Page 64 of Locked In Ice

“Why are we here?”His gaze drifted to the house.“And why did you get more and more tense the closer we got?”

“It’s Marjorie’s house.Marjorie Mayweather.”The wind slid a lock of hair over Ophelia’s cheek.She brushed it away.“She hired me to find out what happened to her daughter, Patience.”

He nodded.She saw understanding fill his eyes.

“I want to tell her what happened.”In person.“And, seeing as how Memphis told me your victim interaction was shit—”

He winced.

“I thought this could be another training lesson.”She crept closer to him.Even though she’d already been plenty close.“I also didn’t want to come here alone.I was hoping to use you for moral support.”Wind blew the lock of hair back over her cheek.

Before she could brush it away again, he did.Lane tucked the hair behind her ear, and his hand lingered against her cheek.

“Here’s lesson eight for you.”She was pretty sure they were on lesson eight.“Victim interaction isalwaysshit.You hurt for them.You wish you could make things better.You get angry and sad, but you’re supposed to keep a professional mask in place at all times.And if you’re dealing with a grieving family, you’ll want to grieve with them.Only you have to stop yourself from crying.You have to put on a brave front and tell them that you will do your best to give them justice.Do your best.You can never make a promise that you won’t be able to keep.”This was very, very important.Her own main rule.“Don’t tell the families and the loved ones that youwillfind a killer or a perp.Don’t make that promise because they will take it to heart.They’ll count on it.On you.And if the years pass and you can’t stop the perp, it doesn’t just eat away at them.It eats away at you.”

“Who did you give the wrong promise to?”

“Joseph’s mom.”A confession she’d never made to anyone but Lane.“After his funeral, I-I told her I’d find the man who killed Joseph.That he wouldn’t get away with what he’d done.”Her gaze returned to the house.But she didn’tseethe house.She saw the woman in the house.

Marjorie Mayweather.Waiting years and years for the police to come and tell her what had happened to her daughter.Waiting all that time for justice.

“I never caught Joseph’s killer.Still don’t know who he was.”Her shoulders straightened.“When you talk to them, tell the families that you will do your best.Tell them that you will be there for them when they need you.Don’t give false hope.I think that hurts the most of all.”She walked away from him.

And missed his touch so much.

His footsteps padded behind her.

She swiped her hands over her cheeks, just to make sure no pesky tears had leaked out.She usually had better control of her emotions.But, being around Lane seemed to stir up so much for her.

No, the whole case was stirring up the past.

Forget-Me-Not.

Ophelia climbed up the three steps that led to the porch.A wind chime sang softly as the wind blew through it, and Ophelia lifted her hand to rap against the door.

She could have called Majorie, but the woman deserved to hear the news face to face.

A few moments after she knocked, the door slowly swung open.Marjorie crept forward, her right hand holding tightly to her cane.“Ophelia.”A wide smile curved her lips.“Sweet Ophelia.”

Ophelia didn’t feel very sweet.When Marjorie reached out to hug her, Ophelia immediately hugged her back.Marjorie smelled like baby powder and cinnamon.Her bones felt so fragile.Her soft dress brushed against Ophelia’s skin.

“He confessed,” Ophelia whispered in Marjorie’s ear.

Marjorie trembled.

“He told me that he’d hurt Patience.”She eased back.Made sure that Marjorie was steady on her feet.“The police arrested him.”

Tears filled Marjorie’s eyes.“I-I know.”

She did?Marjorie didn’t usually watch the news, and Ophelia didn’t think the story had even made it to the local station in Savannah.“Something happened, Mrs.Marjorie.”

Fear.It came and went on Marjorie’s face.

“Thomas Bass is dead,” Ophelia rushed to say.She didn’t want Marjorie to ever fear him again.“He was killed in his cell.”

Marjorie swayed.Ophelia held her shoulder.Made sure the older woman was okay.

“I got the flowers,” Marjorie said.“They were on my porch first thing this morning.Didn’t even hear the delivery driver.”

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