Page 16 of Only Girl Alive

Though Eve no longer followed the fundamentalist teachings, something kept her from cutting it. Her hair was the talisman that preserved the unwanted memories of her childhood. She simply wasn’t ready to release the last horrific traces of her abuse. After so many years, she doubted she would ever be completely free of the unholy principles forced upon her.

Swinging the braid over her shoulder, she walked away from the mirror and faced the bed, hoping one day she would be able to leave her hair behind like some of her memories. After pulling back the comforter, she settled against the pillows with her laptop. She downloaded her camera’s removable SIM card and reviewed the first series of crime scene photos.

Bina came out of the bathroom with wafts of steam floating behind her. She stood at the mirror and braided her hair too. She’d always respected Eve’s privacy and never mentioned the fact Eve prepared for bed when Bina was in the other room. Bina then lay down and fell asleep almost instantly. They didn’t speak because Eve was engrossed in the photographs.

Her team would review their taped interviews in their rooms at night once they started that leg of the investigation. The recordings often held small details overlooked when speaking to people. Few had any idea what really went into a homicide investigation unless they were part of it. They were lucky they could see it through the eyes of television shows that had DNA collection, analysis, and the guilty person discovered in one hour.

It took about forty-five minutes to examine the images. Eve didn’t find anything her subconscious had previously missed. She expanded the photos of the joined hands and propped chin. The killer held emotional attachment to the victims. Eve needed the list of former wives and the husbands they were assigned to. She closed her laptop and settled down to sleep.

She tossed and turned all night. Bina’s side of the room held the same restlessness. It was normal for their first night in a hotel. They woke up early and had coffee waiting for the guys when they arrived at Eve’s room with similarly bleary eyes. Tamm always packed a bag of expensive ground coffee and its accompanying paraphernalia and left it in the back of the SUV. She called it her good luck charm whenever they left town on a case.

Evidence collection and a larger outside grid search were at the top of today’s list. Bina and the guys would start while Eve contacted her brother. After interviewing Hannah and Howard Wall, she would begin questioning anyone who passed the crime scene tape. She also needed a breakdown of events starting from the brother finding the bodies to the police arriving, in order to form her timeline. This part of dealing with Aaron was always like pulling teeth.

She added the 911 log to her growing list for him. When she and Clyde went to the medical examiner’s office, Bina, Collin, and Ray would go back through the house and reevaluate everything to see what was missed. They needed to get through today first. Locating the murder weapon was also a priority.

They ate quickly, made their game plan, and arrived at the scene a little before seven. Eve said hello to a new officer who had replaced the one from the previous evening. He waited in his vehicle looking bored. He didn’t respond before driving away. The media still hadn’t arrived and it was one of the reasons they came so early. They drove the van and SUV into the inner courtyard. Eve climbed out and looked at the house. It appeared serene. The sun shone, though a cool wind blew, causing her to grab her light jacket. The storm threatened yesterday had never materialized.

They decided to do the grid search before the media arrived. It took an hour to cover approximately fifty yards around the home. There was nothing but a few shoe-print remnants that were quickly disappearing due to sporadic wind gusts. Eve snapped pictures but it was doubtful they would work as evidence. Though they could see homes in the distance, the Tanner house was semi-isolated with a few trees to break up the barren landscape. No knife.

When they finished the search, the team separated and began the arduous task of listing and collecting the evidence Eve had photographed the day before.

She stayed outside and walked closer to the courtyard wall. She stared into the distance at the rock formations, as tall as some mountains. The sheer cliffs held a majestic quality and she remembered gazing at them when she was young. Her heart had longed for something she didn’t understand. Now she did. The pointed top of the tallest peak represented freedom from the endless chores and her yearning to escape. She remembered a feeling of guilt whenever she turned away from them. Keeping sweet was a daily struggle inside her head and she thought she would be damned because burying her emotions was so hard.

Shaking off the memory, she called her supervisor and brought him up to speed. Next, she clicked Tamm’s number and gave her a similar update and a new list of what they needed. Tamm had most of it lined up, which made Eve smile. Then, though she didn’t feel in the mood, she dialed Aaron’s cell.

“What do you need?” he barked.

Eve held back words that wouldn’t help the situation. “A list of everyone who entered the crime scene, phone numbers and addresses included, a list of relatives—I gave you all of this yesterday.” She snapped her fingers in frustration, which hopefully he couldn’t hear. “Add the 911 call log to the list along with a cell phone subpoena for Mr. Tanner’s phone found in his nightstand. We’ll also need that evidence room. Items will be moved in today.” She noticed dust in the distance and after squinting her eyes, realized there was a disc on top of the approaching vehicle. “Media incoming. You need to get here as soon as you can. I’ll interview you after you deal with them. Have the police chief lined up next, if he entered the home. I will go to Hannah for her interview; she shouldn’t come to the house.”

“I’ve been informed Hannah and Brother Wall are not available today.”

It took Eve a moment to process this bit of unwelcome information. “Do I need to call the judge?” She hated using the threat too often, but Hannah and Mr. Wall were essential to the case and the interviews would happen whether Aaron wanted them to or not.

She ended the conversation more frustrated than satisfied. Her stepbrother acted like this was a normal day on the job. It gave her a bad feeling. Whatever happened to this family, Aaron knew the truth, or so it seemed. It was up to Eve to figure out what he and the community wanted to stay hidden. It would be key to the case.

She waited impatiently for the news crew. Two men jumped from a white SUV with their station call letters plastered on the side. She held up her hand to one while the other removed video equipment from the back. “You cross my tape, I arrest you. Don’t push it. The county attorney will be the liaison for the media and you’re responsible for making sure any other journalists who show up know it,” she informed them in her no-nonsense voice. “He’ll arrive shortly. I have no statement to give and I won’t answer questions.” She turned her back as the journalist blustered. She hurriedly walked inside.

This was the beginning. By the end of the day, the area outside the crime scene tape would be full of media and the spectacle in full swing.

“Nice people skills,” Clyde said from the doorway. His lips tipped ever so slightly upward but even if the journalist noticed, he wouldn’t know it was Clyde’s way of smiling when they were at a scene. The small dimple that appeared on his right cheek was all that gave it away.

“We don’t have time for their bull crap.”

He raised his eyebrows and she realized even the words bull crap went across the cussing line she’d always kept. It was this county.

“I need a word with you,” Clyde said, his dark eyes intense.

If Clyde wanted a word, she would give it to him. Eve knew the whole team had been affected by the deaths, particularly Elijah’s. They could mostly turn it off but some images lingered no matter how hard they tried to put them aside.

“In the van?” she asked.

“That works.”

Eve didn’t like the tight lines between his brows. They entered the van and Clyde closed the door.

“I agree with Collin’s strange vibe. There is something odd going on and I can’t place my finger on it.”

She massaged the tendons of her neck. This was the intuition officers were taught to listen too but putting it into words wasn’t easy.

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