Page 54 of Black Orchid Girls (Detective Amanda Steele)

“Something must have triggered him.” She paused, unsure what that was exactly. “Here’s another thing about Chloe, though. She regretted being a bully when she was younger. She even mentions Ashton Chambers. And having run into him at the end of September. Ashton wouldn’t even look at her.”

“That’s nearly two months ago. If running into Chloe triggered Ashton, why the delay?”

The second time she’d been presented with this question. First, in regards to Josh, and now Ashton. “We’ve already concluded planning the murder would have taken time.”

Trent eventually nodded. “Could be that simple.”

“Yep.” She glanced at the clock. Three thirty. She wanted to get home at a decent hour for Zoe—especially after last night. Amanda had been shaken by the girl’s reaction to the storm and the memories of her parents’ murders. The police psychiatrist, Colleen Frost, had told Amanda how fragile Zoe’s psyche was, given what she’d witnessed. Amanda recalled being happy at the time that it wasn’t her job to worry about the child’s long-term mental health. Now that responsibility had landed squarely on her shoulders.

“We should hit the bar and see if we can place Josh Ryder as having been there at the right time,” Amanda said. “I’d also like to talk to Jayne Russell again. This time about Ashton. From the sounds of it, Chloe did something horrible to him. She even blames herself for the fact that he’d keyed her car.”

“I’m ready to go. Reading’s not my favorite pastime, and this”—he held up the journal—“should be X-rated. They say guys are bad.”

She laughed, but the mirth was shallow. Hitting both places could take too long. Divide and conquer went through her mind, and that would get her home faster too. “You know what? I’ll speak with Jayne. You go to the bar. That work for you?”

“Ah, sure?” He narrowed his eyes like he wasn’t understanding why they were going separate ways.

She didn’t want to come across like she was shirking her responsibilities to be with Zoe. She’d already mentioned getting to her at a decent hour enough in recent days. She stood and grabbed her jacket. “Keep me posted.”

“You too.”

She simply nodded and left.