Page 9 of Bone Echo

Kurt couldn’t help himself, he hugged her. Or maybe it was more for him than her. This case—the brutality of the murders—was the sort of thing he and Ella had left behind. But then no place, no people were perfect. Bad things happened. He’d just enjoyed the respite since leaving L.A. and didn’t want it to end—not like this.

“I don’t know.” He drew back and searched her eyes. “You’ve watched him grow up. Any issues at school?”

“Not at all. He’s a very good and kind student. I only wish all were as thoughtful as Brian.” She settled onto the front edge of her desk as if the idea were too heavy to contemplate while standing.

“No issues at all,” he pressed.

“He’s an honor student. But more importantly, he’s a genuinely caring person.” She searched Kurt’s eyes. “I just can’t see him doing anything like this.”

Suddenly exhausted, Kurt dropped into one of the two chairs in front of her desk. “I can’t either really. But then again, who else would want to hurt them. So far we haven’t found a single reason and certainly no evidence to suspect it was a break-in or any other sinister activity.”

For a moment he considered the first woman to make him feel again in four long years. She was petite, barely five three. Probably didn’t weigh a hundred pounds soaking wet. Gorgeous long red hair and vibrant green eyes. And kind. She was the kindest, most understanding human he’d ever met. Besides Elizabeth. Ella’s mother had been a special person as well and Kurt had never appreciated her the way he should have. Guilt spread through him like ice closing over a still pond’s surface.

He should have been the one who died and she should be with their daughter. God knew the risks he’d taken. Whatever it took to get the job done back when he was with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. He never once considered the consequences of his actions as they related to his wife and child. He had been an idiot. He hadn’t protected them the way he should have.

“You’re obsessing again about what a bad husband and father you were.”

Not only was Audra a principal and teacher, but she had also minored in psychology. She announced as much the first time she set him straight about blame. The woman read him like a book. She made him look at the reality that no criminal he’d put behind bars was ever connected to Elizabeth’s murder.

He waved her off. “What about the counselor?” He frowned, searched his memory for the guy’s name. “Lawton? Lawler?”

“Lawler. I thought you might want to speak with him.” Audra pushed away from her desk and went to the door. She opened it and poked her head out. “Rhianna, please let Dr. Lawler know we’re ready for him in my office.”

This time Audra rounded the desk and settled into her chair, putting distance between them. Their relationship wasn’t really a secret but neither of them had opted to talk openly about it. So maybe it was a secret. Didn’t matter. This thing between them was new and Kurt needed more time. Maybe Audra did too. She was divorced, five years now. Like Kurt she’d taken her time getting back into the dating game.

Lawler appeared at the door. “Audra,” he said by way of hello. He glanced at Kurt as he entered the office and closed the door behind him. “Chief.”

Kurt stood and thrust out his hand. “Appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, Dr. Lawler.”

He gave Kurt’s hand a quick shake. “Of course.”

The school counselor was likely pushing sixty but still appeared fit. His hair had turned that white color rather than gray. Blue eyes still looked keen and alert. The two of them waited for Audra to take her seat before they settled into their chairs.

“How can I help you?” Lawler asked then.

“Audra explained the situation to you?” Kurt confirmed.

“She did.” Lawler shook his head. “It’s shocking.” He angled his head, studied Kurt a moment. “But not totally unexpected on a very elemental level.”

Audra looked as surprised as Kurt at this statement. “How so?” he asked.

“Brian has been unhappy for quite some time,” Lawler explained. “His aunt and uncle are very protective and he’s felt a bit smothered. When looking back at the tragedy of his early life, it’s not unusual to see PTSD symptoms suddenly crop up when faced with change or challenge. I’ll admit that this event is far more extreme than anything I would have imagined, but one never knows how deep still waters might run.”

Kurt looked from Lawler to Audra and back. “Brian has spoken to you about his feelings of discontent?”

“Not directly,” Lawler confessed. “But I’ve heard the comments he’s made to others. This term I’ve recognized a noticeable change in his bearing. He’s more on guard, more defensive. I suspected there was something going on in his homelife but he resisted all my attempts to chat about it.”

Ella had never once mentioned any issues with Brian. He was one of the first friends she had made after they moved here. Seemed odd that he wouldn’t talk with her about his frustrations. Kurt found this more than a little surprising.

“But he’s never spoken to you directly about any issues,” Kurt reiterated.

“He has not.” Lawler pursed his lips, then said, “There was an incident last week when I saw him pound the wall after arguing with one of his friends. When I questioned him about it, he assured me of course that it was nothing.”

“What about the friend?” Kurt asked. “Did you speak with him?”

“Her, actually,” Lawler clarified. “It was Ella, your daughter. She insisted it was only a misunderstanding. Did she mention anything about it to you?”

Ella had a disagreement with Brian just last week?

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