knees, moving carefully. For the first time, Kimberly realized their problem. There were many dried-up leaves on the ground. Red, yellow, brown. What color had been in the girl’s hair? Oh God, she already didn’t remember.
The backup sentries had edged closer. They had their hands on the stocks of their rifles. Kimberly brought up her chin and dared them to shoot her.
“You need to leave,” the first sentry repeated.
“No.”
“Ma’am, you depart on your own or we will forcefully assist you.”
Mac had a leaf now. He held it up, seemed to be frowning at it. Was he also wondering what color it should be? Could he remember?
“Lay a hand on me and I will sue you for sexual harassment.”
The Marine blinked. Kimberly blinked, too. Really, as threats went, that was a pretty good one. Even Mac had turned toward her and appeared sincerely impressed. The leaf in his hand was green. All at once, she relaxed. That made sense. The leaves already at the scene were old, from last fall. A green leaf, on the other hand, had probably been brought in with the body. He had done it.
They
had done it.
The backup sentries were now right behind the first pair. All four sets of male gazes stared at her.
“You need to leave,” the first Marine said again, but he no longer sounded as forceful.
“I’m just trying to do right by her,” Kimberly said quietly.
That seemed to disarm him further. His stare broke. He glanced down at the dirt path. And Kimberly found herself still talking.
“I had a sister, you see. Not that much older than this girl here. One night, a guy got her drunk, tampered with her seat belt, and drove her straight into a telephone pole. Then he ran away, leaving her there all alone, her skull crushed against the windshield. She didn’t die right away, though. She lived for a while. I’ve always wondered . . . Did she feel the blood trickling down her face? Did she know how alone she was? The medics would never tell me, but I wonder if she cried, if she understood what was happening to her. That’s gotta be the worst thing in the world. To know that you’re dying, and nobody is coming to save you. Of course, you don’t have to worry about such things. You’re a Marine. Someone will always come for you. We can’t say the same, however, for the women of the world. I sure couldn’t say the same for my sister.”
Now all the Marines were looking down. That was okay. Kimberly’s voice had gotten huskier than she intended. She was afraid of the expression that must be on her face.
“You’re right,” she said abruptly. “I should go. I’ll come back later, when an investigating officer is here.”
“That would be best, ma’am,” the Marine said. He still would not look her in the eye.
“Thank you for your help.” She hesitated, then just couldn’t help herself. “Please take care of her for me.”
Then Kimberly turned quickly, and before she did anything even more stupid, disappeared back down the path.
Two minutes later, she felt Mac’s hand upon her arm. She took one look at his somber expression and knew he’d heard everything.
“Did you get the leaf?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now would you like to tell me why you’re really here?”
And Mac said, “Because all these years later, I’ve been waiting for him.”
CHAPTER 9
Quantico, Virginia
12:33 P . M .
Temperature: 95 degrees
“ IT STARTED IN NINETEEN NINETY-EIGHT. June fourth. Two college roommates went out to a tavern in Atlanta and never came home. Three days later, the first girl’s body was found near Interstate seventy-five just south of the city. Four months later, the second girl’s remains were found a hundred miles away in Tallulah Gorge State Park. Both girls were found fully clothed and with their purses; no signs of robbery or sexual assault.”
Kimberly frowned. “That’s different.”
Mac nodded at her. They were in a corner of the Crossroads Lounge, huddled over a small table, heads
The backup sentries had edged closer. They had their hands on the stocks of their rifles. Kimberly brought up her chin and dared them to shoot her.
“You need to leave,” the first sentry repeated.
“No.”
“Ma’am, you depart on your own or we will forcefully assist you.”
Mac had a leaf now. He held it up, seemed to be frowning at it. Was he also wondering what color it should be? Could he remember?
“Lay a hand on me and I will sue you for sexual harassment.”
The Marine blinked. Kimberly blinked, too. Really, as threats went, that was a pretty good one. Even Mac had turned toward her and appeared sincerely impressed. The leaf in his hand was green. All at once, she relaxed. That made sense. The leaves already at the scene were old, from last fall. A green leaf, on the other hand, had probably been brought in with the body. He had done it.
They
had done it.
The backup sentries were now right behind the first pair. All four sets of male gazes stared at her.
“You need to leave,” the first Marine said again, but he no longer sounded as forceful.
“I’m just trying to do right by her,” Kimberly said quietly.
That seemed to disarm him further. His stare broke. He glanced down at the dirt path. And Kimberly found herself still talking.
“I had a sister, you see. Not that much older than this girl here. One night, a guy got her drunk, tampered with her seat belt, and drove her straight into a telephone pole. Then he ran away, leaving her there all alone, her skull crushed against the windshield. She didn’t die right away, though. She lived for a while. I’ve always wondered . . . Did she feel the blood trickling down her face? Did she know how alone she was? The medics would never tell me, but I wonder if she cried, if she understood what was happening to her. That’s gotta be the worst thing in the world. To know that you’re dying, and nobody is coming to save you. Of course, you don’t have to worry about such things. You’re a Marine. Someone will always come for you. We can’t say the same, however, for the women of the world. I sure couldn’t say the same for my sister.”
Now all the Marines were looking down. That was okay. Kimberly’s voice had gotten huskier than she intended. She was afraid of the expression that must be on her face.
“You’re right,” she said abruptly. “I should go. I’ll come back later, when an investigating officer is here.”
“That would be best, ma’am,” the Marine said. He still would not look her in the eye.
“Thank you for your help.” She hesitated, then just couldn’t help herself. “Please take care of her for me.”
Then Kimberly turned quickly, and before she did anything even more stupid, disappeared back down the path.
Two minutes later, she felt Mac’s hand upon her arm. She took one look at his somber expression and knew he’d heard everything.
“Did you get the leaf?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now would you like to tell me why you’re really here?”
And Mac said, “Because all these years later, I’ve been waiting for him.”
CHAPTER 9
Quantico, Virginia
12:33 P . M .
Temperature: 95 degrees
“ IT STARTED IN NINETEEN NINETY-EIGHT. June fourth. Two college roommates went out to a tavern in Atlanta and never came home. Three days later, the first girl’s body was found near Interstate seventy-five just south of the city. Four months later, the second girl’s remains were found a hundred miles away in Tallulah Gorge State Park. Both girls were found fully clothed and with their purses; no signs of robbery or sexual assault.”
Kimberly frowned. “That’s different.”
Mac nodded at her. They were in a corner of the Crossroads Lounge, huddled over a small table, heads
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