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CHAPTER TWENTY

NOAH STEPPED UP beside Violet. “Lauren, I’m Noah, Violet’s boyfriend.”

“I remember you. You asked me questions.”

“You gave me information about your attack yesterday.”

“You’re a cop?”

“Not now, ma’am. I was on the job for several years. I work with Violet now. You said Camilla told you she would be careful. Are you telling us you and Camilla knew each other?”

She nodded slightly.

“How did you meet?”

“I contacted her when a friend went missing and was later found murdered.”

“Why didn’t you contact the police?”

She shivered. “Didn’t know who to trust.”

Fair enough. He wouldn’t have known who to trust in this area, either. “What was your friend’s name?”

“Marin Farmer.”

Noah’s gut tightened. Marin had been murdered three weeks ago. “Why did you approach Camilla about Marin? You could have gone to the state police if you didn’t trust your own law enforcement officers.”

“Marin used to be in the foster care system. Camilla was her caseworker.”

“How did you and Marin meet?”

“We worked for the same event planning business. She was a whiz at planning parties and banquets.” Lauren’s gaze shifted to Violet. “Marin talked about your sister all the time. She and Camilla kept in touch after Marin aged out of the system.”

“What did Cami say about Marin’s death?” Violet asked.

“She was angry and tired of losing her girls to murder. Camilla planned to ask around to see if she could come up with the name of someone who might have killed these women.”

“When was the last time you talked to Camilla?” Noah asked.

“Last weekend. She said she was on to something but wanted to talk to Violet before she approached anyone else about what she suspected.”

“She didn’t give you a hint as to the culprit’s identity?”

Another head shake.

Not what he wanted to hear. “Do you have any idea who might be responsible for the deaths of these women?”

“No,” Lauren whispered. “I wish I did. I’m terrified he’ll come back to finish the job. I wouldn’t recognize him as a threat if I saw him on the street or in this hospital.”

“Talk to your local police. They’ll keep you safe.”

“How can you say that? I think the man who attacked me was a cop. I don’t know who to trust.”

“I’ll contact the detectives working your case. I had a friend of mine look into their backgrounds. They’re good men. You can trust them, Lauren. They weren’t involved in your attack. Will you trust me to talk to them on your behalf and have them assign a couple of officers as your security detail?”

Tears slipped down Lauren’s cheeks. “Thank you. You’ll tell me when the killer is caught, won’t you? I need to know. Please.”

“You won’t be able to miss it, Lauren. The killer’s name will be blasted all over the news.”

Violet patted her hand. “Rest now. We’ll go so you can sleep.”

Noah handed Lauren his business card. “Call me if you think of anything that might help us figure out who’s responsible for the deaths of these women. Someone will always answer the phone. Leave a message for me. Fortress will make sure I have the message within minutes.”

“Will I be safe here?” Lauren asked. “I’m terrified.”

“The detectives will be here soon, or they’ll post an officer outside your door.”

“Thank you.”

“Rest and get better. Leave the worry to the police. This will all be over soon.” With that, Noah escorted Violet from the bay. He waited until he was back in the waiting room to call the detectives working on Lauren’s case. After he explained Lauren’s concerns, the detectives agreed to assign an officer to watch over her.

Noah slid his phone into his pocket. “All set. Lauren will have a cop on her door in a few minutes. We’ll stay until the officer shows up to be sure she’s safe.”

Grant walked to the doorway of the waiting room, leaned a shoulder against the frame, and turned to watch the bay where Lauren was recovering.

“How was Lauren?” Rayne asked.

“Her vitals were good,” Violet said. “She has a long way to go to recuperate, though. She’ll be down for a while.”

“Did she give us anything new?” Grant asked.

“She was a friend of Marin Farmer’s,” Noah said.

Grant straightened and glanced over his shoulder. “Small world.”

“She and Marin worked for the same event planning company. Marin was also one of Camilla’s kids in the foster care system.”

“How is Lauren connected to Camilla?” Rayne asked.

“When Marin went missing, Lauren contacted Camilla. Not long after that, Marin’s body was found.”

Grant groaned. “Camilla started asking questions, didn’t she?”

“Looks like it.”

“And caught the killer’s attention. He’s tying up loose ends.” Rayne shook her head. “Do you think this is what your sister wanted to talk to you about, Violet?”

“Probably.” Her lips curved at the corners. “Along with her relationship with Bradley Melton.”

“Why didn’t she tell you about Bradley sooner?”

“Knowing Cami, she wanted to make sure the relationship would last before she introduced us. My sister didn’t trust easily.” Violet looked at Noah. “Neither do I.”

He leaned over and kissed her lightly. “Persistence and my charming personality won you over.”

She laughed. “You might be right.”

“The cop is here,” Grant said. “He’s stationed at Lauren’s door now.”

The ball of ice in Noah’s stomach melted. “Excellent. Violet, do you want to see Mrs. White this morning instead of talking to her at the visitation?”

“That’s a great idea.” Violet pulled out her phone. “I’ll call and see if she’s had breakfast yet. If she hasn’t, would you mind stopping to pick up something for her?”

“We’d love to,” Grant said. “What does she like?”

