should arrest her because she filed her taxes
late?
Sharon groaned in desperation.
She realized that she couldn’t find whatever it was that she was looking for in
the police reports, and, as always, she had to take a risk or she could forget
about this case, because it would be assigned to someone else. Sharon took the
last sip of her coffee and placed the mug on the coffee table; then she reached
for the phone. She knew what she had to do.
When Sharon dialed Rob’s number
she desperately hoped he would not shut her down, but she knew that even if he
did, it wouldn’t stop her.
“Hello?“
“Hey, it’s Davis.“
“Goddammit, can’t it wait until
tomorrow?“
“No, I’m going to Arizona.“
“What the hell are you talking
about? Do I need to remind you that there is a serial killer on the loose?“
“That’s exactly why I’m going.“
“I don’t understand.“
“I’m going to meet Kelly’s
parents.“
CHAPTER 20
“T here’s no way
in hell that you’re going anywhere!“
“Rob, I’ve never been so sure of
something in my life. I have to go.“
“And who’s going to pay for that
exactly?“
“I will, with my salary. I’d
hoped that the department would, but if that’s what it takes, I’ll pay for it
out of my own pocket.“
“You do realize that you’re
crazy, right?“
“Yes.“
“This is your answer? Yes? No explanation or even an apology?“
“Okay, Rob, I’m sorry for being
crazy. But I’m still going.“
“I don’t understand. Didn’t we
agree that you wouldn't get involved with Kelly Danes anymore? Or shall I
remind you of my talk with the commissioner? I am telling you flat out: You
are not going anywhere. “
* * *
“Detective Davis,
would you like something to drink? I made fresh lemonade.“
“That sounds great, Mrs. Danes.
Thank you.“
“Mrs. Danes?“ A smile formed on
her face. “Please, call me Miranda.“
Sharon took another homemade
cookie from the stacked tray. Table manners were definitely not her strong
suit, nor was controlling her gluttony.
Kelly’s mother retuned to the
living room as Sharon was trying to find a napkin to wipe the cookie crumbs off
her lips. It wasn’t very professional to lead a conversation with a mouth full
of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, no matter how delicious they may be.
Miranda watched Sharon with
delight. “It’s been so long since someone has enjoyed my cooking. After Kelly
left it was just me and Harold, my husband, but he passed away a couple of
years ago from a heart attack.“
“What a waste,“ Sharon blurted,
lacking every bit of tact.
Miranda stared at her with a
confused look that conveyed a shortage of understanding.
“I meant, it’s a shame that no
one has had the chance to enjoy your delicious food.“ She hoped the compliment
would compensate for her bluntness. How many times had she told herself not to
fire out every single thought that went through her mind?
“That’s nice of you, dear. I
would love for you to stay for dinner. As always, I’ve made too much food. A
force of habit, I suppose.“
Sharon desperately wanted to accept
Miranda’s invitation, not just because the alternative was a tuna sandwich and
a pack of Pringles that she’d bought at the airport, but because she recognized
loneliness in Miranda’s eyes, the longing for company. It was clear that her
daughter did not visit often.
“We’ll see when we’re done,“
Sharon tried to avoid a direct answer. “I hope our talk won’t make you miss
dinner,“ she added with a smile.
Miranda smiled back. She was warm
and folksy, a typical small town woman, lacking the suspiciousness that
typically characterized city people. She may not have been the intellectual
type, but she sure had a huge heart.
Kind of the antithesis of
Kelly.
* *
late?
Sharon groaned in desperation.
She realized that she couldn’t find whatever it was that she was looking for in
the police reports, and, as always, she had to take a risk or she could forget
about this case, because it would be assigned to someone else. Sharon took the
last sip of her coffee and placed the mug on the coffee table; then she reached
for the phone. She knew what she had to do.
When Sharon dialed Rob’s number
she desperately hoped he would not shut her down, but she knew that even if he
did, it wouldn’t stop her.
“Hello?“
“Hey, it’s Davis.“
“Goddammit, can’t it wait until
tomorrow?“
“No, I’m going to Arizona.“
“What the hell are you talking
about? Do I need to remind you that there is a serial killer on the loose?“
“That’s exactly why I’m going.“
“I don’t understand.“
“I’m going to meet Kelly’s
parents.“
CHAPTER 20
“T here’s no way
in hell that you’re going anywhere!“
“Rob, I’ve never been so sure of
something in my life. I have to go.“
“And who’s going to pay for that
exactly?“
“I will, with my salary. I’d
hoped that the department would, but if that’s what it takes, I’ll pay for it
out of my own pocket.“
“You do realize that you’re
crazy, right?“
“Yes.“
“This is your answer? Yes? No explanation or even an apology?“
“Okay, Rob, I’m sorry for being
crazy. But I’m still going.“
“I don’t understand. Didn’t we
agree that you wouldn't get involved with Kelly Danes anymore? Or shall I
remind you of my talk with the commissioner? I am telling you flat out: You
are not going anywhere. “
* * *
“Detective Davis,
would you like something to drink? I made fresh lemonade.“
“That sounds great, Mrs. Danes.
Thank you.“
“Mrs. Danes?“ A smile formed on
her face. “Please, call me Miranda.“
Sharon took another homemade
cookie from the stacked tray. Table manners were definitely not her strong
suit, nor was controlling her gluttony.
Kelly’s mother retuned to the
living room as Sharon was trying to find a napkin to wipe the cookie crumbs off
her lips. It wasn’t very professional to lead a conversation with a mouth full
of chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, no matter how delicious they may be.
Miranda watched Sharon with
delight. “It’s been so long since someone has enjoyed my cooking. After Kelly
left it was just me and Harold, my husband, but he passed away a couple of
years ago from a heart attack.“
“What a waste,“ Sharon blurted,
lacking every bit of tact.
Miranda stared at her with a
confused look that conveyed a shortage of understanding.
“I meant, it’s a shame that no
one has had the chance to enjoy your delicious food.“ She hoped the compliment
would compensate for her bluntness. How many times had she told herself not to
fire out every single thought that went through her mind?
“That’s nice of you, dear. I
would love for you to stay for dinner. As always, I’ve made too much food. A
force of habit, I suppose.“
Sharon desperately wanted to accept
Miranda’s invitation, not just because the alternative was a tuna sandwich and
a pack of Pringles that she’d bought at the airport, but because she recognized
loneliness in Miranda’s eyes, the longing for company. It was clear that her
daughter did not visit often.
“We’ll see when we’re done,“
Sharon tried to avoid a direct answer. “I hope our talk won’t make you miss
dinner,“ she added with a smile.
Miranda smiled back. She was warm
and folksy, a typical small town woman, lacking the suspiciousness that
typically characterized city people. She may not have been the intellectual
type, but she sure had a huge heart.
Kind of the antithesis of
Kelly.
* *
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