Trisha Daniels staredat Sheriff Wexler as he shuffled through his paperwork. Cold anger mixed with anguish coursed through her as she tried to come to terms with what her husband had done.
“I just need you to sign here,” Wexler said pointing at the paper he handed her.
“Then I can bury him?” she asked while signing her name.
“Yes. Once again, I’m sorry for the way this all turned out for you.” The sheriff leaned back in his chair and watched her.
“You never really know a person. I mean, at times, Seth was a loving and caring husband. And he was a good father to our kids. But at other times, he was a mean, vindictive bastard. For the most part, we got along real well. I met him at the hospital when I lived in Chicago. I’d just been hired as a nurse. He was so charming….” She wiped the corners of her eyes. The images of her husband’s smiling face filling her mind. “I just can’t believe it,” she said softly.
Wexler shifted in his chair. “You’re right in that we never know a person a hundred percent. There are a lot of dark areas inside some people and they keep them well hidden.”
She shook her head. “The only area we weren’t compatible in was sex. He needed me to be afraid of him when we’d make love. It was the oddest thing, but I ignored it and played along with him, but I knew I wasn’t really satisfying him in the way he wanted. Our sex life had dwindled down to just once or twice a month.” She laughed dryly. “To be honest, I thought he was having an affair. He spent so much time away from home, especially at night. And to think that he was stalking, raping, and killing women instead. I could never have imagined he’d do something like that.” Her voice broke and she covered her face with her hands.What’s wrong with me that I couldn’t see what he really was?
“I hope you don’t blame yourself for this. Are you going to stay in Alina?”
“No. I’m moving back to Chicago. My whole family’s there. We came to Alina because Seth thought a small town would be a good place to raise our kids.”
The sheriff nodded. “Do you need help in finding a transport company to send Dr. Daniels’s body to Illinois?”
“No. I found one in Denver. They’re just waiting for the release of the body.” The sound of her voice saying those words felt so alien to her. She mourned the loss of her husband, the father of her kids, and the good memories they shared. Whenever she thought of him now, she couldn’t get the images of his victims out of her mind. The good times they’d had would be forever tainted with the blood he shed.
Pushing up from the chair, she said, “I should get going. I have a lot of packing to do. Thank you for everything.” Her eye caught the headline of theAlina Postthat was on the desk—“Maniac Rapist-Murderer Gunned Down During Attack.” On the left side of the page she saw her husband’s face, his brown eyes penetrating and brooding. She remembered when he’d taken the picture at a medical convention they’d attended in Denver the previous year. She averted her eyes as she thought how much had changed in just one year.
Pulling open the doors of the police station, she walked out into the bright August sunshine.
Chapter Forty-Two
One month later
The night beforewas the first time Hailey hadn’t woken up drenched in sweat, screaming, and it felt wonderful. The therapist had told her it would take time, but soon the nightmares of that terrifying night would begin to disappear. She couldn’t wait to meet with her therapist and let her know that she’d slept through the night unscathed.
“You ready to go?” Goldie asked.
“In a minute. I want to make sure Aunt Patty has everything she needs.” Her aunt had been released from Cherry Vale by Dr. Rudman just a few days before. Even though Patty was getting around well and had a nurse staying with her for another few weeks, Hailey still worried that she’d fall or need something and Hailey wouldn’t be around.
“You sure you’ll be okay without me here?” Hailey asked as she went into the bedroom.
Propped against the headboard with five pillows cushioning her, Patty laughed. “Yes, go. I’m good, and if I need anything at all, Lisa’s here. Have a good time.”
“All right. You have my number if anything comes up. I’ll see you later.”
Hailey bounced down the stairs and flew out the front door. As she walked toward Goldie, who straddled his bike, a fluttery feeling swirled inside her, as it usually did when she looked at him. He’d been her strength during the long month since Dr. Daniels had attacked her. Even though she loved Goldie madly, she also reallylikedhim. When she’d told Rory that, her friend didn’t know what she was talking about, but Claudia had squeezed her hand and whispered, “That’s a rarity. He’s a keeper.” And he was. She had no intention of letting him slip away.
“Aunt Patty’s doing great,” she said as she climbed behind him. Clutching him tightly, they pulled away from the curb. The first rush of air, the wind whirling around her, and the scent of oil and leather always hit her hard, and she loved it. She wanted so badly to tell Ryan how freeing it was to ride on a motorcycle, but they didn’t talk about bikes or Goldie. After she’d told Ryan how Goldie had saved her life, she’d hoped it would fix what was broken between her brother and his best friend, but it didn’t. Ryan had sent a quick e-mail thanking Goldie, but that was all. Goldie was never mentioned in their conversations, and when she’d bring him up or gush about him, Ryan would feign bad interference and end the call.
At the stoplight, Goldie looked at her over his shoulder, and she stretched forward and kissed him tenderly. He’d been so patient with her when she didn’t want to do anything except have him hold her. The past few days, she’d finally been able to make love to him again, and it thrilled her beyond belief.
They went for a ride through the desert landscape, ending up at a small bright pink restaurant set atop a hill on the edge of the county line. Floor-to-ceiling windows all around made for a spectacular view of the desert and the mountains.
The hostess seated them at a table for two next to the window, where the red rock formations glowed under the setting sun’s rays. Hailey looked up from her menu, meeting Goldie’s intense eyes.
“What’re you staring at? Do I have dust all over my face?”
“No dust. You’re perfect.”
“That’s nice to hear, but I wouldn’t say perfect,” she replied.
“You’re so beautiful, Hailey. You’ve been so strong since that fuckin’ night. In my world, strength is admired.”
