to solve a murder and find a missing girl. This is my partner, Joseph Santino. He’s working on the case with me.” Joseph and Sandy shook hands, then Catelyn said, “We need to know if anything’s come back on the blood found on the ring.”
“Hmm. I’m not sure. We had that murder-suicide on the other side of town and things have been a little crazier than usual around here.”
Great. “I hate to be pushy, but do you mind putting a rush on it? There’s a killer out there and a missing girl.”
Concern flickered across the woman’s face. “I heard. I know Greg was working with the ring. Come on and let’s see if he’s in the lab.”
The three marched down the hall and Catelyn couldn’t help feeling the thrill, the excitement that came with her job. Sure, she hated the deaths, the psychos out there who caused such pain and misery to others, but she knew she was right where she was supposed to be.
She was born to be a cop. A detective. Her mission in life was to put the bad guys away. She didn’t have time for romance or a family—or Joseph.
Right, God? God had been strangely quiet with the answer to that question lately and she wondered if the pang she felt in the vicinity of her heart meant she wasn’t exactly on the right track. Lord?
She looked at Joseph, his rugged profile so familiar; one she’d never tired of looking at during the time they’d dated. Pain seared her. The loss of his presence in her life left a gaping hole she realized she’d never completely filled.
It was too bad he’d never understood that part of her personality, the cop part; it grieved her that he couldn’t accept she’d never be the traditional happy homemaker he envisioned when he pictured his wife.
Unfortunately, she knew this all too well. After all, it’s what had broken them up two years ago. Joseph Santino had wanted her to stop being a cop, stay home and be his wife. A mother to his children. Part of her regretted that it wasn’t enough; she grieved the loss of his companionship, her best friend.
But there was no way she’d ever give up her career. Not even for the man she loved.
Just wasn’t going to happen.
Joseph watched Catelyn in action. She loved her job, that was obvious. He saw her disappointment when Sandy returned with no news. “But I promise to let you know as soon as it’s processed. I’ve got your cell number, and I’ll call you myself.”
Catelyn agreed and then she and Joseph were headed back out. He asked, “Where to now? Billy Franklin?”
“Yes. Esterman High School.”
He climbed behind the wheel again without asking. He knew she preferred to ride rather drive. He was falling comfortably into old routines.
As they drove through the streets, Catelyn looked out the window. He decided to touch on the past a little. “How’s your mom?”
If he’d zapped her with a Taser, he wouldn’t have gotten more response. Her head whipped around and she seared him with her gaze. “What?”
“Your mother. How is she?”
“In a nursing home. Dying.”
Oops. He hadn’t expected that one. He should have done his homework before venturing into uncharted territory. “Aw, Catie, I’m sorry.”
She looked back out the window. “You didn’t know. Did you let the school know we were coming?”
Her way of saying “Back off.” Another topic not up for discussion. But he remembered her mother and genuinely wanted to know about her. Give it time, he told himself.
“Yes, I did.” He let the subject drop.
He turned into the parking lot of the high school and she gave him a half grin. “At least you haven’t lost your sense of direction.”
For a moment he blanked, then the memory rushed forward. The day they’d gone hiking in the North Carolina woods, searching for a specific waterfall.
“This way,” he’d insisted, pointing toward a path that branched to the left.
“No Joseph, it’s this way. I have it right...
“Catie, I know exactly where I’m going. Now be quiet so I can concentrate.”
They’d wandered around for the next two hours in silence. Finally, he’d stopped and told her he was going to have to call and get directions.
She’d silently handed him her BlackBerry and suggested he follow the map she’d found online two hours ago.
At his stunned expression, she’d laughed herself silly. Humiliated, he’d sat beside her, fuming. But then her infectious giggles eventually got to him, the ability to laugh at himself making its way to the surface, and he’d found himself chuckling along with her.
They’d found the waterfall in a matter of minutes and shared the sweetest kiss he’d ever experienced.
Now, he spotted the glint in her eye. So, she still thought about their times together, too. Interesting. Heartening. Hope rose within him, but instead of making a big deal about it, he gave her a mock glare and said, “Cute.”
She laughed and exited the car, leading the way to the front door of the school.
Their mood turned serious as they entered the building. Joseph watched her shutters come back down. All cop now, she was back to business. Flashing her badge at the receptionist, she said, “Did Billy Franklin’s mother call to let you know we were coming?”
“Yes, she did.”
“Is there a room where we could speak with him privately?”
“Of course.”
They walked down a short hall to a conference room. She said, “I’ll just page Billy for you.”
She left, and Joseph paced.
A few minutes later, the door opened once again and a young man who Joseph knew to be seventeen years old, entered. He had on baggy jeans and a light sweatshirt with the school logo emblazoned across his chest. He looked scared and tired, like he hadn’t had much sleep lately.
Probably hadn’t. Not with his kid sister missing.
Following Billy was Coach Dillard. “I’m sorry,” Joseph stopped his advancement into the room, “You can’t be here.”
“Billy asked me to join him. Is it all right?”
Joseph looked at Billy then over at Catelyn. She shrugged. “If he wants him here, I guess.”
Alan sat next to Billy at the table. “I assume this is about Kelly.”
“You assume right,” Catelyn said.
Joseph turned his attention back to the boy. “Do you know if Kelly and Tracy were together at the school Tuesday night?”
