Page 67 of Shadows Reel

“It’s beautiful,” she said. “The sky is on fire.”

“From both directions,” Joe said. “Wigwags to the east and northern lights at the same time. It’s like living on the Vegas Strip.”

She sat in the chair Sheridan had left.

“They’re having so much fun in there I don’t want to break it up,” she said.

“Why break things up at all?”

“Do you think it’s safe for everyone to stay here tonight?” she asked. “That intruder spooked me. There was areasonhe came to our house. I just don’t know what it was.”

“I’m ready for him next time,” Joe said, patting the receiver of his shotgun.

“I think I’d rather have everyone here under our roof than scattered in the wind where we can’t keep an eye on them,” she said.

“I agree.”

“I’ve got a question for you,” she said. “When you were in Lola’s trailer, did you see the tote bag full of books I brought her from the library? I left it on the floor on the side of her couch.”

Joe looked over, not understanding.

“It had our logo on the outside. It’s like the ones I always bring home.”

He shook his head. “I don’t remember seeing it.”

“Do you think you could go back there and look? I see that they’re still investigating Lola’s place.”

Instead, Joe called Gary Norwood’s cell phone. Norwood sounded weary and out of sorts.

“Gary, are you still at the scene?”

“I am, but I’m about to put a lid on it for the night. I’ll be back tomorrow. Joe, I left a half-eaten turkey leg on my plate for this.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I know. It isn’t your fault—but try telling Tibbs that.”

“Did you determine what killed her?” Joe asked.

“Not definitively, but, like I said, it wasn’t a gunshot wound. I’d describe the injury as almost like a very large ice pick. It must have been sharpened and delivered with a lot of force because it really penetrated her skull. My guess is she died instantly, which is probably the only good thing about this situation.”

“Does the sheriff have any leads?” Joe asked.

“Other than your mystery SUV, I don’t think so,” Norwood said. “Whoever did it got in through thefloor. And he either wore gloves or cleaned up—just like the scene at Kizer’s. Like Bert’s place, there’s no sign of forced entry. I haven’t found anything of note yet, and as far as I know there aren’t any suspects.”

Joe noticed that Marybeth had leaned closer to him so she could overhear Norwood.

“I’ve got a quick question for you and then I’ll let you go,” Joe said. “Do you see a Twelve Sleep County Library tote bag anywhere inside the trailer? Filled with...”

“Romance novels,” Marybeth whispered.

“...Romance novels,” Joe said.

“Just a sec,” Norwood said. Joe could hear him place his phone down on a hard surface. He came back a minute later.

“Nope. No bag full of books. Why?”

“Marybeth was wondering about it. She dropped the bag off for Lola yesterday.”