Page 94 of Water's Edge

I answer.

“Megan, it’s Clay. I guess you called Larry last night. He called a while ago and didn’t seem surprised about Boyd. Are you satisfied with the results now?”

“Larry was here this morning talking to the sheriff. He’s satisfied, so I’m satisfied.”

The line is quiet for so long, I think he’s gone. His voice comes back sounding incredulous. “I know you don’t mean that.”

“Yes,” I say. “I do. I’m done. Case closed.”

“Really.”

“Well, I mean, I still have to finish some things up and write my reports, but yes.”

“Whatthingsdo you have to finish up?”

I shouldn’t have said that.

“The video from the hospital,” I tell him. “I still haven’t looked through it. I’m crossing myi’s and—”

“Dotting yourt’s,” he finishes. “Do you want some help looking through all of that? Probably a ton of video to review. You can bring it here to the office. Or I can come there.”

“I thought you were done with this?” I ask.

“I’m satisfied. Larry’s satisfied. If you’re not, then I’ll pitch in. We’re a team, remember?”

Team.

Right.

“I’m going to Ronnie’s tonight and we’re going to run through it,” I lie. “Have some wine. Pizza. Make a night of it. I appreciate the offer, but I’ve got this. Like you said, I’m the only holdout.”

I’ll have to listen to Ronnie’s chatter all evening, but I’m used to it already. Maybe Mindy would like to come too. A girl’s night while looking for a murderer. My kind of an evening.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

“Sure as sure. Besides, you have to keep Jimmy in line.”

“He’s a character, but he’s okay. He said to tell you he forgives you for going over his head too.”

I really don’t care.

“That’s great,” I say. “He’s a nice guy.”

“Well, if you’re sure you don’t want an extra pair of eyes, I’ll leave you two to it. It was good working with you, Megan.”

“You too, Clay.” The call ends and I think I’ll miss him. Clay reminds me of me a little. And he’s easy to talk to when I don’t have to lie to him.

I have a strange feeling and I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. It will come to me if it’s important. I log onto the computer and bring up my personal email. No email from Hayden. I log onto my work email and freeze.

Wallace.

I hear congratulations are in order. You got your man. Kind of, anyway. But in a way he got away, didn’t he? Are you disappointed you didn’t get to finish him?

He doesn’t call me Rylee this time. No need. He knows who I was. Knows who I am now. He’s messing with my head. Letting me know he is still close. Congratulating me and trying to tell me I am a killer in the same breath. The email came in around the same time I was on Skunk Island. That wasn’t on the news until several hours later. Where was he getting his information?

Not for the first time the thought that someone close to law enforcement was giving information to him crept into my mind.

Forty-Six

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