She mouthed, Sorry.
“All right, I’ll call Stenson and give him the good news.”
He pulled out his phone and headed for his vehicle but stopped after a few steps and turned. He looked at her for a long moment and said nothing. Whatever he was about to say was going to kill him if his sagging shoulders and hooded eyes gave any indication.
“In case this thing truly does turn out to be a murder, you need to get your alibi in order immediately. Without that… Well, I’m going to have to pull you from the case.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.” After all, she knew she hadn’t killed him.
“One more thing, and I mean it. Don’t touch a thing until your partner gets here.” Malone pulled out his cell phone and put it to an ear as he walked away.
Amanda looked heavenward again. After losing her husband and daughter, she’d blamed God, but if there was any chance that He or She could intervene and give her strength to see this investigation through, she just might try prayer again.
Three
The smaller the town, the harder it was to keep secrets. It had been the bane of Amanda’s existence since she was a little girl, but she’d always managed to dismiss the murmurings and gossip. After the accident though, it came to define her. She was the “poor thing” who had lost her husband and daughter. She was marked, unable to escape the repercussions. While other people moved on with their lives, she was locked in the past. Even the rare times she caught a glimpse of the horizon, she couldn’t seem to advance toward it.
She stood outside the motel room and blinked away snowflakes, gripping her coat to herself. They didn’t get much snow in Dumfries and it was sort of magical when it did happen. Lindsey used to squeal with delight and come
running to Amanda. “Mommy, Mommy, can I play outside?”
“Amanda? Hello.”
“What?”
“Where’s the sarge going?” Cud nodded toward Sergeant Malone, who was getting into his vehicle.
“Not his keeper,” she replied as Malone drove off. He probably wanted to remove himself as far as possible from this investigation. Normally he hung around crime scenes longer.
“You get the case?” Cud asked.
“I did.”
“Figures. And I’m your number two?”
“A shit? Yeah.” She didn’t really have a problem with Cud, not normally anyway. She just didn’t appreciate him accusing her of being unable to remain objective with this case.
He frowned. “Very funny.”
“And no, you’re not the number two. I am.” At least on paper, she thought.
“You—” Cud laughed. “I’ll be. Steele’s getting a partner. Still not me, I’m guessing?”
“Seeing as Malone never said a word to you? Wow, you should make detective.”
“Whatever. Guess I’m out of here then.” Cud trudged toward his vehicle, head into the wind.
Amanda walked over to Becky, who was stationed next to her cruiser. Sergeant Greer must have left while Amanda was talking to Malone.
“You okay?” Amanda asked Becky.
“Yeah, of course.”
“It looked like Greer was laying into you a bit.”
Becky rolled her eyes. “She can be a piece of work.”
“What was it all about?”