Page 114 of Girl Between (Dana Gray FBI Mystery Thriller #5)

“My hotel. I need a shower and a meal or I’m not going to be any good to this case.”

What she really needed was sleep, but with Monroe on the loose, that would have to wait.

“Let me give you a ride,” George offered.

She raised an eyebrow. “It’s a few blocks. I can walk.”

“I know you can, but I’m offering you a ride.”

Dana snorted but kept walking. “That’s a little Jekyll and Hyde, don’t ya think?”

George jogged ahead and cut her off. “I’m trying to apologize.”

“Try harder.”

“Dana.” He grabbed her arm. “I’m sorry. I was out of line today.

This case …” He paused, at a loss. Closing his eyes, George inhaled through his nose and collected himself.

His eyes were warm again when he opened them.

“Whatever this is, it isn’t your fault. I’m sorry I took out my frustrations on you. ”

“And Lena.”

“Yes, and Lena.” George exhaled and shoved his hands in his pockets. “And probably every officer and agent I ordered around today.”

“It was a shit day,” she agreed.

“You can say that again.”

“It was a shit day.”

George flashed a grin that Dana almost believed.

“You want that ride?”

“Yes, please. Or I think I might fall asleep right here on this sidewalk.”

Dana leaned back against the headrest, luxuriating in the feel of the air conditioning aimed at her chest. “On second thought, I think I might just fall asleep here,” she said to George as he drove down Royal.

“You could, but then you’d miss out on that fine ass shower you got in your room.”

“Mm … new plan. Shower, sleep till Sunday.”

“Wouldn’t that be nice?” he mused.

“I can’t stop thinking about all the necklaces,” mused Dana, her mind returning specifically to the silver locket with the green stone in the middle. “When do we tell Miriam Barton what we found?”

“And what would that be?” George asked, the edge returning to his voice.

“Miriam said Elizabeth never took it off. Finding her necklace with Monroe’s trophies means she was one of his victims.”

“And you think that’s going to what, bring her peace?”

“She deserves to know,” Dana argued. “It won’t change the fact that her daughter is gone, but maybe it can help give her closure.”

George huffed a bitter laugh. “Death doesn’t work like that. It rips a hole in your world that nothing can repair. Not even the truth. ”

Dana knew that better than most. But she couldn’t help putting herself in Mrs. Barton’s shoes. “I’d want to know.”

George’s lips tugged into a frown. “It’s being swabbed for DNA with the others. If it matches Elizabeth Barton, I’ll personally drive you out to see her mother, but right now stopping Monroe from adding more trophies to his collection is my primary objective.”

“Mine, too.”

George pulled up in front of Dana’s hotel. “Good. Then get a shower and some rest so you can come at this fresh. I’ll do the same. If you find anything, call me, otherwise I’ll be back to pick you up at 8 o’clock.”

Dana turned to look at him, eyes wide. “For your sister’s rehearsal? We’re in the middle of a murder investigation.”

“Have you met my sister? It’ll be my murder you’re investigating if I don’t show up.” When Dana didn’t answer, he continued. “Look, I know it sucks but death is a part of life, and life doesn’t have a pause button. If anything, all this death puts things into perspective.”

“How so?” she asked.

“Life is short. We need to take advantage of each moment while we can.”

Dana couldn’t argue with that logic. But still, after what she’d seen at the Monroe property today, she wasn’t in the mood to celebrate. “I don’t think I’ll be good company tonight.”

“I get it, but misery loves company. No harm in going tonight if it means we can be miserable together, right? Plus, free food and booze. Can’t beat that.”

The offer was tempting, but Dana still wasn’t convinced.

It wasn’t only the case that was eating at her.

George had admitted he wanted more than Dana could offer but had agreed to keep things strictly professional.

Dana didn’t want to send mixed signals. “I don’t just mean tonight, George.

I don’t think I should attend the wedding either. ”

“Are you serious?”

“Cadie only asked me to be in the wedding because she’s trying to play matchmaker. ”

George chuckled. “Okay, maybe that’s how it started, but I think it’s more than that. She genuinely likes you. The whole family does.”

“The whole family?” Dana pressed.

George put his truck in park before turning to face her.

“Yes, the whole family.” He reached across and grabbed her hand.

“In my book, that makes you family. You’ll always be welcome here, Dana.

I’m sorry for acting like an ass today. Honestly, I’m glad you called me on it. What you said about Landry …”

“George, I’m sorry?—”

He cut off her apology. “Don’t be. Crazy thing is, you weren’t wrong.

I wanted you to be, but now you got me looking at things through a different lens.

So much of this case isn’t adding up. And what those victims have been through …

It’s eatin’ at me. All those young women, who shoulda had their whole lives ahead of them.

Cut short for what?” he sighed. “It’s brought up a lot of stuff I thought I’d dealt with, but …

Sophie … not being there for her in the end … it still haunts me.”

“We all have ghosts. But it’s your choice to listen.”

He smiled tightly. “Get some rest, but I’ll be by to pick you up at 8 o’clock.”

“George …”

“Cadie wants you there. I need you there, okay?”

She recognized the truth in his gaze and nodded. “Okay. 8 o’clock.”