Page 102 of Locked In Ice

Lane paced away from the building and the uniform.“We’re planning to take another look at Thomas’s house.”Like he really wanted to go back into that pit of hell.But he’d do it.

“I’ll meet you there.Text me when you’re on the move.”

Well, damn.It was good to have friends who didn’t balk at bending the law in order to catch a killer.“Did I ever apologize?”Lane suddenly asked him.

“For being a dick?Man, you do that on the daily.”

Lane smiled.Hell.His second real one of the day.Rusty, but it felt good.He felt good.Like a chain had finally been cut loose that held him back.Or a cell door finally swung open, and I got to walk out.“I meant apologize for the freezer situation.”

“You are apologizing for locking me in the walk-in freezer that time?Seriously?”Amazement coated the words.“Are you drunk?”

“Nah.But I am in love.”

“What?”

“You’ve been good to me.Thank you.I appreciate it.”Total sincerity.

Silence.“You know I have your back.”

Yes.He had friends now.Memphis.Ophelia—so much more than a friend.He had a life.Hell, he even had a creepy-looking home that had just felt right the minute he stepped inside.The same way Ophelia had somehow feltrightfor him.“Thanks, man.”

“You know it.”Memphis cleared his throat.“And I do have more data on Samuel Hitchcock to give you.Being the stellar friend and crime solver that I am, I dug for you.Am still digging, in fact, but I thought there were a few things you needed to know.”

Now who was playing the suspense game?

“The man had no kids.Did have some nieces and nephews.A few godchildren, too.They’re scattered, and I’m still working on all of them.His wife—Sam’s death hit her brutally hard.She started drinking.Went into a deep depression, and I’m sorry to say it, but she took her life about six months ago.”

Damn.Did Ophelia know?

“Before the wife died, she confided to a therapist that she’d recently found an old journal belonging to her husband.”

“How did you learn what she told a therapist?”That shit was supposed to be confidential.

“I have my ways,” was all Memphis said.“The therapist noted that she was extremely distraught about the discovery.Two days later, the wife was dead.She’d slit her wrists and bled out in the bedroom that she used to share with Sam.”

Lane pinched the bridge of his nose.“That journal could have been an account of Sam’s kills.”

“And the wife finally realized the husband she was grieving for so hard was a murderer.Tough to live with news like that.”

No wonder Memphis had wanted to give him this info now.“What happened to the journal?”

“Most of her belongings were sold or donated to charity.There has been no other mention of a journal.But Ihavejust started my search.Give the Ice Breakers time.We’re good, but we aren’t miracle workers.”A horn sounded in the background.“Text me when you’re heading to Bass’s house.”

“Will do.And thanks—really.”He hung up.Exhaled.

And turned back toward the morgue.

***

Ophelia’s eyes fluttered opened.Her legs dragged across the floor.And—

“You’ll drift in and out.I didn’t give you much of the drug.Not like I knew you’d bust into my office, and I’d have to act.Had to use what was available.”Benny’s voice.Sounding annoyed as hedraggedher ass across the lab floor.His hands were under her arms, and her body felt like an absolute dead weight.

Deadbeing the scary word.She opened her mouth to cry out for help, but her tongue felt thick and heavy and all she managed was a moan.

Then his hands released her.Her upper body slammed into the floor.Her head hit with a sickening thud.

Her eyes closed.

---