautiful.” She stared at Rachel. “She looked so much like you. When I first saw you, I almost believed she’d come back, and her death was just a long and terrible nightmare.” Her eyes spilled fresh tears. “I’m sorry. You do look a lot like her.” She wiped her cheeks, unable to keep up with the flow of tears.
“Mrs. Severs, do you still keep in contact with Bryan Peterson, Christy’s fiancé?”
She nodded. “We send him birthday and Christmas cards every year. He moved to Denver and eventually married a nurse. They have a beautiful little girl. They named her Christy. He brings her to visit when he’s in town at his parent’s house.”