“For breakfast, she loves bagels and pastries. No donuts, though. She says they’re nothing but air.”

The men chuckled. “She’s not wrong,” Noah said. “I could eat again, too.”

After a brief conversation with the older woman, Violet shoved the phone into her pocket. “Mrs. White requested a breakfast wrap. She’ll have coffee waiting for us.”

“Perfect.” Grant rubbed his hands together. “I know exactly where we should go. I saw a shop that boasts about their great breakfast food when we stayed in Morrison.”

“You must be talking about Charlie’s.” Violet smiled. “Mrs. White probably had Charlie’s in mind when she asked for a wrap. Charlie’s is a town favorite.”

“Let’s check it out.”

An hour later, Grant parked in the lot beside Mrs. White’s apartment building.

Soon, Violet knocked on her friend’s door. After a delay, Mrs. White opened the door and smiled at the operatives.

“Welcome back.” She hugged Violet, then Rayne. “Come in. It’s good to see you again.”

Noah kissed the older woman’s delicate cheek. “Thanks for letting us come visit you so early this morning.”

Grant followed Noah’s lead and kissed Mrs. White’s other cheek. “We stopped by Charlie’s to pick up breakfast.”

“Oh, good. I love their breakfast wraps.” She led the way into the dining room. “I didn’t know if you remembered, Violet.”

“I wouldn’t forget an important detail like that.”

“Please, sit down.”

The dining table was set for five. A coffee mug was at each place, as well as two carafes in the center of the table.

Noah seated Mrs. White before doing the same for Violet. After Grant seated Rayne, he dropped into the chair beside her and handed out takeout containers with wraps. “Each wrap is the same, ma’am. If you don’t like the filling, you can blame me.”

Violet’s mentor laughed. “Oh, young man, you don’t have to worry. I like all of their wraps.”

He grinned. “Good to know.” Grant winked at Rayne. “Sorry, baby, but I might have to toss you over for Mrs. White. She’s beautiful and loves the same food I do. That combination is hard to beat.”

Mrs. White blushed. “Oh, now, don’t be telling your girlfriend nonsense like that. She might believe you one day. Then where will you be?”

“In serious trouble, ma’am. I don’t know if I can survive without her.”

Noah studied his friend as the conversation shifted to neutral topics while they ate. Although the words were meant in jest, Noah suspected the emotions they revealed were all too real.

When they finished the meal, Violet and Rayne insisted on clearing the table while Mrs. White sat in the living room with Noah and Grant.

After Violet and Rayne joined them, Mrs. White turned to Violet. “While I appreciate the company and breakfast, that’s not why you’re here this morning, especially on a day like this. How can I help, Violet?”

“Are you still part of the quilting circle at your church?”

The older woman looked surprised. “Why, yes, dear. I am. Why?”

“Do you remember when Amanda Billings was murdered?”

“How could I forget? She went to your high school.”

“The quilting circle has deep roots in the community.”

Amusement lit Mrs. White’s eyes. “Are you asking if we gossip around the quilts, Violet?”

Her cheeks flushed. “Maybe.”

The woman laughed. “You’re correct, my dear. We talk about everything connected to the community we love, including our friends and neighbors.”

“So you talked about Amanda Billings.”

“Indeed, we did. She was the topic of conversation for two or three weeks.”

“Did anything else catch your attention during that year before Amanda’s death?”

“Besides Rosalie tossing you and your sister into the street the day you turned eighteen?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Mrs. White remained silent for a few beats, then said, “If I remember right, the Hansons were the object of much speculation in those days.”

Noah leaned closer, his forearms on his knees. “The whole family?”

“Well, mainly the chief.”

“Why?”

“Quite the scandal, you know. Harriet, the chief’s wife, had an affair with a much younger man and walked out on the chief, leaving him to finish raising those boys alone.”

“How long before Amanda’s death did Mrs. Hanson walk out?”

“I’d say two or three months.”

He frowned. “How long was it after Mrs. Hanson left that the chief began seeing Rosalie Trevelyan?”

“Four months.” She sounded confident.

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely. He didn’t ask Rosalie out until after his divorce was final. According to the gossip, Mrs. Hanson wanted nothing except to get out of the marriage. She insisted on fast-tracking the divorce.”

“What about Fitz and Jeff?” Violet asked. “How did they handle the divorce?”

“They were devastated and furious. Don’t you remember, dear? The boys acted out during that time.”

“Acted out?” Grant tilted his head. “What did they do?”

“Women. Lots and lots of women. Jeff was in college at that point. Rumors swirled about him sleeping with any woman who would have him. Same thing with poor Fitz.” She shook her head. “Sad, if you ask me. They had no respect for themselves or the women they were with.”

“That’s why you told me that Fitz was nothing but trouble I could do without.” Violet sighed. “I should have known you had a reason for telling me to drop him.”

“Well, it didn’t take long for his true colors to show.”

“No, ma’am. He dropped me after three dates.”

“Smartest thing you ever did was let him go his own way.”

Violet’s gaze shifted to Noah. “Yes, ma’am. You’re right.”

His heart turned over in his chest. He wrapped his hand around hers and squeezed. Man, he loved this woman with every breath he took.

