Page 76 of Water's Edge

“See you there,” he says.

Thirty-Seven

I leave a note on my desk for Ronnie in case she gets back before I do. Not likely. I am in my Taurus, heading south on State Road 19, when my phone buzzes.

It’s Captain Marvel.

“Detective, this is Captain Martin.”

I imagine him standing on the prow of a boat, one hand on his hip, strong chin jutting forward, cape flowing behind him.

“Yes, sir,” I say.

“I went back and scoured the scene again. Didn’t find anything. If you need anything from me on this case, just call.”

I want to ask why he went back to the scene, but think better of it. It might sound as if I were harping on him doing a good job. He went out of his way and I appreciate it, and yet, at the same time, it bothers me a little.

“Detective?”

“Thank you, Captain. I will let you know.”

“How’s it going with the case? Any leads yet?”

“Nothing much. Yet.”

“I’ve heard some stories about you. You always get your man.”

And I’ve heard you always get your woman.

“Anyway,” he says, “while I’ve got you on the line, I want to ask you something.”

I hope he’s not going to ask me out. I mean, I doubt that’s what he wants to ask. But if he does, it would crush Ronnie. When she talks about him, she gets this dreamy look in her eyes. I feel a little guilty for pushing her on Marley. And here I am talking to the man she adores.

“What I want to ask, Detective, is if that poor girl had been sexually molested.”

His question surprises me. I wasn’t expecting him to still be thinking about this case. He must have other things to occupy his time. But then I remember his wife drowned. They had been skinny-dipping. Seeing Leann the way she was might have been a shock to him. I can relate to how things get all mixed up in your mind, how things are triggered.

When I see something red, I associate it with Rolland, dead on the kitchen floor in our place in Port Orchard. A big knife buried in his chest and a pool of blood around him.

“I can’t really go into details, Captain.”

I can almost hear him wince on the line.

“I understand,” he says. “Sorry. I just want to do anything I can to help.”

“Captain Martin, I appreciate your effort. I can tell you that a rape kit was turned over to the crime lab.”

He goes quiet. I think I’ve hurt his feelings. Despite my belief that he is an arrogant, swaggering show-off, I feel a little sorry for him.

He finally speaks up. “I heard from a deputy in Clallam that you might have another murder associated with this one.”

“Who did you hear that from?” I ask, although I know it was Larry Gray. Captain Marvel had recovered Margie’s body. Larry probably couldn’t keep it to himself. He has been more of a hindrance than a help so far.

“Just a deputy I know,” he says. “Anyway, I hope you catch this guy.”

“Thanks, Captain. I will.” I’m starting to sound like a boss. Or my mother.

I am sure Nan has read the note I left for Ronnie. It just says that I’ll meet her back in the office after lunch. She will be so disappointed. I didn’t tell Ronnie where I was going because I didn’t want to make a big deal of it. She seems excited to have something important to do.

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