Page 70 of Girl Between

In the distance, Jake could just make out the outline of a supine body lying deathly still atop one of the simple table-like tombs.

Jake followed George and LaSalle more closely. The balmy morning breeze coming off the Mississippi made the police tape flutter—the sound a whispered warning that made his hair stand on end.

Still, he pushed past the chill pricking at his skin and ducked the tape ahead of Dana. That’s when he froze.

Jake knew it couldn’t be, but rationality didn’t help him draw breath. It was trapped, strangled in his tightening chest as he stared at the ravaged corpse in front of him.

The images came at him fast and unforgiving, burrowing into his mind.

Black hair, askew.She’d struggled.

Blue eyes, wide.Bloodshot with terror.

Lips, sewn shut.She couldn’t even scream.

And the words, brutally carved into her tattered white dress—LIAR, LIAR.

“Jake?” Dana’s voice came from behind him, snapping him back into action.

He turned abruptly, blocking her path, his only goal to shield her from the horror before it carved itself into her mind, too.

“What’s wrong?” Dana asked.

“Turn around, Gray. You don’t want to see this.”

“Jake, don’t be ridiculous —”

“Dana! Just turn around. Please.”

She paused at the desperation in his voice, but George was striding back their way. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“She shouldn’t be here,” Jake growled. “She doesn’t need to see this.”

“Dr. Gray, am I correct in ascertaining you’ve seen your fair share of bodies?” George pushed.

“Of course,” she replied.

“And you’re comfortable with helping me examine one right now?”

“It’s why I’m here,” she insisted, sidestepping Jake’s immovable form.

Grumbling, he had no choice but to let her pass.

He didn’t have to go far to catch up. Dana stood frozen, just a few feet from where he’d tried to stop her. He watched the last vestige of color drain from her horrified expression as she saw what he had.Claire.

It wasn’t Claire. He knew that. Dana probably did, too. But seeing a mutilated corpse that could be her body double was more than jarring.

Jake tried to warn Dana. Now all he could do was stand by and wait for the fallout.

66

Dana openedher mouth to scream, but no sound came out.

She began to shake. Her vision went spotty. Then the world tilted violently. The ground was rushing up to meet her, but she didn’t make it that far.

Rough hands caught her, hauling her back to her feet.

George was there. Jake, too.