“Stack murder one to those charges, Delaney. Throw Zeke Godfrey in a cell. I want to be the first to speak to him.”
“Murder—”
“Just do it.”
He hung up.
“I should have called you,” Ivy whined. “I should have told you about Zeke, about—”
Vaughn removed his arm from Ivy’s shoulder and spun her around. Looked directly into her watery eyes.
“Look at me.”
She did.
“This is not your fault, okay? You didn’t do this. You are not responsible for this. You went to your department head with your concerns, right?”
Ivy didn’t answer.
“Ivy,” Vaughn said, more sternly now. “This isn’t your fault.”
“But if I’d—”
“And if my grandma had wheels, she’d be a bicycle,” Vaughn said, pulling out his best Darnell-ism.
Ivy made a face.
“Wh-what?”
“Come here.”
He embraced her. Held her tightly to his chest until her breathing regulated. Only let go when Darnell arrived on scene.
“What the hell, Vaughn? What—” He noticed Ivy. “What isshedoing here? The captain—”
“A student attacked her in her home. He told her that he’d hurt someone, and she suspected another student. Got the address. She’s DOA inside. Apparent knife wound.”
“Jesus. What about the suspect?”
“In custody.”
Vaughn glanced down at his arm. Ivy had done a good job of cleaning him up. It was nothing more than a scratch.
“Who—”
“Delaney has him—in booking now.”
“Delaney? You calledDelaney?”
A CSU van pulled up and Landon got out.
“I’ll brief Landon. Get him to coordinate with the tech at Ivy’s place—the knife is still there. Probable murder weapon.”
“This related to the other murders?”
Ivy shook her head.
“Not sure. Maybe. The suspect has already lawyered up.”
