“Don’t worry about it,” Dana said softly, her touch bringing more ease than any run. “I’ve had a couple since my run-in with the Senator, and I understand. Yours passed quickly.”
Was she trying to build him up? Laughter tickled his throat, and he smiled. “Okay. I’m fine, now.”
She leaned back. “Good. How about you tell me why you suddenly went into a panic attack?”
There wasn’t any rhyme or reason to why, but when an attack hit, he knew he was dealing with anxiety. The woman was about to lose that sweet look on her face. “I want you to go home, to your parents’ house, for a couple of weeks.” He kept her gaze and wouldn’t release her.
She pulled away from him. “No.”
“Yes.” Before she could argue, the door opened and Angus stood there, his gaze somber.
“What?” Wolfe asked, his body tensing.
Angus focused on Dana. “I’m sorry. The police think they’ve found Candy Folks. You’re listed as her emergency contact, and the authorities need somebody to identify the body.”
Chapter Twenty
The rain splattered almost gently against the windshield of Wolfe’s truck, breaking through the humidity of the evening in Washington, D.C. Dana watched buildings and streetlights slide by outside as if the night was normal. “Do you think there’s any chance the police are wrong?” she asked.
“Doubtful.” The lights and shadows played across Wolfe’s knuckles on the steering wheel. “I can do this for you.”
“No. I need to do it.” She’d never believe Candy was dead without seeing for herself.
Wolfe turned into a parking area near a large stone building and stopped the vehicle. “Force pulled some strings so you could do this tonight and not wait, but maybe tomorrow would be better? Are you sure you’re up to this?”
“Yes.” She opened the door and jumped down, letting the heated rain wash over her face. The air closed in, full of moisture. She shut the door and walked around the front of the truck, where Wolfe grasped her elbow and hurried her toward the steps.
A woman wearing jeans and a blue blouse waited just inside, opening the door for them. She had to be around sixty years old, with kind brown eyes, short brown hair, and ebony skin with laugh lines along her mouth. An ID badge had been clipped at her waist. “You must be Dana.”
“Yes.” Dana shivered, even though the air-conditioning wasn’t set too high. Her stomach hurt, and her temples ticked with pain.
The woman held out a hand. “I’m Betty Williams, and I’m a social worker with the coroner’s off ice.” They shook, and then Betty shook Wolfe’s hand before turning and starting down a long, clean hallway with cream-colored tiles and pictures of nature scenes on the walls. The building felt vacant at this late hour.
She led them into a small conference room with a wooden table and two orange chairs on each side. “Please take a seat.”
Wolfe pulled out Dana’s chair, waited until both women were seated, and then sat next to her.
Dana bit her lip, her chest hurting. “When do we go to the morgue?”
Across the table, Betty smiled. “We don’t. Identifications aren’t like on television.” She reached to the side of the table, where a manila folder had been set. “I have a photo of the victim the police have found, and I’ll hand it to you facedown. You can take all the time you need to turn the picture over.”
Dana swallowed, her throat bone dry. “I don’t understand. There’s no body or sheet or anything?”
“No.” Betty shook her head. “This is how we do identifications. You’ll see a picture of Candy’s face with blue blankets around her. I have to warn you that there is damage to the right side of her face and skull, so please prepare yourself if you can before you look.”
Dana glanced at Wolfe, who wore no expression. He took her hand beneath the table, offering strength and reassurance. Even though they hadn’t been on the same page lately, she leaned closer to him. Thank goodness he’d insisted on driving and sitting next to her during this.
Betty drew out a small clipboard with a picture attached to the top, facedown. She set it in front of Dana. “There is no hurry. I’m happy to stay here all night. Make sure you’re ready. I often recommend people take several deep breaths first.”
The AC switched on, blowing quietly from a vent in the ceiling.
Dana stared at the back of the picture. Maybe it wasn’t Candy. “How was she found? We haven’t heard any details.”
“I don’t know,” Betty said softly. “I’m sure the police will want to speak with you, and they can give you all that information once we know for sure it’s Ms. Folks.”
Wolfe released Dana’s hand and put his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his warmth. “I can look for you, sweetheart. I know what Candy looks like.”
She was tempted. So tempted. Instead, she reached out and turned the picture over, staring at her friend’s face surrounded by a blue blanket. A jolt of shock was followed by a numbing buzz and a chill through her body.
