Page 29 of Creed

“Well, then you probably know that she was an officer over in Hot Springs. She was at a smaller precinct before that.”

“Yeah, I got that.”

“Then, you know she married a detective she worked with named Brian Maddox, and they have two kids together.” I didn’t respond, so he added, “Well, she’s done with all that.”

“Woah. Done with what?”

“The force and the husband,” he answered matter-of-factly. “She quit them both.”

“How long?”

“Just over a year now.”

Damn.

My mind started racing with questions, and I barely heard him when he added, “She’s been teaching part-time at the community college and is living across town.”

He continued, but I didn’t hear anything he said.

I was too wrapped up in the fact that she was no longer hitched. It shouldn’t have matter. I’d done the work. I’d put this woman behind me years ago but seeing her the other night ignited something in me that refused to be ignored. I had to see her again, even if it was just for a moment.

It was the only way I was going to get her out of my head.

Even then, while I was standing there in the hallway talking to Shep, I could picture her in that damn short skirt. The curve of her back. The fullness of her lips. And the sparkle in her eyes.

The images were bombarding my mind as he said, “She got custody of the kids, but only because of the ex’s work schedule. He couldn’t commit to a routine, so the court leaned her way.”

Divorced.

It wasn’t that I wanted her in pain or that I was glad her marriage had failed, but damn. She was free, and there was hope in that.

It meant I might have a chance to right a wrong.

I didn’t know how bad the damage was. Didn’t know how many pieces she’d had to pick up on her own or if she’d even want to see me again. But I sure as hell knew one thing. I wanted to see her, and I wanted to see her now.

I was just about to ask for the address to the college when Shep announced, “One more thing…”

“Yeah?”

“There’s been a major uptick in missing women in the area.”

“What are we talking about here? Ten or twenty? What?”

“Thousands. Hell, numbers have almost doubled in the past six months, and no one’s talking about it.”

“So, what’s the deal? The cops are just sitting on it?”

“Hard to tell what the fuck they’re doing. You know how it is with cops. Never know who you can trust and who’s gonna fuck you in the ass.”

“You’re right about that.” I let out a breath before adding, “So, whatcha thinking?”

“These two guys Grim have been working over might be into more than they’re letting on.”

“We were just talking, and Grim thinks the same.”

“I’ll look into ‘em and see what I can find out.”

“Sounds good. Let me know what you find out and send me everything you found on the girl.”