Page 42 of Long Road Home

“None of my business when the guests come and go. I don’t want to know.”

She stepped back outside.

“Are you going to knock,” Maizie said, “or just sit in the parking lot and wait for him to come out, or go in?”

“I’ve got a better idea.” Kenna turned on her car so it would heat up and took off her gloves. She texted Kobrinsky with the information so he could pass it on to Sheriff Gingrich, as though from an informant or as an anonymous tip.

All she needed to do was wait until someone from the sheriff’s department showed up.

Maizie said, “I have an answer for you about Marion and the killer Forrest is looking at.”

“Yeah?” Kenna said.

“The files Forrest collected that she sent to me are all bodies that washed up on the shore of Lake Michigan. The theory was that the killer took them, went out on a boat, and killed them on the water. Then dumped their bodies in the lake. But some washed up—whether intentionally or accidentally.”

Kenna had a number of theories about that.

“But Marion has never done anything like that. She has no access to a boat that I can see, and there’s no indication she ever has. Plus, the victims Forrest’s killer took were never reported missing. No one ever noticed they were gone.”

Which, in a way, might be more tragic, except that Marion’s victims had been innocent children.

Kenna said, “What about the file number Pastor Bruce gave me?”

“Hopefully, Kobrinksy will send it tomorrow even if he’s out sick for a few days. But you could remind him he said he would get it to you.”

“I’ll go talk to the pastor as well, see if he’s willing to tell me anything.” Tomorrow. Not tonight. The way her head pounded, she really did need a solid night of sleep. Hopefully, that would come knowing Stan Tilley was in custody.

“Marion’s victims were spread out because the media ran each one and people were in an uproar.”

“But no one ever put it together that they went to the same school.” Kenna paused. “Because there only is one elementary in this area.”

“One of the kids was homeschooled, right? What’s her name…” Maizie’s voice trailed off.

“Rebekah Merrington,” Kenna finished.

She needed to pay the mom a visit as well. Take her up on the offer of seeing pictures and talking about her daughter. Again, hopefully after Stan was in custody.

She didn’t want to bring danger to innocent people. Especially ones who had suffered enough.

Was that what she was doing with Jax? Following the same line of thinking that kept her apart from people for fear that her decision to go hard after evil and injustice would hurt others?

It sounded noble, and it was a good thing with innocent people. But with Jax? He knew what he was getting into.

“I have to make a call,” Kenna said.

“He’s on his way home,” Maizie said. “He stopped by the grocery store on the way from his sister’s house to his.”

“Did you put a GPS tracker on my boyfriend?” Kenna chuckled.

“I just have movement alerts on his phone, that’s all. He added me to his family on this app that lets you see where everyone is. I put you on there as well.”

So if Kenna accessed the app, she could see where Jax was whenever she wanted? That might bejust a tadstalkerish. Butshe wanted to, even if all she would see was a little icon of him. Did the sense of connection from knowing his whereabouts help him feel closer to her?

“Bye, Maze.”

“Dispatch just sent the deputy over to your location.”

“Thanks.” Kenna hung up and dialed Jax.

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