“How are you feeling?” she said softly. Stepping closer, she saw that the dim light shadowed his face slightly and assumed that was the way he liked it. “Can I get you anything? Snack or more water?”
It was the first time she saw him slightly smile. Since his beard was gone, she could see more of his expressions. “I’m fine, Detective. I just want to get out of here.”
“I know being in the hospital isn’t fun.”
He turned his head to look directly at her. His dark eyes watched her with more of a curiosity than just for conversation. “I’m glad you got my message.”
“That you only would talk to me?” she said.
He slowly nodded.
“Do you feel up to talking now?” she said.
He nodded again.
Katie moved a chair closer to the bed and sat down. She thought she would start basic and then ask more specific questions.
Buck kept his focus on her.
“First, thank you for saving my life.”
“I’m sorry you were hurt.”
“I’m fine. It’s not the first time,” she said and smiled.
“Where did you serve?”
She took a breath, not wanting to bring memories into the mix. “Army. Afghanistan. Two tours as a K9 explosive team.”
“That makes sense. It’s how you move when you’re under attack… it’s difficult to lose that training they burn into you.”
Katie thought that was an interesting choice of words. “Is there something you want to tell me?”
She patiently waited for a couple of minutes as she watchedBuck lean back against the pillow as he seemed to be thinking. Katie casually glanced around the room, not looking at anything in particular.
“I know you and your partner are trying to figure out the killers,” he said.
“Killers?”
“Yes. I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that there’s more than one killer from different decades.”
Katie and McGaven had discussed it, but hearing it said made her more cautious. She also knew Buck might be trying to divert them from the truth.
“What do you know, Buck?”
He winced as he situated himself in the bed. “I’ve told you about the Collins family.”
“Do you or did you know them?” she said. Katie felt she was almost getting the runaround. But her instinct told her that he had a difficult time trusting anyone.
He shook his head, but there was a hesitation about it.
She decided to be more direct. “Do you know who the man in black is?”
“I’ve seen him for a while. Before the construction began he would come visit the property where the bodies were found. At first, I noticed him about once every two to three weeks. But after the groundbreaking, he came every day. Mostly watching.”
“Why do you think he was watching?”
“My guess would be he was trying to figure out what to do with the bodies.”
