Page 31 of Every Deadly Suspicion

Nathan nodded. “It’s just the shock. This lady is like a kindly grandma.”

“How well do you know her?”

Nathan looked away, out into the darkness. “I just saw her at Scott’s funeral. Before that I’d spoken to her once or twice. Single, widowed, her son died from a fentanyl overdose about four months ago. We found him down by the train tracks. That was right before you and I became partners.”

Manny’s eyes widened. “I remember reading the press release. She’s a receptionist at the pro-life clinic, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Not exactly the profile of the other two. They were both pretty reclusive and looking for love in all the wrong places. Is she likely to be involved in an online relationship?”

Nathan stared at Manny. “I didn’t know Edda that well. She was single but not what I’d call a recluse. She was active in church, I know that. And I can’t picture her writing up a profile for a dating site.”

“Are you thinking this is a different guy?”

Nathan brought a hand to his chin and considered this. “I hope not. One monster is bad enough. Everything else looks the same, from the way she was dumped to the rope used. But here, she’s not placed. He dumped her. She rolled down into the ditch.”

“You’re right. Everything is similar, but not as precise. Even the knot on the rope, same kind but not tied as tight. We’ll have to wait for the coroner to give us a time of death.”

Nathan nodded, thinking about the funeral. Edda had asked him about the Lonely Heart case. She’d had faith that he’d catch the guy. The reality was like a kick to the gut.

I let you down, Edda, big time, and I’m sorry.

He shifted back to detached investigator mode. Her arms were restrained behind her like the others; a gunshot wound to the head. Everything looked fresh. Manny was right. This was a big break. The haste and timing of this dump could mean he was getting careless and would leave evidence.

After a few minutes, Nathan turned to Manny. “Let me talk to this witness.”

He followed his partner to the patrol car. Manny opened the back door, and Nathan leaned down to look inside. “What?” He frowned and jerked up. “What did he tell you his name is?”

“Cully, why?”

Nathan shook his head. “That’s Colby Ellis. He’s wanted all over the county for everything from theft to malicious mischief. Come out of there, Colby, and tell me why you’re lying.”

CHAPTER 16

HANNA NEEDED TO WASH AWAYthe specter of death. It haunted her when she thought of Joe Keyes and, sadly, Nathan. Old death, and now new death.

Fatigue and a heaviness in her soul descended on Hanna when she had the house to herself. It took all her energy to get up, clear the table, and head to the bathroom to run a bath. Sprinkling eucalyptus-scented Epsom salts into the water, she breathed deeply and worked to relax. Once the tub was full, she stepped in, carefully, because the water was hot, as hot as she could stand it. Steam rose from the liquid and Hanna sighed as she settled in for a soak. “Oh, Lord, I pray for peace and clarity.”

Her body relaxed but her mind would not quiet. She’d read the paperwork Giles had given her and kept thinking about Joseph Keyes dying of cancer. All these years, knowing that he was in prison, he’d lived in a safe, locked-up compartment in her mind. Someone she’d never meet. He was a two-dimensional figment of her imagination.

But now he wasn’t. He’d jumped off the page of that letter. In her mind’s eye she pictured the mustached, smiling man from the photo she’d seen so many years ago.

“... terminal cancer... receiving a compassionate parole... requesting release into your custody...”

My custody.

The father I’ve never met wants to die in my custody.

Hanna draped her arm on the edge of the tub and rested her head there, closing her eyes. She didn’t know what to feel. The anger and shock were gone. Nathan had told her to talk to Pastor Rick, get sound Christian counsel before making any decision. Maybe she would, but she knew what he would say.“Honor thy father and mother... Forgive as you have been forgiven.”She knew these truths, and she wrestled with them. Her thoughts were twisted in slippery knots as if they were mud wrestling.

In truth, the shadow of her father and what he had done had been a cloud over her whole life—a dark cloud, complete with thunderstorms, where her mother was concerned. Sometimes Hanna still wept for her mother. Her heart attack had been sudden and massive. There was no time for goodbyes, discussions about faith, or forgiveness.

I can’t give him my mother’s forgiveness. I’m not even sure I can give him mine.

It all came down to a very simple truth: she knew exactly what she should do, and she did not want to do it. He was a killer, he destroyed her mother’s life and Amanda Carson’s life. She had been two when her parents were murdered. Not to mention what Joe did to Everett Buckley’s family and life.

I don’t want to do him any favors. I don’t want a killer in my home.Everyone should understand that, most of all God.

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