Page 17 of Everything She Feared

And it was Pierce’s job to tell them.

“I’m Detective Kim Pierce—” she started.

But Chuck Shaw pressed on. “Listen,” he said, fear and anger carved deep into his face. “Lynora gets a call from a parent that something’s happened to Anna. I leave my work site, get her at the bank—the whole time we’re driving here no one’s telling us a damn thing!” Shaw cast around at the distant helicopter. “Are you going to tell us?”

Pierce blinked several times, her eyes softening as she reached into her pocket and showed them Anna’s driver’s license.

Lynora’s hands flew to her mouth.

“Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, is this your daughter, Anna Catherine Shaw?”

Lynora clamped her eyes shut, squeezing out thick streams of tears.

“Yes,” Chuck said, his voice shattering.

“I’m so sorry, but I have bad news.”

“Oh, God, no!” The words scraped up Lynora’s throat.

The man and woman behind the Shaws, Lynora’s sister and her husband, stepped closer, putting their hands on their shoulders.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you,” Pierce said calmly, her voice firm but warm. “Anna was on a cliff when she fell a great distance. She was so badly hurt she didn’t survive. I’m so sorry.”

Lynora crumpled. Chuck, his brother-in-law and Lynora’s sister caught her. Then a soft moaning escaped from Lynora’s very marrow, growing into a banshee wail that exploded from the enclave, blowing out over the parking lot, knifing through the trees and shooting into the sky. Chuck held her, a deep low groan quaking through him.

Paramedics had already opened the rear doors of their ambulance and, with the help of Lynora’s sister and her husband, they got the Shaws seated on the rear entrance.

Pierce and the others stood with them, helpless. Paramedics shrouded the couple with a blanket. Lynora’s sister lowered herself, rubbing Lynora’s and Chuck’s legs, minutes passing, their grief consuming them.

Lynora’s face was buried in Chuck’s chest. He held her head, his eyes blank, until his jaw began working, trying to push out words.

“How—how—Why did she fall?”

Pierce looked into his anguished face.

“A witness told us she was taking a selfie.”

“A selfie?” he repeated in a weakened voice. “A selfie? Our daughter died because of a freaking selfie?” He shook his head. “Who was the witness who saw her?”

Pierce hesitated, but decided to tell them. They’d find out soon enough.

“Katie Harmon.”

Chuck shut his eyes, nodding. “Anna babysits Katie. She slept at our house last night for this trip. They were up early with me. I drove them to the Sunny Days bus.” He dragged a hand over his face. “The last thing Anna said to me was ‘love you, Dad.’”

He began sobbing.

Lynora lifted her head, speaking as if her words were too heavy.

“I have to see Anna. Where is she—take me to her.”

“I’m so sorry,” Pierce said. “But it’s not possible at this time.”

“Why not?” Chuck asked. “She’s our daughter. We want to see her.”

“The medical examiner’s team is with her. And at this time, with these cases, it’s procedure for the medical examiner’s team to transport her to their office at Harborview. Their staff will talk to you there, at their office on Jefferson, about next steps and arrangements.”

Pierce allowed a few seconds, then made eye contact with the Shaws’ brother-in-law.

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