Page 16 of See How They Hide

Why hadn’t she stopped at the station? Called Kinder and let him know she was in town?

“Janice requested Pierce’s files from the university, we should have them first thing in the morning.”

“That’s great,” Kara said, and meant it.

The DA, a petite woman with a slight accent that Kara couldn’t place, said, “It took a bit of coaxing, they don’t like to share information, but as I pointed out, Icouldget a warrant, and they were saving both of us time and headache.”

“We had no doubt you’d get it,” Michael said with a charming smile.

He had been flirting with Janice Kwan since they arrived. It wasn’t obvious, but Kara knew Michael. Janice was definitely his type—he liked women in power who also looked very feminine. Maybe the contrast between power and sweetness? She didn’t know, but he was frustrated that their team traveled so much he didn’t have time to cultivate a relationship where he lived. He didn’t talk about it much, but when he did, she felt for him. Michael wanted a family. He didn’t have a good family growing up, so wanted to make his own.

The conversation shifted to reviewing interviews and updating data, and Kara tuned everyone out. Truth was, shewasexhausted, but if she went to the hotel, she wouldn’t be able to sleep.

She didn’t sleep much as a matter of course, but the last two days had been a whirlwind, and then there was the not-so-little life-changing decision to make an offer on a house in Alexandria, Virginia. She’d sold her condo in Santa Monica, and the same day she received the substantial money in her bank account, Matt had taken her through the neighborhood and said, “This feels like you.”

He was right.

It was a small house on a large odd-shaped lot with a view of the Potomac River from the front porch because of a protected park across the road. It was both private—a rare half acre lot in the area—and in the middle of everything, walking distance to restaurants and a corner grocery store. That he understood her, that he didn’t pressure her to move in with him, meant everything to her.

But putting an offer on the property was a major step. She was content to live in the dorms at Quantico, where she’d been staying since November. They were busy and in the field a lot, so it wasn’t like she was stuck there.

Still...having her own place with her own things would be nice. Plus, more privacy.

So all the stuff going on in her personal life, coupled with this case that she’d been working practically around the clock for the last few days, had her unusually out of sorts.

She kept going back to Jane Merrifield’s life. No boyfriend, a lot of friends but no one close, a simple, sterile room that just didn’t say college girl to Kara.

Kara couldn’t get rid of the tickle in the back of her head, that there was something very strange going on. Maybe it was the poppies that creeped her out.

The only real commonality—other than the connection to Colorado that Matt and Sloane had uncovered today—was that both Jane and Benson were spiritual. Though Jane didn’t regularly attend church, she had a well-worn Bible and religious books on her shelves. But that might not mean anything. A lot of people went to church or believed in a higher power. A lot of people contemplated spiritual questions.

In the larger context, what mattered was why these two people—with minimal connections, whose paths didn’t appear to have crossed, who didn’t seem to know each other—were killed in the same manner on the same day.

She sensed everyone was wrapping up, so she said, “I’d like to see where Jane’s body was found.”

Ken said, “We already collected evidence and released the area.”

“All evidence has been sent to Quantico,” FBI Agent Tucker added. “What do you hope to find?”

Kara had been on several task forces in the past. Sometimes, they worked. More eyes reviewing evidence, exploring different angles, getting the job done faster to save lives.

But sometimes, they failed. It shouldn’t matter why she wanted to see the crime scene. Like Jane’s room, she wanted a better sense of the crime, the victim, the killer. How could she explain that she simply wanted to stand in the spot where Jane Merrifield was killed andabsorbthe area? It made no sense, even to her.

“I don’t expect to find anything,” Kara said.

Michael, ever the diplomat, said, “Let’s stop there on our way to the hotel. We need to check in, and I’m hungry.”

She smiled gratefully at her partner. “Good idea.”

“Hold that thought,” Michael said when his phone vibrated. “Can you give me a second?” He stepped out and Kara wondered what was going on.

She didn’t have to wait long. Less than two minutes later, Michael returned. “That was my boss. Another body has turned up, high probability it was our killers.”

“Where?” the sheriff asked.

“New Mexico.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to go to the hotel and catch a nap?” Michael asked as he parked near Lithia Park in Ashland.

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