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He turned away then as someone from the medical examiner’s office called to him, and Alexa and Nyle headed back toward the woods. “Think Quinton got tired of waiting for us and walkedhome?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Something tells me he’s not thatambitious.”
* * *
After they droppedGrayson Quinton off, they headed toward Truro. “You know,” Nyle said, “I can’t remember the last time we ate. Sleep I can go without, but food? Not somuch.”
“I’d trade sleep for food any day, but in this case, I’d be willing to…” The vehicle rolled by a cemetery dotted with drooping willows and massive oaks, and her hearttwinged.
“…be willingto…?”
Alexa’s attention returned to Nyle. “I could eat,” she admitted. “But first, would you drop me off somewhere? I can walk to the headquarters and meetyou.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Where do you want togo?”
“Heavenly Angels cemetery. It’s just outside of town on the east side. I can direct you.” She didn’t meet his searching look. But he was surprisingly circumspect when he said, “You get me there, and I’ll give you a few minutes while I pick up sandwiches or something. Then I swing back and pick you up. Will that be enoughtime?”
She shot him a grateful look. “Yes. Plenty oftime.”
* * *
Alexa walkedthrough the cast-iron gates of the cemetery. She’d been unable to recall when or what she’d eaten yesterday, but had had no problem helping Nyle get here. The dusty details had survived in long-term memory, unused until now, but easy to pluck at the exact moment they wereneeded.
As a teen, she’d been here several times when a member of their church had died. Alexa didn’t know the exact area where she’d find the marker she was looking for, but she headed for the newest section of the cemetery, where the burials she’d been to had taken place. Then she walked up and down the rows quickly, peering at the names on the markers as she went by. It took only ten minutes to find the object of her search. A simple flat marker thatread:
Rebecca AnnReisman
Dutiful wife to ThomasReisman
1956-2001
Alexa stared at the stone,her eyes burning. Of course, there was no mention of Rebecca’s daughter. Her husband had seen to that. The flare of resentment in her chest ignited anew. Even in death, Rebecca’s existence was framed only by her service tohim.
She wouldn’t even have known about her mother’s death if not for Willa Satler, the elderly neighbor that had lived next door. The woman had eventually found the number Alexa had left with her and contacted her, a month after the fact, once Willa had returned from an extended stay with her daughter in Amherst. Rebecca had died of breast cancer, the woman had confided, with a pitying tone. No one had even known she had it until she died. There hadn’t takentreatments.
Which certainly had been Reisman’s doing. Alexa couldn’t recall a single time she’d received medical care after he’d entered their lives. A weak body was a sign of a weak spirit. No need for science when they could pray the sicknessaway.
Alexa crouched down, fingers reaching out to trace her mother’s name. When she’d needed her mother most, Rebecca hadn’t been there for her. But Alexa had long since forgiven the woman for that. She understood now how abusers worked. Isolating their victims. Cutting them off from support systems. Denying them a life outside their control. Alexa’s biggest sorrow was that she hadn’t been able to convince her mom to take even a tiny step away from Reisman’s watchful eye. His power over the woman had beenabsolute.
She wondered now if that’s what had frightened her the most about the passion that had flared to life between her and Ethan. It had started instantly. Burned fiercely. It had blinded them both to consequences and caution. The pull had been so strong, so powerful, that leaving him had taken more strength than she’d known she possessed. And the regrets of that action would linger, despite knowing she’d made the rightchoice.
In the space of fifteen months, Alexa had lost everything.Everyone.
I’m sorry, Mom.A drop of moisture fell on the marker. It took a moment for her to realize it was a tear.I’m so, sosorry.
* * *
Alexa lookedup from her laptop. Stretched. She was feeling good about the changes she’d made to the profile. Even so, she’d sent a message to Raiker asking for a consult. He was on a case somewhere in Kentucky, so his response time would be uncertain. She’d been a little surprised to hear that he was in the field. Since his wife had suffered near-fatal injuries a couple of years ago, he’d stayed close tohome.
When she’d finished with the changes, she copied all her files to flash drives so Ethan could have the laptop overnighted to the crime lab in Ottawa. Then she made some calls and arranged for a new laptop and a tablet to be delivered to the hotel they hadn’t checked out of inHalifax.
“How are you doing over there?” she askedNyle.
“I’ve got four white cargo vans fitting our description so far from the toll cameras in the date window we established. Still notdone.”
They’d long since finished the sandwiches Nyle had bought before returning to the cemetery gates. He hadn’t asked about her trip there, and she appreciated his discretion. Given his sweet tooth, it hadn’t been a total surprise to find the bakery sack alongside the one with the sandwiches, but she was grateful for the cookies,too.
Even as she had the thought, he reached to draw another double-chocolate-chip cookie out of the bag. “That better not be the last one,” she warned with asmile.