Page 117 of Three for a Girl

“Well, you’ve got to be a bit tortured to do what he did to Ellen and Kerion.”

“Every killer has a motive, even if it’s just they felt the urge to kill.”

Carter adjusted his grip on the wheel. “And what motive do you think Andrew had?”

“He thought Ellen and Kerion were responsible for his daughter’s disappearance.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

Carter shuffled his back against his seat, darting looks in the mirror. Chad thought he looked nervous, but then again, Carter was sitting in a car with him. Their previous encounters had been anything but normal.

“Well?”

“We’re looking into it.”

“Looking into it?”

“Shit,” Chad hissed, the car swerved slightly, but he pretended he hadn’t noticed. Carter shot him a wide eyed look.

“What is it?”

“I haven’t even mentioned it. Marcy’s operation. Congratulations.”

An unsteady laugh left Carter. “It was one of the more stressful days as a doctor, that’s for sure.”

“It all worked out in the end. You’re a hero.”

“I wouldn’t go that far.”

“Don’t be modest.”

“It’s my job.” He shrugged. “It’s what I’m trained to do, same way you’re trained to catch killers and you caught Andrew. Job done. Case closed.”

“Yes, I guess so. It’s always satisfying when we get the result we want.”

Carter sunk into his seat, nodding. “Definitely.” He leaned forward, peering at the sky through the windscreen. “I was starting to think I’d never see rain again.”

It pattered against Chad’s window and just the sight of it was refreshing. He pressed his forehead against the glass and sighed.

“Just in time.”

“You sure you’re all right?”

Chad scrunched his face tight at Carter’s concern. “I will be once I’m home.”

****

Carter whistled at the house. “You live here?”

“It’s peaceful.”

“There’s peaceful and then there’s serial killer vibes.”

Chad’s snort turned into a full-on laugh. Carter found him in the mirror, laughing, too. They both descended into hysterics, but it was Carter who recovered first, lifting his glasses to wipe his eyes.

“I like the outhouse. I’d love to build one to hold all my cars—my garages can’t take anymore.”

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