He swabbed the back of her perfectly healthy-looking throat. “Sit tight, and I’ll have the results for you soon.” He picked up his computer and left, deciding he would have Julie deliver the results of what he suspected would be a negative test. In the hall he eyed her chart again. Wendy Ruell.
How do I know that name?
Luke Ruell. The kayak-rental-shop owner who had shown up as they’d investigated the grave in the state park. The one Tessa had said had been weird with the ice cream. The man flashed in Henry’s memory. Skinny. Rough around the edges. “Wendy has to be a sister or something,” Henry muttered. “He must have told her, and now she’s curious.”
But how did she know there was more than one victim?
Henry froze, certain Luke had left before the discussion about more graves and that the news that more had been found had been kept silent.
Someone could have talked.
Mike had emphasized that he wanted the body count kept quiet for now. No doubt the news of the first grave had spread, but Henry didn’t think the findings of multiple graves had. He needed to call Tessa to ask if other details had been released.
He strode down the hall to the front-desk area and found Bruce leaning over the counter, ogling his girlfriend. Both straightened and gave Henry sheepish looks.
“Bruce, you’re just who I need to see. Can I talk to you in back? Julie, can you process Wendy’s strep test while we talk?”
“Yep.” Bruce winked at Julie and followed Henry to an exam room. “What’s up?”
“Do you know if the news of the second and third graves has been made public?”
“It hasn’t. Mike was clear about keeping everything quiet for now, and Tessa agreed. Made us all swear to silence.”
“Does Julie know?”
Bruce pinkened. “Yeah. She doesn’t count. I’m sure Tessa told her guy.”
“So it’s possible word got around.”
“I seriously doubt it. We know who we can trust.” Bruce scowled. “What happened?”
“Remember Luke Ruell?”
“Yeah. Ice cream man.”
“His sister—or some sort of relative named Wendy Ruell—just asked me about ‘some bodies’ buried in the state park. She also pressed to know if you had a suspect or not.” Henry thought for a moment. “She came in with a sore throat, wanting a strep test, but I suspect she was fishing for information.”
Bruce pressed his lips together. “I’ve never cared for Luke. He just slinks around the island. Always see him in weird places. Tessa might believe he’s harmless, but he was there yesterday morning.”
“Could be a coincidence.”
“I know. But he rubs me the wrong way, you know?”
“Do you think he stayed and watched instead of leaving yesterday morning like he was told to do?”
“Or he could have been watching today,” said Bruce. “I stayed in the area for several hours yesterday after you and Tessa left. No one wandered in. But I swear I saw color in the woods at one point. Heard footsteps too. But that could have been an animal.”
“The color wouldn’t be an animal.”
“Kurt had part of the night watch. He told me he thought he heard someone, so he just yelled for them to get out of the area.”
“I’d leave if Kurt yelled at me,” said Henry, thinking of the tough older deputy.
Bruce laughed. “Me too. He’s old enough to be my grandfather, but I wouldn’t mess with him. Anyway, my point is that someone wanted to snoop.”
“Wendy really wanted to know if we had a suspect. Asked twice.”
“Like she was worried for Luke?”
“Or he sent her to see which direction the investigation was heading.”
The two men were silent for a long moment.
“Nah,” Bruce said. “Luke can’t be involved. The dude can barely rent out a kayak without screwing up something. There’s no way he killed and buried three bodies with no one knowing. But I’ll tell Tessa. Maybe she needs to have a talk with Luke.”
Julie knocked and opened the door. “The strep test is negative.”
“Let her know, and tell her we’ll call if the culture comes back positive.” Henry looked at Bruce. “Which it won’t.” Julie nodded and vanished.
“I feel like I’m making a big deal out of nothing,” Henry said. “We can’t know what gossip is out there.”
“Trust me,” said Bruce. “I’d be hearing right and left that there were multiple graves if the word was out. I’ve had several questions about the first grave, but no one has asked if there are more. I think it was worth mentioning to me. Always better to say something than ignore that gut feeling.”
“I agree,” said Henry. He walked Bruce out front. There was no sign of Wendy Ruell. “Wendy leave already?” he asked Julie.
“Yep. As soon as I told her the results, she was out of here.”
Henry exchanged a glance with Bruce, who shrugged.
The deputy gave Julie a quick kiss. “My mom will be in her new place by evening.”
“Thank you,” said Julie. “You know I love your mother, but . . .”
“Of course you do. Everybody loves her.” Bruce grinned. “I understand.”
Henry was glad he and Cate had their own space. He loved Jane, but if he and Cate and her grandmother had to live in a place as small as Bruce’s, he’d be searching for a solution too.
Bruce winked at Julie as he left.
Henry liked the young couple. Even though they’d been together over a year, they were still starry eyed when they saw each other.
I’m pretty sure I look like that around Cate.
“I’ve got two patients waiting for you in exam rooms,” Julie said, pulling him out of his thoughts.
Henry sighed, wishing the day were over. “On it.”
7
The FBI had arranged for a small plane from Widow’s Island to Aberdeen, Washington. From there it had been a quick car ride to the prison. During the hour-long flight, Cate had enjoyed the bird’s-eye view of the snowy Olympic Mountains and the deep greens of its forests.
There’d been a small knot in the pit of her stomach from the moment the plane had taken off, and now as she waited to enter the prison, it felt as though she’d stepped off a boat. The subtle rocking made her breathe deep to stay focused.
Why did I agree to this?
She rubbed a damp palm against the hip of her pantsuit. When she’d put it on this morning, it’d felt foreign. She’d straightened her long black hair and parted it directly in the center. It was more severe than her usual casual waves and side part. After eyeing the severe hairstyle, she’d added a dark-red lipstick, and an unfamiliar woman had been reflected in the mirror.
The hairstyle was a piece of armor. Like the pantsuit.
Am I nervous?
A little.
She and Mike had discussed using Lamb’s old interest in her to their advantage. Jeff Lamb might no longer be attracted to her, but it was worth a try.
Henry had done a double take when he’d first seen her. Surprise had lit his eyes—and then amusement. “You look great, Cate. Sort of a sexy-librarian vibe going on. Got any reading glasses?”