Page 20 of Crime Lab Cold Case (Pacific Northwest Forensics #2)

Natalie’s gaze traveled to the little girl standing up and holding on to the edge of a playpen, a giant area outfitted with blocks, stuffed animals, dolls and books.

Michael’s blue eyes stared out from the little round face, but any other resemblance to her father ended there.

Soft brown hair framed Ivy’s face, glowing with peaches and cream and happiness.

She didn’t look like a little girl missing her mommy, just one incredibly pleased to see her daddy.

Michael’s strides ate up the space between them, and he swooped in and lifted her in the air. Ivy giggled and splayed her arms and legs out, as if trying to fly.

Natalie pressed a hand to her heart. “She’s adorable.”

Molly stood beside Natalie and bumped her shoulder. “I know. Pretty hard to believe with a moody dad and a nut-job mom.”

Molly had lowered her voice on her last words, but Michael shot her a scowl as if he’d heard.

Michael brought Ivy close to his chest and kissed the top of her head. “What have you been doing today?”

Ivy twisted her body and pointed to the large picture window that looked out onto a grassy backyard with a swing set and massive trees that signaled the beginning of the forest. The view must be breathtaking during the light of day.

“Peaches, Daddy. Peaches.”

“Peaches went away, my peapod.” Michael rubbed Ivy’s back as he rolled his eyes at Molly.

“That’s what I was going to tell you, Michael.

I was sitting on the couch on my laptop looking up my friend’s exhibit in Portland while Ivy was playing, and she started yelling Peaches’s name and pointing outside.

” Molly crossed to the window and placed a hand against the glass.

“I looked but didn’t see anything, or maybe I just saw some bushes shaking.

So I went outside and called for Peaches.

I even walked into the yard. I did hear noise in the underbrush that sounded like an animal, but I’m not going out in the wild to check—besides, I had Ivy inside. ”

“Maybe Ivy just saw a small dog and her brain went straight to her small dog.” He bounced Ivy in his arms. “Did you see a doggy outside?”

Her blue eyes grew round and sparkled with excitement like Michael’s did. “Peaches. Peaches outside.”

“I hate to give you any more work, Molly, but I think I’m going to have to get another dog.” He tapped Ivy on the nose. “Would you like that, Ivy? Another doggy?”

Her face crumpled and grew red. “Peaches.”

“Michael.” Molly put her hand on his arm and tickled Ivy under the chin at the same time. “Could you just go look outside to be sure? She seemed convinced and would not give it up.”

“She’s two and a half, Molly. Any small dog is going to look the same to her.”

“Then go out there and make sure there’s not some other dog wandering around.” She gave Michael a shove and held out her arms for Ivy.

Ivy clambered into Molly’s arms.

Michael raised an eyebrow at Natalie. “Care to join me in the great dog hunt?”

“Absolutely. I think I can still tell the difference between a fox and a dog.”

Michael brushed past Natalie on the way to the kitchen and opened a cupboard. “I have a flashlight. Molly, turn on the outdoor lights.”

Natalie hadn’t removed her jacket when she’d come inside, so she tugged it around her and followed Michael out to the backyard, now lit up. The smell of roses and rain tempered the sharp scent of the pines, which could be overpowering. Truly a slice of civilization amid the untamed forest.

Michael clicked on the flashlight and the strong beam swept across the edge of the grass and along the tree line. The light picked up the shared community trail that wended through the underbrush before plunging into the woods.

Michael whistled. “Peaches. Oh, P-e-e-eaches. C’mon, girl. You out here?”

He replaced the whistle with kissing sounds that would’ve definitely had Natalie come running. A smile curving her lip, she crept closer to the trees, their leaves shivering in the light breeze and touched by the icy beam from the flashlight.

She whispered the dog’s name. “Peaches.”

Something rustled beyond the trail, and Natalie hissed at Michael. “I hear something.”

He joined her and aimed his light at the area where she’d heard the noise. “Peaches.”

An animal whimpered, and they looked at each other. Natalie said the obvious first. “That sounded like a dog to me.”

“Could be a fox.” As he scanned the ground with the light, it picked up a pair of gleaming eyes.

Natalie grabbed his arm, her fingers digging in. “Right there.”

“Peaches?”

A small dog hurtled out of the bushes, yapping and dancing around Michael’s ankles.

Natalie sank to her knees in the wet grass and reached for the wriggling pug. “Is it her? Is it Peaches?”

“My God.” Michael’s mouth had dropped open. “It’s really you. It’s really Peaches, after all this time.”

He dropped to the grass beside Natalie, handing her the flashlight, and scooped up Peaches. He buried his nose in the dog’s filthy fur. “She’s still wearing her collar.”

As Natalie illuminated the collar, Michael hooked his finger around it. “Looks like her tag might’ve come off.”

“Are you sure?” Natalie squinted and peered at the collar, which must’ve been pink at one time. “I see something glittering on the collar. Maybe the tag got bent or something.”

Michael stroked Peaches as he tugged on her collar. “There’s something caught on it. It’s not her tag.”

Something jingled as he untangled the object from the collar. When he had it cupped in his hand, he choked. “No.”

“What is it, Michael?” She wedged the flashlight between her knees, aiming it at Michael’s hand, and hovered over the shiny object in his palm. “Oh, my God. It can’t be. It can’t be the same.”

“It has to be, Natalie.” He dangled the pretty bracelet from his fingers. “It’s Alma Nguyen’s bracelet. The one taken from her dead body.”