Danni Rose (The Sherwood)

“A local woman was found in a ditch. She’s been identified as someone Jesse was seen with, and Jesse is a person of interest in her murder. John wants you to identify her to see if she’s the woman that was in his hotel room that day you and Matt saw Jesse last.”

Running his hands through his hair, his gut twisting, he mumbled, “Dammit.” He whipped his apron over his head and went around the bar. Simon slapped him on the back and he turned.

“It will be fine,” Simon promised him.

“Check on Danni,” Walker requested.

“We will,” Simon agreed.

Walker followed Hawk out to the parking lot. The clouds were turning the nighttime sky pitch black. A storm was brewing. “Rain’s coming in. Weatherman is calling for a severe thunderstorm.”

Walker grunted in response.

Hawk had his truck not his police cruiser. Walker went to the passenger door and climbed into the plush seat. His hand ran across the fine leather. He glanced across at Hawk. “Nice truck.”

“Yeah, hefty payments too but before I retire I wanted something that would feed my ego. Esther hates it.”

“I imagine,” Walker replied. The payment was probably close to a house payment for some in Sherwood.

“Where did they find her?” Walker asked looking out the window.

“Rural road, in Severe. Maybe Jesse hadn’t left town,” Hawk suggested.

Walker nodded. Hell, he didn’t know. No one could predict what his brother was going to do or not do. “How was she killed?”

“Like the other girl. Strangled.”

“You think Jesse has become a mass murderer that likes to kill, young women?” Walker asked.

“No, I don’t. These girls were strangled from behind. The blonde was dead in the motel bed. She struggled. Her nail marks were in the headboard.”

“What does that tell you?”

“Nothing other than somebody was leaving a message for Jesse. Maybe they just missed him and the brunette.”

Walker nodded. “What’s her name?”

“Danielle Richards. She was young, too young for this to have happened to her.”

Walker shook his head. He dreaded what Hawk was about to tell him. “How old?”

“Sixteen,” Hawk replied.

“Dammit, I thought the other one was young.”

“Laura Roberts was twenty. Both worked for the diner in Severe. That’s how Jesse met them. Danielle Richards was a student at Severe High School. Her sister Bindi didn’t know where she was when she was with Jesse and Laura.”

He just kept shaking his head. He didn’t know what to say. Then he ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, Hawk. If there’s anything I can do to catch my brother

before he wrecks more havoc, you know I’ll help.”

“I know that,” Hawk replied.

The rain was pouring by the time they reached the Severe Police Station. A broad man with dark hair, slicked away from his face by the rain and a blonde woman who was shapely and appeared to be expecting a child led a sobbing young woman down the stairs as he and Hawk approached them. They stepped aside letting the man who was holding her on her feet led her to a truck. The woman opened the door. He held it until she was settled inside. Then she told the woman, “Bindi, you and Margo can stay with us tonight.”

Walker’s head spun around. The sister of the slain, young woman. What could he say to her? I’m the brother of the man who either killed your sister or got her killed. You don’t know how sorry I am. He glanced towards Hawk whose eyes were filled with compassion.

Rain soaked them as they stood at the base of the steps. The tall, man, shorter than Walker by an inch or so but just as broad, limped to his truck and climbed behind the wheel while the woman went to the passenger seat. They had to be husband and wife. Both wore wedding rings, Walker noted. He also saw the way that the man looked at the woman. The way that he looked at Danni. He looked down then he told, Hawk, “Let’s go inside and get this over with.”