Page 50 of Our Daughter's Bones

“It sounds like they were atoning for something.”

“He is.”

“What for?”

“That was never part of the lesson.” Daniel hopped off the hood of the car and straightened his tie. He looked past her to the crowd of people emerging from the church. With their black umbrellas matching their clothes, they looked like one giant organism snaking their way across the lawn.

Mackenzie and Daniel approached Nick, who was shaking Gabriella Perez’s hand. Samuel stood stiffly, one rigid arm around his wife.

“Mr. Perez, I am Special Agent Daniel St. Clair from the FBI.” Daniel offered him his hand.

Perez’s pebble-like black eyes twinkled. “Ah, Agent St. Clair. Mayor Rathbone told me you had volunteered to consult on this case.”

“I’m very sorry for your loss.”

Gabriella dabbed her wet cheeks with a handkerchief. Mackenzie noticed a letter “E” embroidered in red on the white cloth.

“I stitched it for her when she was a baby.” Gabriella’s voice cracked, noticing Mackenzie staring at it.

“It’s beautiful,” Mackenzie replied, smiling gently.

“Well, Agent St. Clair, my wife and I are grateful. Now we have hope that justice will be done. We have been nothing but disappointed until now.” Perez’s eyes shifted to Nick.

Mackenzie knew Nick was unaffected. He was a straight arrow—he only cared about doing his job well and solving cases. He didn’t seek approval or praise. But she had known the sleepless nights he had dedicated to looking for Erica. She had seen the countless crumpled coffee cups in the garbage, his hands scrunching his hair as he tried to make sense of Bruce Stephens’s notes, his heated conversations with Bruce and Peck as he tried to access more information. No one could accuse him of not giving his most—all the while working on other cases too.

“The case has been more complex than we had anticipated, and even a decorated detective like Nick needs a strong team,” she said, trying not to sound defensive. “We’re very happy to have Agent St. Clair on board with us. It was a little difficult to set up this collaboration even with pressure from the mayor, but it certainly helps that Nick’s father is Senator Blackwood. It made things move quicker.”

“Really?” Samuel raised his eyebrows. “You’re Alan’s son?”

Nick nodded reluctantly.

“We played golf one time about two years ago. He’s an inspiring man.”

Just like she had predicted, Samuel’s regard for Nick mounted. Curiosity replaced his disapproval.

“This is Detective Mackenzie Price. She’s working on the disappearance of Abigail Correia.”

Gabriella shook her head. “I saw it on the news. I can imagine what her mother must be going through. You think the cases are linked?”

“We have found evidence that suggests they could be,” Mackenzie said slowly. Samuel and Gabriella leaned closer. “Do you know if Erica saw Abby that day?”

“It’s possible,” Gabriella shrugged. “They were best friends. They often met. But I d-don’t know really.”

“We believe that the people involved in Abby’s disappearance are the ones who hurt Erica.”

“Why do you think that?” Samuel asked.

“Abby was in possession of Erica’s cell phone. We have the phone now and are trying to extract data from it,” Nick said.

Samuel’s eyes flitted in quick movements, reminding Mackenzie of a butterfly flapping its wings.

A flu-like shiver rippled through Gabriella’s body. “I-I don’t understand what those girls could possibly have been involved in that could lead tothis. I don’t know what to think anymore.”

“Let’s talk, Mr. and Mrs. Perez.” Daniel led them away from the crowd. “I have to take your statements again anyway, and I can fill you in on our latest discovery.”

Mackenzie handed Daniel her umbrella and watched the three walk down the pebbled path. Rain obscured Mackenzie’s vision, blurring their outlines and painting the scene in hues of black and green. The handkerchief in Gabriella’s fist stood out like a lightbulb. She held it tight between her fingers.

What would Gabriella do with it now? Would she sleep with it every night? Would she want to be buried with it?