Page 32 of The Killer She Knew

“I’m not sure I’d consider it magic.” The marshal drove his hands into another pocket and pulled free a stick of silver-wrapped gum. “But it does its job, and I think if you eat any more candy, you’re going to end up in a hyperglycemic coma.”

She took the stick, instantly drawn by the heavy scent of mint as she unwrapped it and folded it into her mouth. The effect was instant. Calming. Just like him. Her heart rate would takea couple more minutes to settle, but her stomach seemed happy for the time being. “Lifesaver.”

“Funny, I was about to say the same thing about you.” That crooked smile was back, like he was trying to keep it to himself and failing. It fit his personality with a little bit of bad boy flair. Every schoolgirl’s fantasy and every father’s nightmare. She could imagine a younger version of him. All charm and no rules to hold him back. The kind of guy who wouldn’t lift a finger if told what to do. Interesting that he’d chosen the US Marshals Service. Then again, Ford mostly worked alone from what she’d observed. No partner. Free to chase fugitives across the country. His own boss, in a way. “That was impressive.”

“You can’t blame them for being scared.” Leigh buried the urge to swipe invisible dust off her sweats. What was the point? “But I don’t think we’ll have any more trouble. Now that they’ve seen what will happen if they turn on us, I doubt they’ll want to end up in the same room as Morrow. He’s not the best company right now.”

“You didn’t answer me before,” Ford said. “Go out with me.”

“You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. Probably makes you perfect for this job.” A flush that had nothing to do with adrenaline heated her skin. She was stalling, and they both knew it.

“I know you’re committed to your career, and we both travel for work. I know you’re trying to figure out how to be a mom, and this is a terrible idea.” Ford cocked his head slightly. As though she was something worth studying. “But I’ve got to be honest, I’ve never met anyone like you. And I want to know more. Just one date.”

“Weren’t you paying attention? My entire life story is in the hands of the forensic techs down the hall right now. All you have to do is read it.” Nerves coated her hands in a thin layer of sweat. She had no reason to decline. She was single. Hewas single. They had the same interests… in that they enjoyed chasing killers. She could do this. She could move on. Start a new chapter. When else would she get the shot? “All right. One date. After the case is finished.”

“It’s a deal.” Ford nodded.

Ava shoved through the horde of students.

Nerves contorted into full-blown concern as Leigh closed the distance between them, Ford pressing in at her back. Her senses scanned the room for the next threat. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Tamra. I can’t find her anywhere.” Out of breath, Ava dug her nails into Leigh’s arm. “She’s gone.”

TWENTY

Durham, New Hampshire

Thursday, October 10

9:02 a.m.

Tamra Hopkins wasn’t missing.

She was dead.

Leigh jerked Ava away as the body came into sight. Left right there in the middle of the second-floor corridor of lower administration offices. A scream-like gasp escaped the fifteen-year-old’s throat as reality crashed down around them. She twisted around to push Ava toward the stairs, but the damage had already been done. “Don’t look. Don’t look.”

They couldn’t disturb the crime scene.

But Ava wasn’t in her right mind. None of them were. A sick color of green infiltrated Ava’s face a split second before she slapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m going to be sick.”

Leigh grabbed for the nearest garbage can and passed it to her, holding Ava’s hair back as she emptied all those coveted calories into the bin. “It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

Ford’s frame maneuvered past them. He closed in on the body and gently tested the victim’s neck for a pulse. Raising his gaze to Leigh, he shook his head. Dead. He shoved to stand, his gaze searching around the scene intently.

The two campus police officers she’d noted downstairs rushed up the stairs. Then slowed in horror.

She could read their thoughts as clearly as if they’d spoken aloud. How had this happened right under their noses? How long had it been since they’d seen Tamra downstairs? An hour? Less? Leigh couldn’t help but run through every interaction, every change in the young woman’s expression, every word out of her mouth over the past twenty-four hours.

“I don’t understand. I just saw her.” Ava tried to breathe through the next round of heaving, but it would take a few minutes to work through the shock. “Who would want to hurt Tamra?”

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have seen her like this.” Leigh tried to rub small circles into Ava’s back, wishing it would do a damn bit of good for her own furious rush of loss. She hadn’t known Tamra Hopkins more than a day, but the young woman on the floor hadn’t deserved this. Any of this. She couldn’t stop that internal pull to check out the body. This didn’t feel like the meticulous premeditation the unsub had utilized in disposing of Alice Dietz’s remains. This was impulsive. A survival tactic. A mistake. “I’m going to take you back downstairs. Okay? We’ll get you some water, and you can rest until I’m done here.”

Man, she was really failing at this whole work–mom balance. Who the hell brought their child to a crime scene? Ava continued to clutch the garbage can—better to be safe than sorry—and Leigh set her hand at her daughter’s low back.

“No!” Ava twisted out of Leigh’s reach. “You can’t just put me somewhere out of sight and forget about me again. You said you would try harder. So try harder, Leigh.”

The girl certainly knew how to twist the knife poisoned with guilt for the kill. Leigh shifted her hands to Ava’s arms, squeezing all the love she could into that hold. It wasn’t enough. She had the feeling it would never be enough, but neither of them was exactly in a position for more at the moment. She couldn’t do this right now. They had to act fast while the evidence was still preserved.

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