Страница 44 из 101
Pastor Wertz said the “Amen” and Susa
Quickly she wiped her face again. “Did I fix it?”
Al tipped her face up. “Yeah. You okay?”
No. “Yeah.” She turned to Luke. “You don’t have to babysit me. I’ll be fine.”
Luke didn’t look like he believed her, but nodded. “I do need to get back. I have an appointment at two. Call if you need me or if you see anyone who looks familiar.” He looked around. “I did want to talk to Kate Davis. Do you see her?”
Susa
Luke looked at Al. “There are cops everywhere. If you need to, yell.”
Al watched him go, then looked down at her, brows lifted. “He’s very… nice.”
Way too nice for me. “Let’s go back. I haven’t spent any time with Jane Doe today.”
She’d only taken a few steps when a woman stopped in her path. She was tall, blond, and smileless. “Hi,” she said nervously. “You’re Susa
Al’s hand closed over her arm protectively. “I am,” Susa
“I don’t think so. I’m Gretchen French.”
The victim Chloe Hathaway said was trying to organize a press conference. How could she have found out so quickly? “What can I do for you, Miss French?”
“I met your brother Daniel a few days ago. I heard he was shot by Randy Mansfield.”
The knot in her chest loosened. “He was, but he’ll be all right.”
Gretchen smiled, but it looked like it cost her. “I just wanted to ask you to thank him for me. He and Talia Scott made a very difficult time more bearable. He’s a kind man.”
Susa
“It’s nice of you to come today, to pay your respects to Sheila in Daniel’s place.”
Susa
“Then you knew Sheila?”
“No.” Just say it. Say it. Say it and it will be easier the second time.
Gretchen’s brows crunched. “Then why are you here?”
Susa
Gretchen’s mouth dropped open. “But… I…” She stared. “I had no idea.”
“I didn’t know about you either, or any of the others. Not until Daniel told me on Thursday. I thought I was the only one.”
“So did I. Oh God.” Gretchen took a steadying breath. “We all did.”
“I gave my statement to ASA Hathaway today,” Susa
Gretchen was still stu
Difficult. She was begi
“I suppose you know that better than any of us. I read that you’re a prosecutor now.”
“Now,” Susa
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me, please. I’ll give you my card. Call me when the arrangements are made.” She’d bowed her head to search her purse when a sharp crack split the air.
In an instant Susa
Dazed, Susa
And Susa
Red lips. She has red, red lips. The color showed through the black lace, creating a startling effect. And then the woman slipped into the crowd and was gone.
“Are you all right?” Al shouted over the panicked screams.
“I’m fine.”
“Stay down another few- Oh, shit.” Al leaped up and Susa
Twenty uniformed police stormed the area, and Susa
“Stay put,” Susa
Kate Davis lay on the ground between two tombstones, staring skyward, her white shirt already red with blood. One arm lay flung outward, a gun still clutched in her hand.
Two officers were holstering their weapons. Susa
Al looked down, stu
“Step aside, please.” Paramedics were pushing her out of the way, again for the second time in twenty-four hours. She stood up, her legs like rubber.
“Al…”
His arms came around her, keeping her from crumpling to the ground again as her knees buckled. He shielded her with his body as cameras began to flash. “Just come with me.” He was breathing hard. “Susa
“Yeah,” Susa
Ta
He obeyed and in ten seconds they’d cleared the cemetery gates. “Is it done?”
“Of course.” And exactly as pla
“Did anyone recognize you?”
“No.”
Ta
“Sheila always wore this color. I thought it was a nice touch.”
Ta
“I dropped the one I used on Rocky in the grass, just like I’d pla
“So Susa
“Of course not.”
Ta
Bobby frowned back. “I don’t miss. If I’d meant to hit Susa
“So who else did you shoot?”
“I have no idea,” Bobby said cheerfully. “Just a woman unlucky enough to be standing next to Susa
“Your father had it coming,” Ta
He wasn’t my father. “So did Rocky. Let’s get back to Ridgefield now. We have some things to do before you leave for Sava
Ta
Bobby twisted, ducking below the dash. “I didn’t see any police cars.”
“It was unmarked, but it’s gone now. Let’s get out of here.”
Dutton, Saturday, February 3, 12:05 p.m.
Luke ran from his car, heart pounding. Shots fired, Dutton Cemetery. As soon as he’d heard the words on his radio, he’d U-turned and raced back. Susa