executive vans. ‘Ferriers of children to rehab. What a strange world we live in.’
They walked through the parking lot.
‘Looks like someone jizzed up the side of that one,’ said Ren, pointing to another black car.
‘How do you just come out with things like that?’ said Robbie.
‘It’s shameful,’ said Ren. ‘I apologize. But it’s a ranch for teens … hormones are rampant.’
‘That doesn’t mean—’
‘Robbie, I’m kidding. Jesus. I don’t think a kid’s been out here jacking off. It doesn’t even look like jizz. Relax.’
They went into the reception of the main building, showed their badges and asked to speak with Kristen Faule.
‘Sure,’ said the girl at the desk, ‘please, take a seat.’
Kristen Faule arrived within ten minutes. She looked to be in her mid-forties, her snowy blonde hair tied back into a plait that reached halfway down her back. The only makeup she wore was to define her eyebrows and darken her lashes.
‘I’m Special Agent Ren Bryce,’ said Ren, ‘and this is Detective Robbie Truax. We’re from the Rocky Mountain Safe Streets Task Force in Denver. Thank you for seeing us.’
‘My pleasure,’ she said. ‘Come on through to my office. My husband is on his way, he’ll join us there.’
‘Thank you,’ said Ren.
But why are you talking like you’re auditioning for a Disney movie and/or musical? Disney ways. I get it. Janine, I love you.
Ren and Robbie followed Kristen Faule into a large room that was like a combination living space, office and bookstore. It had a beautiful stone fireplace with a yellow ceramic jug of flowers in the hearth. There was a smell of freshly cut wood and oil. Everything looked rugged, rustic, but new.
‘This is a beautiful room,’ said Ren.
‘Thank you,’ said Kristen. ‘We’ve just had it remodeled. I only moved back into it a month ago.’
‘It will age real well,’ said Ren. ‘I love the shelves.’
‘Hand-crafted,’ said Kristen. ‘They’re my favorite feature.’
‘And they must be custom file cabinets,’ said Ren.
She nodded. ‘They are. I hate the metal look. I wanted everything to have as natural a finish as it could.’
Instead of sitting at her desk, she guided them over to two facing sofas. They were all halted by the mountains of cushions on top.
‘Just move them out of your way,’ said Kristen.
How many times a day do you have to say that to people?
Ren rolled her eyes at Robbie as they both plucked up cushions and set them on an empty console table.
The room overlooked a flagstone courtyard bordered by blue spruce.
‘I know you had detectives from the Sheriff’s Office here yesterday to let you know about the homicide,’ said Ren.
‘Yes – how terribly sad,’ said Kristen.
Ren nodded. ‘She was only twenty-six years old.’
Robbie leaned forward and took a brochure for the ranch from a stack on the table. ‘Do you mind?’ he said.
‘Not at all,’ said Kristen.
‘The Darned Heart …’ said Robbie.
‘It’s a play on words,’ said Kristen.
No way!
There was no doubt she had explained this a thousand times, but there was clearly no loss of enthusiasm. ‘These kids – or their parents – often feel like they are damned,’ said Kristen, ‘which is a terrible thing when they’re still in their teens. The kids have the strangest type of independence; it’s independence without the emotional maturity to handle it. And without the respect for authority that allows them to accept guidance from people who do. They want to do everything themselves and don’t want to listen to anyone. And then something happens in their lives and they break.
‘It doesn’t matter what their financial circumstances are, they are all, in some way, broken. Their hearts are broken. And we like to think we can help mend that. Darn it.’ She smiled. ‘It’s in honor of my grandmother, who always said you could “knit a problem away”.’
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.
