Page 111 of Fatal Witness

Once he punched the record button, she began. “I remembered I followed my dad that day.” She told him what she’d remembered. “I couldn’t tell what he buried. I thought maybe it was the diamonds. That’s why I went into the woods, to see if I could find the old homeplace where he buried a box. But before I reached the woods, I remembered he wasn’t burying something—he dug something up. It must have been the diamonds.”

“And you found a body instead.”

“Who is it?”

“I don’t want to say until we have a positive ID.”

She understood that. “Can you still take me to my grandmother’s house?”

“If Alex approves.”

They both turned as Alex entered the back door. “Craig and Ben have gone back to town,” she said.

Mark nodded. “I have Dani’s statement on my phone. I’m sending it to you.”

“Good. I’ll listen to it later. The Hamilton County medical examiner is on his way,” Alex said. “I called Max, and he’s bringing the state forensic team to help our crime scene investigators.”

“What about us going to Mae’s house?” Mark said.

She sat at the table across from Dani. “Once Dylan and Taylor get here, you can take Hayes and drive over there. Max and his people should be here by the time you return, so I’ll have enough deputies to escort you back to town then.”

Dani clasped her hands. “I hate being so much trouble. After I get the photos, why don’t I stay here and look at them until you’re ready to go back to Pearl Springs? Everybody can go at the same time.”

“I appreciate your willingness to do that.” Alex cocked her head. “And that sounds like it might be our CSI team now.”

Dani’s heart went into double time as Mark and Alex unsnapped the straps over their guns. Both eased to the back door and then relaxed. “It’s Dylan and Taylor,” Alex said. “I’ll go with them to the grave and send Hayes to accompany you to Mae’s.”

Fifteen minutes later, Hayes followed as they drove to her grandmother’s house and got out. Mark released Gem, and she bounded from the SUV to the house.

Dani couldn’t keep from searching out the bullet hole in the post and shuddered when she found it. Maybe she should’ve gotten in the Navigator that night and driven straight back to Montana.

No. She didn’t regret for one second staying and meeting her grandmother. And Alex and her family and ... Mark. Warmth spread through her chest. Other than Evelyn, she’d never had real friends before, and it was nice. But even nicer was to have someone who made her heart beat faster. She just wished Mark felt the same way.

Hayes waited outside while Mark unlocked the door and entered the house. Dani followed him inside to the small living room. She remembered staying at Nonny’s while her parents worked, her mom at a factory, her dad in construction. “Did you tell me where my mom and dad worked?”

“What?”

She repeated the question, and he shook his head. “I never knew where either of them worked.”

Yes!Dani wanted to do a happy dance. Her mind was slowly releasing the memories locked in it. “They worked in town. I think I must’ve stayed here with my grandmother a lot.”

She scanned the room, taking in once again the rich cedar walls, blue sofa, two gold chairs, tables ... framed photos of the mountains and a photo of a small girl over the sofa. Dani at seven or eight, taken by her mother.

She hadn’t gone to Nonny’s bedroom when she’d been here the other day. “My grandmother’s bedroom is down the hall. Right?”

“Right,” he replied.

In Mae’s room, Mark knelt beside the bed and pulled out a cardboard box with a strip of gingham tied around it. Her heart thudded as he slid the cloth off and lifted the lid. The box was packed full of photos. She picked up one on top and caught her breath. “Oh, my goodness,” she said. “This is my mother and me at Easter.”

“You remember.”

She did. Dani looked up at him and smiled. “I told you the photos would make a difference.”

Mark replaced the lid. “Let’s take them to your parents’ house. You can go through the box while we wait for Alex to finish up at the crime scene.”

She followed Mark to the SUV, where he opened her door. “Mind if we stop by my house to see if everything is okay?”

“Sure. I’d love to see your bachelor pad anyway.”

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