Page 113 of Last Girls Alive

“They just let you go?”

“Yeah.”

“What did they charge you with?”

“Obstruction. Hindering an investigation.”

“How did you make bail?”

“It was $5,000 and I was able to give the bail bonds $500—that’s all I have.”

Katie felt bad as she watched the girl explain what had happened to her. “I can’t let you stay here with these investigations underway. But, you can stay tonight due to extenuating circumstances—I’m going to see if I can get you some safe housing. I have to let my bosses know tomorrow that you were here. I don’t know if that’s going to help or hurt your case. Understand?”

She nodded.

“Come in,” she said and opened the door wider.

Candace walked inside and stood about six feet away, politely waiting.

“Have you eaten anything?” Katie asked.

She shook her head.

“I can make you a sandwich,” Katie said and walked to the kitchen.

Cisco padded to the new person and gave her a once-over, finally ending up sniffing her shoes.

“Is he friendly?”

“Cisco? Yes, he’s friendly. He was a war dog. We did two tours in Afghanistan.”

Candace carefully walked past the dog and sat at the counter facing Katie.

“Turkey and Swiss?” Katie asked.

“That’s great.”

Katie put together a hearty sandwich with turkey, Swiss cheese, mayo, lettuce, and tomato on wheat bread. She put it on a small plate and slid it over to Candace. “You want something to drink?”

“Milk? If you have it.”

“I get the feeling that you have something to tell me,” she said, pouring a glass of milk.

Candace took two hefty bites and thought as she chewed. “I’ve had a lot of time to think. And I think that someone is going after us girls—”

Katie put down the milk. “Why do you think that?” she said suspiciously. Still not convinced that the ordeal with the containers at Elm Hill was as innocent as Candace claimed.

“Because.”

“Why, Candace?”

“It’s no secret that we, all of us girls, aren’t perfect.”

“And?”

“We’ve all done things that we’re not proud of—but we’ve had to survive,” she said, stuffing more of the sandwich in her mouth.

“Slow down. When was the last time you ate?”