Page 52 of Ace of Spades

“Exactly. But we’ve got these to start with. I’m going to have Alex and Rand interview each of the detectives assigned to the cases.”

Her blood raced with excitement. “I can—”

“Don’t even think it. You’re not taking off for parts unknown to interview anyone. He’s watching you, Taylor.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No, but I feel it. For whatever reason, I think he’s fixated on you. From what Rosie said, he was trying to kill you when she came in. Although, I wonder if she saw it wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve been thinking about everything Rosie told you. Maybe he was going to take you with him, but then ran away when she started beating on him with the bat. I called Pauline, told her what you’d learned. We agree that we have to consider that he’s kept an eye on you all these years, and now he’s decided to come for you.”

Okay, now he was creeping her out. “But why wait all this time? And how did he know who I was?”

“A lot of possibilities. He was married, but recently divorced. Or his wife died. Or he’s been in prison. As for knowing who you were, I wouldn’t be surprised if he followed you and Rosie to the motel that night.”

“I’m not liking this conversation at all. You were right. I need wine.” She drained what was left in her glass. “Why can’t I remember that night?”

“My guess is you blocked it out. What child wouldn’t be traumatized if their mother had been killed in front of them?” He stared at the beer bottle he held for a moment before moving to the sofa, angling his body to face her. “I’d like you to consider hypnosis. You were there that night and saw him, so somewhere in your mind is a description of him. You might even know his name if your mother happened to mention him.”

Her first reaction was a firm no. But what if she held the key to finding her mother’s murderer? If she could describe him, it would go a long way in helping them find him. She set her glass down, then stood and went to the fish tank. Henry Too was still exploring his new home, and she watched him for a few minutes.

To relive that night? Once she remembered, it would be in her mind forever. Could she deal with that, seeing her mother murdered in front of her eyes? Did she have a choice?