“Director?” Frank asked. “Do you have a moment? This is Frances Mussen. Her daughter is Alina.”
She had zero moments, but she’d never hurt a person who was mourning a victim. Alina was theirs now, and she’d get her justice.
Elizabeth opened her mouth to tell the woman how sorry she was that they were disturbing her daughter, but she didn’t get it out.
The woman slapped her hard, getting her across the face with her hand.
Frank gasped, and security moved, but she stopped them from grabbing the woman.
Oh, if anything, she understood it.
There were days she wanted to slap the shit out of just about everyone.
Today was one of those days.
“You shouldn’t be defiling my daughter’s grave!” she said. “She was killed in an accident. She deserves peace! You’re justtrying to get media attention! That’s what you’re doing, and with my daughter’s remains!”
Frank held the woman back. To his credit, he genuinely looked surprised that the woman had struck her. Hitting a Fed, particularly this one, was never a good idea.
“I’m sorry, Director,” he said.
Did she believe that?
She wasn’t sure. Oh, he definitely brought the woman over to raise hell—maybe not hit her.
There was that little smugness in his voice, and likely because she’d rode his ass yesterday, and today. Someone was petty, but that she understood.
Instead, she fought for control, and she waved it off.
“Ma’am, you have my utmost sympathy in the death of your daughter, and the circumstances surrounding it. She is part of an ongoing case, and her remains will be handled with the utmost care.”
The woman screamed at her, andEVERYONEin the vicinity heard it.
Hell!
The media likely heard it too.
“You should leave her alone! She deserves peace! You’re nothing but a media whore!”
And that was it.
It was a bridge too far, and it did one thing.
Elizabeth lost her goddamn temper.
It was a long time coming, and one of those things. She was to the point, and didn’t pull any punches. Oh, she was a lot in her life, but a media whore wasNOTone of those things.
Mostly, as a mother, herself, she was angry that someone’s daughter was defiled by this idiot.
To play a game.
To threaten the safety of someone she loved.
To try and kill her.
“Someone dug her up, raped her dead body, and took her head, Mrs. Mussen. That wasn’t us. While I get that you’re upset, we’re here to help. Me not arresting you for striking a fed is my only gift to you today. You’ve worn out my patience. Now, Captain Volvia, please escort Mrs. Mussen off my goddamn crime scene and out to the gate where she can cry to the media that’s waiting to slow me down from figuring out who her daughter’s corpse rapist is!” she said, loudly.
The woman looked shellshocked.
