He had promised. “Didn’t the police tell you anything during your interview?”
Her cute face scrunched up in pure irritation. “No. They seemed to think giving a journalist information was a bad idea.” She slipped her flip-flops off and stretched her toes, her toenails painted a pretty pink. “Although they did give me a copy of Candy’s will, which names me as Executor.”
He should’ve forced his way into the room with her. “Did Candy have an estate?”
“Some money she wanted donated to a couple of charities, and she wants to be cremated and have her ashes scattered on Dogwood Creek, where we used to go fishing. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, but I’ll take care of it next week after the wedding.” Her voiced thickened.
There was nothing he could do to ease her pain, and his body tensed. He’d given her space the night before, when maybe he should’ve pushed her to talk, but he hadn’t wanted to tell her about the autopsy. “What all did the detective ask?”
She rocked back and forth, still wearing her seat belt. “They asked the same questions as before, and I told them everything I knew.”
His eyebrows lifted. “Even about Captive and Frank Spanek?”
“Yeah, but I left your name out of it all. They need a complete picture, and I want them to find out who killed her. Even if we find the killer, you and me, we’re going to call the police, right?” She leaned down and reached into her bag, retrieving a band to secure her thick hair in a ponytail. “It’s so muggy. When will fall be here?”
Not soon enough. He didn’t answer her question, because he wasn’t turning Rock into the police.
“The police wouldn’t give me any details last night, but it all had to be in the autopsy report, right? So tell me everything. Where did they find Candy?” Dana asked, persistent as ever.
He normally liked that quality in her. Not so much right now. “Two hikers in a wooded area in rural Virginia found the body. She was probably killed at home and then dumped elsewhere.”
Dana paled and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around them. “She’d been dead the whole two months?”
“Yes.” The ME had done a good job with makeup and putty, putting her face back together for the picture. “She died from blunt-force trauma.” There wasn’t any need to go into more detail.
“Somebody beat her to death?” Dana’s voice shook. “Was she raped?”
“No.” He told the lie without flinching. In addition, she had been stabbed several times, which could have a sexual component. “A blow to the head, fast and hard, killed her quick.” It was a blatant lie, so he had to make sure Dana never saw the entire report. Candy had slowly bled to death, and she had to have been in torturous pain.
Wolfe glanced at the defenseless woman in his passenger seat, one being hunted from too many directions.
The burner phone buzzed from the back seat.
Every muscle in Wolfe’s body tensed as Dana dropped her feet and partially turned. “Pull the black phone out of my pack, but do not answer it.”
She released her seat belt, gave him a look at the order, and then leaned over to unzip his pack. “Is this a burner phone? Why do you have a burner phone?” She grunted as she turned and settled back down, handing over the innocuous-looking phone.
Wolfe took it. “Don’t say a word. Don’t even breathe.” He reached over and turned up the music, which was a combination of country and rock. He pressed the phone hard against his ear so she couldn’t hear anything. “What?” he answered, the knuckles on his left hand turning white on the steering wheel.
“Hey, buddy. I didn’t want you to think I was ignoring you.” Rock came over the line clearly, anticipation bubbling through his voice. “Had a couple of things to take care of but am narrowing your location down.”
“Are you, now?” Wolfe couldn’t hear anything in the background on the other end of the line. Perfect silence. Not even the hum of an air-conditioning unit. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re very close. I’m getting kinda bored waiting for you.”
“Then maybe you should learn to track and find me. You never were as good.”
Not exactly true. They just had different styles, and Wolfe’s style of patience usually won out. “I’ve found your contact and know exactly how you got the heroin here,” he taunted, hoping Rock would bite and not catch that he was bluffing.
“Maybe you do know, but it’s too late for me to worry about it. I got my hands on your military file, and boy, it looked like you had some trouble in that German hospital. Pain and outbursts and a whole lotta PTSD. Feeling any better?” Rock chuckled.
“Much,” Wolfe said, hiding his instant irritation. “Guess that file didn’t reveal where I’d gone upon discharge.” He’d made sure the records showed him being discharged and not sent to the Deep Ops Unit.
“Nope. Just makes the game more fun. For now, get ready. I’ll see you soon.” Rock clicked off.
Wolfe drew in several breaths to calm his temper and then slipped the phone into the pocket by the door.
Dana crossed her arms. “Well? Who was that?”
“Doesn’t matter.” He had to get her to safety, because the clock was counting down. His hand twitched for his knife.