“Have you heard anything about Rosalie?” Rayne asked.

Mrs. White grimaced. “Only that she is living it up with Chief Hanson. I don’t know why they don’t get married. They’re always together each night in her house or his. Everyone knows. They haven’t tried to hide their involvement with each other.”

“Was anything else said about Rosalie?” Noah asked, watching her.

A frown settled on her mouth. “Only that Rosalie seems to have more money than anyone can explain. What she did to those girls was a shame. No relative should turn out their own kin without a penny.”

“We survived thanks to you.” Violet wrapped her hand around Mrs. White’s. “You were the family we needed. Cami and I wouldn’t have made it without you.”

“I wish I could have done more.” Her voice came out husky.

“You were there for us when no one else was.”

“Thank you for saying that, dear.”

“It’s the truth.”

“Is there anything I can do to help you this afternoon, Violet?”

Violet’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Being at the visitation with me is enough.”

Mrs. White looked at Noah. “Is it true that killers go to the funerals of their victims?”

“It has happened,” he admitted.

“You’ll protect Violet.” A demand, not a question.

“Yes, ma’am. With my life.”

“I can protect myself,” Violet protested.

“I can see that,” the woman said with a pointed glance at Violet’s stitches.

“The man who attacked me is sporting a knife wound in his thigh for his trouble.”

“Unless he’s limping noticeably, I don’t see how that will help you find him,” she said tartly.

“It ties the killer to the attack on Violet.” Noah studied the older woman for a moment. “What do you know about Jeff Hanson, Mrs. White?”

“Not much. He’s a lawyer, working for some big law firm in Helena. Jeff was already in college when his parents’ marriage fell apart. The gossip mill reported Jeff wanted to quit college and come back home, but his daddy wouldn’t let him.”

“What did you think about that decision?”

“Well, from an educational perspective, that decision was the right one. The boy was planning to go to law school. He needed a stellar academic record to follow his dream. Quitting school because of a family crisis wouldn’t have been wise. Besides, what could he have done? His mother had left town and was staying with her lover. No matter what Jeff said or did, none of his actions would have made a difference in the outcome.” She frowned. “I will say that during the divorce proceedings, Jeff came home several times to be with his father and brother. Each time he left, he was more angry and withdrawn.”

“Do you know if Jeff and his mother have any kind of relationship now?”

“I don’t think so. From what I understand, neither boy has seen Harriet since she left Morrison.”

“We know the police chief is dating Aunt Rosalie,” Violet said. “Are Jeff and Fitz dating anyone now?”

Another frown. “You know, I don’t believe I’ve heard about Jeff dating anyone. Fitz, however, plays the field, like he did in high school. He has a revolving door where the women are concerned. It’s like the women are his flavors of the week.”

“That’s a shame,” Rayne said.

“I agree. It’s not fair to the women or to himself. He deserves to be happy. So does his brother. I hate that the boys were so traumatized by Harriet’s actions.”

“What about the chief? Do you know if he’s only involved with Rosalie, or does he have someone on the side?”

“Oh, he is loyal to Rosalie. No question about that. It’s a point of pride for him since his wife was a cheater. He dotes on Rosalie, you know.”

“Can you think of anything else that might help us, Mrs. White?”

“Like what, dear?”

“We learned Cami was looking into the disappearances and deaths of several women, especially those who were under her care as a social worker.”

Mrs. White grimaced. “I was afraid of that. She asked me questions much like you and your friends have. She never told me why she wanted to know. I should have insisted she tell me.”

“What could you have done?” Violet squeezed her hand. “Cami was stubborn and strong willed. Once she connected the dots and realized her girls were under attack, my sister would have done everything she could think of to prevent more loss of life.”

“Mrs. White, since Violet was out of the country, is there anyone Camilla would have trusted to help her with this?” Noah asked.

“Bradley Melton would be my first guess. If not him, then you might consider one of her coworkers, especially her supervisor, Melanie Raines. She knows this town and its citizens. If she couldn’t help Camilla, Melanie would know someone who might be of assistance.”

Violet hugged the older woman. “You’ve been a big help.”

“I’m glad, my dear. Now, you only have a few hours before the visitation begins. You should rest until then. You have quite an ordeal ahead of you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Noah helped Violet to her feet. “Thank you for the help, Mrs. White. Please, for your own safety, don’t mention it to anyone. Violet needs you to be safe. We all want you to be safe.”

Rayne bent and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Noah’s right. You matter to all of us. Please take care of yourself.”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”

“This guy is tying up loose ends,” Grant said. “I don’t want him to think of you as one.”

“I’ll be careful. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

Minutes later, the operatives were back in the SUV. “Where to now, Noah?” Grant asked.

“Hotel. Violet needs to decompress before she faces the crowd at the funeral home.”

“What about Melanie Raines?” Violet protested. “We need to talk to her. Cami might have confided in her boss.”

“I think Ms. Raines will show up for the visitation and funeral. If she doesn’t, we’ll track her down and have a chat with her.” Noah wrapped his hand around Violet’s. “We aren’t leaving until your sister’s killer is behind bars or six feet under.”