“Based on the complaint you filed against me, I don’t think I can refuse you.”
His shoulders dropped. “Sorry about that. My boss is pushing for stories that draw readers in.”
“Don’t you mean stories that sell magazines?”
“Did you locate her family?”
“Yes.”
“What did you tell them?”
“That she died.”
“What, exactly, did you say? Did you mention the crime scene?”
“What about the crime scene?”
“Those photos you showed me were pretty creepy. I mean, a wedding dress. Who kills a bride on her wedding night?”
Rather than explain to Lyle that she was dealing with a possible serial killer, she said nothing.
“How was she murdered, again?”
“Autopsy report isn’t back yet.”
“Who did you speak to?”
“Her brother.”
“Was he devastated?”
“Of course.” She regarded him. “Why wouldn’t he be?”
“I doubtmyparents —” He shook his head. “I’m trying to get an understanding of how things go down during a murder investigation.”
What the hell is going on with him?
“Does he have to visit the morgue to ID her?”
“Someone local did that.”
“How do you go about finding this woman’s husband?”
“So, you think both victims were killed by their husbands?”
“They were murdered in their wedding dresses. Who else would’ve done it?”
He’s clueless.“I’m gonna get back to work,” Emerson said. “We can talk more later.”
Emerson checked under the sofa cushions. Crumbs. There was a small desk tucked in the corner. The antique reminded her of an old-style writing table. Emerson lowered the lid. A box of note cards with the words, “A world of thanks from April” lay unused in their plastic container. Emerson’s heart ached. April would never get to use those cards.
She opened the bottom doors and pulled out a small wooden box filled with a couple dozen business cards. The top one was from a doctor’s office. The next was from a hair salon. The third was a freelance photographer. She closed the lid.
Lyle knelt beside her. “What do you do with those?”
“I call them.” Emerson slid the box into an evidence bag.
After checking the kitchen, and finding nothing, she told Lyle she was done. In the hallway, they removed their shoe covers and gloves.
