Page 52 of Kiss Her Goodbye

I’m just lifting my arm to point when Daryl speaks up behind me.

“You need to see this.”

I twist around enough to spy Daryl in the kitchen.He jerks his chin toward a wad of fabric discarded in the stainless-steel sink.

Worse than the furiously covered walls, the fanatically mad scribbling…

The discarded white towels are covered in streaks of red.The one colorful item—a deep turquoise floral printed scarf, stiffened with gore—commands most of our attention, however.The infamous hijab Aliah gifted to her friend, now clearly soaked in blood.Maybe someone else’s.Maybe Sabera’s own.

Whatever happened to Sabera.Whatever is continuing to happen here…

My arm falls to my side.“Oh.”

“Oh,” he agrees.

He picks up his phone and gives Roberta a call.

CHAPTER 20

IDON’T THINK THE BLOOD ISSabera’s,” Roberta murmurs thirty minutes later.She’d come tearing into the parking lot shortly after receiving Daryl’s summons, a dramatic display of riotous brown curls and door-knocker silver earrings as she’d bolted out of her vehicle and up the front steps.

Unfortunately, she’d chosen to do the responsible thing and notify her brother, Detective Marc, on her way over.Which is to say, the three of us are now confined to the back patio where we are to touch nothing and talk to no one.Given it’s nearly a hundred degrees outside, it feels like detention in an inner circle of hell.Which might have been what Detective Marc intended when he marched into the townhouse and discovered his three least favorite people once again two steps ahead of him.Or perhaps it was the fact I pointed that out specifically that tipped him over the edge.

“How do you know it’s not her blood?”Daryl asks now.He’s removed his black suit jacket in deference to the heat.I’ve alreadydone my best to discreetly inspect his starched white dress shirt for bloodstains.So far, so good.He’s also rolled up his cuffs to reveal forearms muddy with dark, swirling patterns of old ink.Tattoos, possibly jailhouse, given the blotchy quality.It’s challenging to both listen to his words and read his body art, but I do my best.

“It’s a lot of blood for starters.And only on the items in the sink.If Sabera was that grievously injured, how’d she not smear blood all over the rest of the place?Let alone have the strength to clean up before going allBeautiful Mindon the walls?”

I’m less convinced: “I checked the hijab while we were waiting,” I mutter.

Roberta skewers me with a look.“You trying to justify my brother killing you?”

“Eh, guy’s gotta save his strength.Has you to murder as well, right?Point is, the fabric has two sides.Unfortunately, it’s the inside that seems more… saturated.”

“Oh.”Roberta’s eyes widen slightly.

Daryl, on the other hand: “Head wounds are known for bleeding.Doesn’t mean it’s serious.”

“Doesn’t mean it’s not.”

“Listen.”Roberta jerks her head toward the sliders, where we can hear voices grow louder as they approach.“Either way, this gives credence to Aliah’s assumption—Sabera was at the scene of the double homicide, at least close enough to wear some of the evidence—”

“Or involved enough to create some of the evidence,” I counter.

“Maybe she witnessed something she shouldn’t have.”

“Or did something she shouldn’t have.”

We’re saved from further debate as the glass slider is yanked back and Detective Marc appears.I don’t know what it is aboutcranky, glowering men, but my own mood immediately improves.Apparently for me, pissing off other people has an immediate therapeutic effect.

“When, where, why, how?”Detective Marc barks.“Start talking, and I mean now!”

I open my mouth just in time for Roberta to kick me in the shins.I’m so shocked, I shut up.

“I already explained to you,” Roberta states calmly.“Frankie and Daryl came to the resort to interview Sabera’s employer.As I’m sure you’ve also done.”

Judging by the good detective’s scowl, he has not.

“While driving through the property, it occurred to them that this would be a good location for Sabera to hide out, given her familiarity.A brief search for a vacant room that appeared recently disturbed led them to this unit.”