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“Sadly, they’ll continue to suffer for the rest of their lives. They’ll never get over the loss of their daughter.”
“But capturing the killer will bring closure to that chapter of their lives. Then they can concentrate on the good memories they made with Christy.”
“And you think by capturing the killer, you’ll be able to focus on the good memories you had with Lindsay?”
Rachel nodded. “At least then, I’ll have stopped her attacker from taking another innocent life. I can’t rest until that happens. Lindsay would want him brought to justice. I want that, too.”
Griff brushed a strand of her hair away from the bump on her forehead. “We’ll do this as long as you don’t sacrifice your safety in the process.”
“I can’t make any guarantees,” she said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to bring that bastard out into the open and take him off the streets of Fool’s Gold and Colorado Springs.”
“That’s a tall order to fill for someone the state and local police weren’t able to identify.”
“It wasn’t their sister or daughter. They aren’t feeling the pain.”
“What did you need from your apartment?” Griff asked.
Rachel headed for her bedroom. “I needed to check on something.
“When you’re done, pack a go-bag,” Griff said, “you should put together everything you’ll need for a couple of days.”
“I don’t need to stay elsewhere. I like having my things around me.”
Griff touched a finger to her lips. “We’ll play it by ear. If I think it’s too dangerous for you to be in the middle of everything, I’ll drag your ass out.” he grinned. “How’s that sound?”
She grinned. “I have an image of you throwing me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes.”
He waggled his brows. “I can do that,” he said. He pointed to his left shoulder. “With this shoulder. The other one has a way to go in recovery.”
Rachel leaned up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “And there I go breaking my own rules, again. I’d better get done with what I need to do before you go all caveman on me.” She stepped through the door and waited for him to run a quick check of her apartment.
When he gave her the all-clear thumbs-up, she hurried into her bedroom and flung open her closet. On the upper shelf was a big cardboard box, much like the one the Severs kept with all of what was left of Christy’s life packed inside. Only this was what was left of Lindsay’s life, besides the memories Rachel kept dear to her heart.
Rachel laid Lindsay’s box on the bed and removed items one at a time. She’d donated much of her sister’s clothing to a homeless shelter, only choosing to keep a few items that meant a lot to Lindsay.
She laid out a denim ball cap with the words “Key West” embroidered in bright pink. Lindsey had saved it from the trip Rachel and Lindsay had taken two years ago. That had been before she’d moved to Colorado and met her boyfriend.
An artist’s journal was included in the box with little drawings and watercolors on every page. Rachel had considered having some of them framed. But she hadn’t been ready to tear pages out of Lindsay’s book.
Like Christy, Lindsay had a jewelry box with earrings, rings and necklaces.
Rachel removed the jewelry box and opened it carefully. Inside were drawers for rings, another for earrings and a side panel where Lindsay had draped her necklaces.
Rachel sifted through all of them, strangely relieved she didn’t find what she suspected might be there. As she placed the jewel box back in the bottom of the cardboard box, her breath lodged in her throat.
A flash of Tiffany blue caught her attention in the far corner of the box beneath what had been one of Lindsay’s favorite silk scarves.
Her hand shaking, Rachel pulled the scarf out of the box. Beneath it lay a small blue box, exactly like the one she’d found on the floor of her apartment that morning.
“She got one, too?” a deep voice said behind her.
Rachel jumped. “Geez, Griff!” She’d been so caught up in the items from Lindsay’s box, she’d almost forgotten Griff was in her apartment.
His hands settled on her shoulders, massaging them gently. “Let’s see what’s inside it.”
“We already know.” Still, she had to open the box to verify.
Inside, nestled against a bed of blue satin, lay a shiny silver heart on a thin silver chain.
