Page 64 of The Gentleness of Rage

“Jaelynn?”

“Shit,” she repeated and began to giggle.

Slate frowned at the mess as Ramirez approached.

“That’s… fingers!” Jaelynn cried, somewhat hysterically.

“Huh?” Slate said.

“That is what’s left of…” Jaelynn tilted her head, “two of Wade’s fingers. Oh!”

“Baby, did you slam the door on someone’s hand?” Slate asked, suddenly grasping what Jaelynn was saying.

Ramirez peered from Jaelynn to the gloopy mess and back again.

“Yeah.”

“Damn! It smushed… three fingers? It must have torn them clean off,” Slate explained, and Ramirez looked green.

“At least we’ve got DNA evidence,” Ben deadpanned.

“No shit,” Slate replied, amused.

“We should be disturbed,” Jaelynn murmured. “But I’m more than delighted.”

“Not surprised. Wade? You know who it was?” Ramirez inquired, glancing away from the smear.

“I’ll get forensics up here,” Ben mumbled and disappeared.

“Yeah, that was Wade Winslow. He’s Damien’s best friend,” Jaelynn explained.

Slate stiffened. “That was a cop?”

“Yes,” Jaelynn confirmed.

“He shot Sindy,” Slate muttered, and he and Ramirez swapped a look.

“What?” Jaelynn cried, alarmed.

“Sindy’s alive. Winslow got her in the shoulder, but Sindy managed to escape,” Slate added quickly before Jaelynn could feel guilty.

“Are they close?” Ramirez questioned.

“Very. Wade was always at our house for dinner. Damien even invited him on vacations,” Jaelynn replied.

“You thinking what I am?” Slate asked Ramirez, who nodded.

“Jaelynn, I hate to ask you this, but do you know this woman?” Ramirez said, pulling his phone.

He showed her a picture of the unidentified girl who was dumped outside the bar.

“That’s Lucy Rogers! Is that…?” Jaelynn’s voice trailed off. “Lucy was having an affair with Damien, but I heard she was getting pushy. Damien and Wade killed her, didn’t they? And the other women… They’ve known all along where I was.”

“I’m starting to believe so. When does Jaelynn get on that plane?”

“Three days from tomorrow,” Slate said.

“Keep Jaelynn under lock and key. I’m going to speak to Howser. This is bad,” Ramirez stated.

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