“Under the bed?” Stuart’s reply came loaded with skepticism.
“Uh-huh.” Let her find out for herself that it was in a tarp.
“Strange, but all right.” Stuart turned to walk around the side of the house with Keller in tow.
Observing Keller’s rounded shoulders, Amanda felt empathy for the woman paired with Stuart. She couldn’t imagine being saddled with her for an entire shift, let alone day after day.
Once they were out of sight, Amanda turned to find Malone huffing up the driveway. He must have parked on the road like Trent.
“There might soon be another victim.” Malone stopped a few feet in front of them and swiped his forehead with a handkerchief. His receding hairline exposed more flesh than he’d had in his youth. And his cheeks were bright red.
“Let’s go around back and talk.” Amanda touched Malone’s elbow, a move she was comfortable making. Malone was family, having been a friend of her father’s before she was born.
“Please, don’t touch me in this heat. Just tell me there’s some shade around back.”
“That’s why I suggested it.” Amanda led the way to the backyard.
“Oh, thank the heavens.” Malone beelined for the awning. Stepping under it, he wiped his brow again and stuffed his handkerchief intohis pocket.
Malone caught his breath while Amanda dreamed of a tiny lick of a breeze. He popped her out of the fantasy bubble when he spoke.
“Do we know if the victim is Christine Lane?”
“It seems most likely.” That was the most accurate way of answering. They hadn’t seen the face, but circumstantial evidence strongly suggested it was Christine.
“How can you not know?”
She had told him a body was under the bed but had left out one pertinent detail. She filled him in now.
“Enclosed in a tarp.” Malone tapped out those words as if he was trying to understand them.
“‘Nothing creepy about that.’” She repeated his initial reaction.
“Even more so now I know more. What do you think we’re looking at here?”
“I’d say it’s not a home robbery,” Trent piped up.
Malone angled his head. “I think that’s safe to assume. Even if they turn sideways, we rarely find victims wrapped up like mummies. That Lexus in the driveway…?”
“It belongs to Christine Lane.” Amanda stiffened.
“That’s why you said it’s most likely Christine?”
Amanda nodded.
“Christine, who is also your brother’s girlfriend.” Malone talked slowly, stressing the association.
“Half-brother, yes.” There was a distinction in her mind. She had a full brother, Kyle, and they were thick as thieves. She’d grown up with him around. Spencer was a recent surprise.
“Well, I think as long as there’s the chance the victim is Lane, you shouldn’t be anywhere near this mess. It was one thing to look into her welfare, but it’s another to investigate her murder.”
Amanda couldn’t argue the latter part, but there was no wayshe was being benched from this like Emma Blair. “I really don’t see the issue with my working this case. I hardly know Spencer. Heck, I didn’t even know he had a girlfriend until today. I didn’t know abouthimuntil three years ago. We’ve only had coffee a few times.” With her work as a detective and his as a firefighter, there weren’t many free hours to get together. He didn’t even attend family dinners held at her parents’ house on Sundays. Though that could make for some awkwardness.
“Yet it’s still a connection, Amanda. One he pulled on by calling you.”
“Right. To look into the whereabouts of his girlfriend. What are you suggesting?” She could feel herself becoming defensive about Spencer and questioned where the loyalty originated.
“His call could have been rooted in genuine concern or to cover his butt.” He pressed his lips.
