Page 93 of Water's Edge

Larry stands and thumps Sheriff Gray on the shoulder with a serious look on his face. “You remember to call me now, cuz. It’s been too long and we’re family.”

“I’ll do that, Larry.”

Sheriff Gray isn’t going to call him. I can tell by the way he’s biting his lower lip. He always does that when he is about to tell you something he doesn’t think you’ll like. I get the feeling that he’s been avoiding Larry for a while.

Larry pulls me in for a hug and I barely hold back a scream.

“See you later.” He waves at Nan and leaves the office.

Sheriff Gray lets out a breath. “I thought he’d never leave.”

I give him a look. “Second cousin on your mother’s side, right?”

He shakes his head. “I don’t claim him. My mother didn’t like him, neither. Hell, I don’t think his own mother claimed him.”

He motions for me to follow him into his office. He sits in the chair from hell, wiping tears from his face. “Shut the door.”

The door squeals as I shut it.

His expression is dead serious. “Boyd didn’t do it, did he?”

I shake my head.

“Take a seat.”

“Before you tell me no, I’m just going to talk to a few people about Margie Benton.”

Sheriff Gray holds his hand up, palm out. “I understand. You’ve got to do his work for him. You do whatever you have to do to get this guy. We’ve had enough killings.”

“I want to take Ronnie with me.”

“Seriously?”

“I think she has promise,” I say. “And don’t you dare tell her I said that.”

He gives me the go-ahead and I leave the office.

My phone rings. It’s Ronnie.

“Marley must have slept in the lab,” she says. “Poor guy. I’m on my way to pick up breakfast and coffee for him. Do you want me to bring you something when I come in?”

“He worked all night?” I ask.

“He did. He said he’s got something for us, but he wouldn’t say what it was until I bring him some coffee. You know, he’s kind of cute. Kind of nerdy cute.”

God, what have I done?

“He’s one of a kind.”

“So you don’t want anything?”

“I’m fine. Just get back as soon as you can. I talked to Detective Gray and the sheriff and we’re good to go. We’ll get coffee on the road.”

I hang up and have a bad feeling. What if Marley has matched Boyd’s DNA to the others? I know I should be glad if that’s the case. The killer’s dead. The cases are solved. But my gut isn’t happy. I don’t want him to be the guy. I want to be the one who catches him. Ends him.

In any case, I’m still planning on running the Benton case down. There is so much Larry has left out. So much he didn’t do. So much he hasn’t bothered to investigate.

My phone rings again. I’m popular this morning.

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