Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

“Say forties.”

Say…Again, not exactly a confidence booster. “Was he carrying anything, a bag or backpack?” She was thinking that the girl’s clothing had to be somewhere. If this ranger was the killer, he could have been carrying it out of the park. Then again, he could have stashed the girl’s possessions within the park.

“No, nothing.”

“Okay. Well, we appreciate all your help. We’re just going to need all your information in case we have more questions for you.”

“Detective”—Officer Cochran spoke up—“I have that already.”

Amanda dipped her head in acknowledgment, having almost forgotten she’d been standing there the entire time. “All right.” Back to the Swansons, Amanda said, “You can go home now if you like.”

Neither of them moved.

“Would you like to speak with a counselor? I can make arrangements,” Amanda offered.

Paul puffed out his chest and tightened his hold on his wife. “No, we’ll be all right.”

“If you change your mind, or if you think of anything, call me day or night.” Amanda handed her card to Paul, and he glanced at it before stuffing it into his coat pocket.

“Will do.”

Amanda and Trent left the couple and returned to the body, but stayed back to allow Rideout and his assistant lots of room to work. While Rideout was hunched near the young woman, his assistant stood close and at the ready for any of his boss’s requests.

“Here’s the Swansons’ information, Detective Steele.” Officer Cochran stepped up next to Amanda, extending a piece of paper toward her.

Amanda smiled. “Thank you.”

“No problem.”

A patch of silence fell, and the officer worried her bottom lip and didn’t move.

“Something else, Officer?” Amanda asked.

She nudged her head toward the body. “What do you think is going on here? Murder, obviously, but do you think she knew her killer? Is this an isolated incident or something more?”

“Answers I intend to find out.”