“Love you and be careful,” Wolfe ordered.
“Love you, too.” Dana clicked off.
Wolfe’s eyes hardened.
Millie gulped. “Wolfe? You don’t have to work this case with us. I’d completely understand if you wanted to fly out to be with Dana.” The man rarely left Dana’s side, and it had to be killing him to be across the country from her.
“She’s fine for now,” Wolfe said, his chin lowering. “We need to get you figured out, sister.”
Sometimes he was so sweet.
Millie turned back to the front and watched Scott from under her lashes. What would he be like in a full relationship? As perhaps a husband? When she’d first met him, she’d thought he was kind of a smooth playboy. But the more she had gotten to know him, the more she’d realized that wasn’t the case. In fact, he was the opposite of a playboy. Almost too distant and too wounded.
Could she save him?
They soon reached a subdivision nestled into the rolling hills. Based on a preliminary background check hurriedly conducted by Brigid, the first victim, Wilma Johnson, worked as a nurse at a local family doctor’s office. A quick call from Brigid had confirmed the woman had today off.
Scott parked at the curb. Millie turned and looked at the charming two-story home. The outside was painted a light yellow with dark blue shutters. A girl’s bicycle lay tipped over on the grass near several budding crocuses.
“Maybe I should go in alone,” Millie said.
“It’s not a bad idea.” Scott looked back toward Wolfe. “I can see a woman being more willing to speak with Millie than either of us.”
Wolfe cracked his knuckles. “True that. We should have brought cookies with us.” He showed love by giving sugar.
Millie rolled her eyes and jumped out of the vehicle. “I’ll be back.” She walked across the grass and up to the front door, where she knocked.
A pretty woman dressed in jeans and a ratty T-shirt beneath a well-worn cardigan instantly opened the door. Her black hair was up in a bun, and wire-rimmed glasses covered her dark eyes. “You must be Millicent Frost,” she said.
“I take it my friend Brigid reached out to you?”
“She called about half an hour ago.” Wilma gestured her inside. “Come on in.”
So far so good. Millie walked inside a comfortable-looking living room with a deep green sofa and chair set. Barbies scattered across the fireplace hearth and several footballs and basketballs made a pyramid in the nearest corner.
“The kids are all at the park with my sister right now,” Wilma said, gesturing her to sit. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Millie’s shoulders eased. “No, I’m fine, but thanks.” She had worried that Wilma wouldn’t speak with her. “Sorry to bug you on your day off.”
“That’s okay.” Wilma sat on one of the chairs as Millie took the other one. The artwork above the mantel featured a series of pictures of various kids—two boys and a girl who all resembled their mama. Knickknacks also adorned the mantel, ranging from crystal football players to butterflies. The collection sparkled.
Wilma looked out through the main window at the SUV. “Your friends can come in too.”
“Nah, they’re fine in the vehicle.” Millie crossed her legs. “It’s nice to have a break, to be honest.”
Wilma laughed and fluffed a pillow next to her to rest her arm. “Sorry. I banged my elbow the other day at bowling, and I’m still sore.”
“Bowling’s a thing these days, isn’t it?” Millie asked. “It seems like everybody’s into it.”
Wilma shrugged. “Yeah, it’s something to do. You know, date night gets a little tedious. If you’re competitive, it’s still fun. And the beer’s always cheap.”
Millie swallowed. “Man, I’m uncomfortable asking you this. But when you were in college, obviously studying nursing?” When Wilma nodded, she continued, “You filed a report with the campus regarding Clay Baker.”
“I didn’t file a report,” Wilma said. “My roommate did.”
Millie paused. “Your roommate filed the report about you?”
“Yes.” Wilma looked down at her hands. “This was so long ago. But yes, I attended a party that night.”
