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The woman passed it over without hesitation. “Like I said, I have no idea how it got there. I’m not good with technology and I don’t have those security cameras in my house or nothing.”
Bethenny took the bag from her and passed it to Lachlan, who had come to stand beside her. “Thank you for bringing this in; we really appreciate it. Did you know her well?”
She shook her head. “No, but you know the young ones these days. There’s no such thing as neighborly community... she never bothered to say hello. She’d wave as she’d come and go, but that’s as far as it went. But I always kept an eye on her. I have two sons. Had two sons—one has passed away.” Her eyes welled, and she took a breath before continuing. “So I always kept an eye on her, making sure she was okay. My motherly instinct, I suppose. Anyway, we didn’t interact much, but it’s still so sad. I still can’t believe it all happened...” She inhaled a shaky breath and Bethenny noted a tremble in her hands.
Bethenny touched her shoulder, lightly squeezing it. “We’ll make sure we find whoever did this to her.”
The woman nodded but Bethenny didn’t think her words brought her any comfort. “It should never have happened like that.”
“Like what?” Bethenny asked gently, despite the tingling at the base of her neck. How did Louise know how she died? That information shouldn’t be public yet.
“A young girl taken so young,” she replied.
Bethenny nodded, feeling the tension ease from her shoulders. “You’re right. She was far too young.”
“Have you been able to contact her family?”
“The detectives are still working on it,” Bethenny said.
The woman gave a sad nod, her eyes dropping back to the knife Lachlan was holding. She shrugged. “Anyway, I just wanted to make sure this fell into the right hands. I have to get going now,” she said, standing.
It was then that Bethenny noticed her walking stick.
Bethenny moved to the door as she hobbled forward. Though the woman showed signs of aging, she seemed too young for a walking stick. Bethenny wondered if she’d been in an accident or had a medical condition that decreased her mobility.
“What is your name?” Bethenny asked.
“What?” the lady asked, looking up at her.
“Your name—I didn’t catch it,” Bethenny said, assuming the lady hadn’t heard her. Maybe she was hard of hearing?
“Louise White,” she said with a smile.
“Louise, can I please quickly make a copy of your identification? I’ll need to submit it with the evidence.”
Louise’s eyebrows lifted but she didn’t object. She reached for the small bag slung across her body and pulled out her driver’s license, handing it to Bethenny.
Louise White. 10 Memory Lane.
She was indeed Jessica Mella’s neighbor.
“Just be a moment,” Bethenny said as she stepped around the front counter and photocopied the license. She felt eyes on her the entire time, but refused to acknowledge them.
“Here you are,” Bethenny said with a friendly smile as she passed the license back to Louise. “Thank you so much for bringing the evidence in. We’ll be in touch if we have any questions.”
Louise nodded. “I’m sure you will. Good day, detectives,” she said, excusing herself. Bethenny watched her walk down the slight ramp and then hobble to the bus shelter outside the station.
She turned to face Lachlan. “Penny for your thoughts?” she asked.
He raised an eyebrow. “Looks like we have a murder weapon. Later this afternoon, I think we should pay Louise a visit and search her backyard for anything else the killer may have dropped. It’s interesting he fled over the fence... running through people’s backyards is a sure way to attract attention. Much more so than walking out the front door of a home with a park across the street and little security.”
“Maybe there was a reason the killer couldn’t go out the front door,” Bethenny said, her mind turning over the possibilities. “And do you think Louise was acting a little strange?” Her thoughts were still fixated on the woman even though the bus shelter was now empty.
“She seemed to care about the girl regardless of their limited interaction... she’s lost a child, so perhaps that plays into it. I wonder how long ago she lost her son, because she seemed ready to cry when she spoke of him,” Lachlan said, rubbing his jaw before shrugging. He held up the bag, taking a closer look. “It looks like a standard kitchen knife. I’m pretty sure I have the same kind at home in my kitchen drawer.”
Bethenny took a closer look. Stainless-steel blade and handle, all one piece. There was nothing unusual about the knife, and it did look like it belonged in a mass-produced knife block set. Unless there was a print on it, Bethenny didn’t know how helpful it would be.
She sighed softly, nodding. “I think I have a matching set too, and half the town probably does as well.” Her thoughts went back to Louise White, and she looked over her shoulder at the empty bus shelter once again. “Let’s get that knife to the lab and confirm if it’s the victim’s blood and then make a game plan for the day.”
