destructive relationship? Had she ever admitted it, even to herself? Holly thought about the mystery boyfriend and kicked herself for not becoming a better friend. She should’ve given Marcy a chance to talk about it—with someone who understood.
Another thought intruded. What if Peter’s gambling brunette was someone else and Marcy had gotten mixed up with Lee again?
“The lies that man told. All ‘I’ve changed, baby. I’ll never do it again.’” Yessica’s voice mocked the clichéd phrases. “He better not show his ugly face around here again, or…”
Yessica’s glower warned that Lee might go home minus a body part or two if he showed up.
“Was he here? Last week?” Holly asked.
“A couple of weeks ago. Lee’s such a damn charmer. Mama never believed he beat Maricella. The bastard was smart enough not to hit her face. Mama kept telling her to stay with him like a good wife should.”
Mrs. Ramirez encouraged her daughter to stay with an abuser? Holly struggled to keep her dismay off her face. Her own mother had been as protective as a grizzly bear over her cubs when Holly finally admitted Frank frightened her.
She’d moved three hundred miles across a mountain range to get away from Frank, because when she stopped and admitted it, he still frightened her.
“Lee got Mama to tell him where Maricella was living and working. When she disappeared last week, Mama was convinced she’d gone back to him and his fancy Westside condo.”
“Do you remember where he lives? The address?”
Yessica rattled off an address, a condo in the high-rent district overlooking Lake Washington.
“Why did she attract that sort of man?” Tears of frustration filled Yessica’s eyes. “Her childhood—our childhood—was sweet. Papa and Mama loved us very much. We had family. No one mistreated her. But it was like she thought she didn’t deserve to be loved by a good man.”
What a sad and simple statement. Everyone deserved an opportunity for love. In spite of her career aspirations, she hoped for the same chance. “You can’t blame yourself. You tried, but nobody really knows what’s happening in someone else’s mind, or why they make the choices they do. Marcy loved being back here, close to her family. She talked about all of you, all the time.”
Yessica’s tears overflowed. “She spoke of you as well. She said you were a friend.”
Holly grabbed another tissue, then stepped closer. “I wish there was more I could do.” The only thing she could do right now was put her arms around a grieving soul and hold on tight.
A few minutes later, Yessica wiped her eyes and sniffled. “Thanks.”
Holly stepped back. “Have you told the police here about Lee Alders?”
“Don’t they know? Maricella got the papers, the restraining order.” Yessica dabbed at her nose.
“In Seattle?”
“Yes.” Confusion wrinkled Yessica’s forehead. “The women’s advocate took the papers to the courthouse and the judge signed them.”
“I don’t know exactly how it works, if there’s a central database or something. The local cops might not know about the restraining order.” Holly considered what JC would say if she suggested he look at Marcy’s ex. “It would be better if you told the police about Lee.”
JC needed to know what Lee had done. That was where he should concentrate, not on Tim and Alex.
Or her.
Chapter Eleven
Tuesday morning
Holly spread the newspaper over the files on her desk. Coverage of Marcy’s murder had already moved from the front page to the second section. Today’s article offered a preliminary assessment of Marcy’s life, starting with, “No criminal record.”
Like that should be the highlight of anyone’s life.
The story mentioned Marcy’s job at the real estate company, the planned memorial service, and a private interment. Holly nearly spewed coffee over the next line. “Police again questioned local accountant Holly Price and developer
Another thought intruded. What if Peter’s gambling brunette was someone else and Marcy had gotten mixed up with Lee again?
“The lies that man told. All ‘I’ve changed, baby. I’ll never do it again.’” Yessica’s voice mocked the clichéd phrases. “He better not show his ugly face around here again, or…”
Yessica’s glower warned that Lee might go home minus a body part or two if he showed up.
“Was he here? Last week?” Holly asked.
“A couple of weeks ago. Lee’s such a damn charmer. Mama never believed he beat Maricella. The bastard was smart enough not to hit her face. Mama kept telling her to stay with him like a good wife should.”
Mrs. Ramirez encouraged her daughter to stay with an abuser? Holly struggled to keep her dismay off her face. Her own mother had been as protective as a grizzly bear over her cubs when Holly finally admitted Frank frightened her.
She’d moved three hundred miles across a mountain range to get away from Frank, because when she stopped and admitted it, he still frightened her.
“Lee got Mama to tell him where Maricella was living and working. When she disappeared last week, Mama was convinced she’d gone back to him and his fancy Westside condo.”
“Do you remember where he lives? The address?”
Yessica rattled off an address, a condo in the high-rent district overlooking Lake Washington.
“Why did she attract that sort of man?” Tears of frustration filled Yessica’s eyes. “Her childhood—our childhood—was sweet. Papa and Mama loved us very much. We had family. No one mistreated her. But it was like she thought she didn’t deserve to be loved by a good man.”
What a sad and simple statement. Everyone deserved an opportunity for love. In spite of her career aspirations, she hoped for the same chance. “You can’t blame yourself. You tried, but nobody really knows what’s happening in someone else’s mind, or why they make the choices they do. Marcy loved being back here, close to her family. She talked about all of you, all the time.”
Yessica’s tears overflowed. “She spoke of you as well. She said you were a friend.”
Holly grabbed another tissue, then stepped closer. “I wish there was more I could do.” The only thing she could do right now was put her arms around a grieving soul and hold on tight.
A few minutes later, Yessica wiped her eyes and sniffled. “Thanks.”
Holly stepped back. “Have you told the police here about Lee Alders?”
“Don’t they know? Maricella got the papers, the restraining order.” Yessica dabbed at her nose.
“In Seattle?”
“Yes.” Confusion wrinkled Yessica’s forehead. “The women’s advocate took the papers to the courthouse and the judge signed them.”
“I don’t know exactly how it works, if there’s a central database or something. The local cops might not know about the restraining order.” Holly considered what JC would say if she suggested he look at Marcy’s ex. “It would be better if you told the police about Lee.”
JC needed to know what Lee had done. That was where he should concentrate, not on Tim and Alex.
Or her.
Chapter Eleven
Tuesday morning
Holly spread the newspaper over the files on her desk. Coverage of Marcy’s murder had already moved from the front page to the second section. Today’s article offered a preliminary assessment of Marcy’s life, starting with, “No criminal record.”
Like that should be the highlight of anyone’s life.
The story mentioned Marcy’s job at the real estate company, the planned memorial service, and a private interment. Holly nearly spewed coffee over the next line. “Police again questioned local accountant Holly Price and developer
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