Page 2 of The Girl in the River

DAY 1

A girl’s wedding was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.

Detective Ellie Reeves studied herself in the mirror, adding a hint of blush to highlight her sea-blue eyes. She didn’t normally wear makeup, but today was special, and she’d decided to indulge her feminine side. Her off-the-shoulder sundress accentuated her ash-blond hair which she’d styled into loose curls around her face. She pushed her feet into silver sparkly heels, a major change from her hiking boots and sneakers. She just hoped she didn’t faceplant in the middle of the ceremony.

She spotted her badge and her gun on the dresser, and she ran her finger over the cool metal. She was tempted to leave them behind.

After all, Vera, her adopted mother, would be appalled to know she was carrying a weapon to a wedding. Ellie had forever balked at Vera’s nudges to find a good man and tie the knot. She didn’t intend to give up her badge for anyone.

Still, she felt naked without her shield and weapon, so she slipped them inside her pearl-adorned clutch.

Her new friend Mia Norman had been planning her big day for weeks now. Although Ellie had only known Mia six weeks, she didn’t want anything to go wrong for her.

After the last gruesome case Ellie had worked, where she’d literally uncovered a mass graveyard, she’d decided to brighten up the exterior of her small bungalow with some curb appeal. Mia, who’d been shy and withdrawn when they’d first met, worked at the local gardening center, The Green Thumb, and had added magic to Ellie’s yard with bright pockets of sunflowers, pansies and Gerber daisies – all of Ellie’s favorites.

But while Mia worked in Ellie’s front yard, surrounded by the beauty she was creating, sadness permeated her hazel eyes. Ellie wondered what her new friend had gone through – what she was harboring.

You’re being paranoid, she told herself. A hazard of the job.

A knock sounded on the front door. Expecting her date, Special Agent Derrick Fox, Ellie rushed to answer it. Since they’d closed the last case, they’d developed a tentative closeness and she was glad he’d agreed to accompany her today.

She stumbled on her heels, then slipped them off and carried them in her hand to the door. But when she opened it, the dark look on Derrick’s face, coupled with the fact that he was wearing jeans and a button down shirt instead of a suit, indicated he’d changed his mind.

Disappointment flitted through her, but she simply raised a brow. “Derrick?”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I can’t go.”

Ellie barely resisted thumping her bare foot in irritation as she waited for an explanation. On the job she’d learned to be patient. Silence was the most effective technique in making someone talk.

He’s not a suspect, she reminded herself.He looks troubled.Or… maybe he’d just changed his mind about the two of them.

With a sigh, he ran his fingers through his thick brown hair. “I’ve been called to attend the reading of Rick’s will.”

Ellie’s heart stuttered at the timing. In honor of Memorial Day, flags and markers of fallen soldiers who’d lived in Bluff County lined the streets of Crooked Creek. Derrick had served with his military buddy Rick. With Rick’s recent suicide, the ceremonies to honor the soldiers had to be tough for Derrick. Worse, Rick’s wife Lindsey seemed to blame Derrick.

Compassion welled in Ellie’s chest. Derrick still harbored guilt for Rick’s death and the mission they’d run together, which had taken innocent lives. “I’m sorry. I know today will be difficult,” she said softly. “Do you want to come in and talk about it?”

He shook his head, his expression tormented. “I just wanted you to know the reason,” he murmured.

Ellie nodded. “Thanks. I could skip the wedding and go with you,” she offered.

He stepped away from her. “No, I need to do this alone.”

She wanted desperately to draw him into a hug, to kiss him and assure him everything would be okay, that his friend’s death wasn’t his fault.

But she sensed him shutting down again.

And then he was gone.

TWO

MAGNOLIA MANOR

Today twenty-seven-year-old Mia Norman was marrying the man of her dreams.

Yet as she looked in the mirror at her reflection – the beautiful lace veil, the simple pearl earrings, the necklace that had belonged to her mother – she saw the lies hidden in her eyes.

Jesse’s image taunted her.

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