Page 94 of Tear Me Apart

“Good. I’m in the conference room.”

A few minutes later, she knocks and enters, a notebook in one hand and an apple in the other. “You’ve been here all night?”

He rubs his face with both hands. “Yeah. Listen, I just saw something in the autopsy report about Vivian Armstrong being treated for depression. Did anyone ever follow up on that?”

“I did see something, hold on.” She disappears, then comes back with a red folder and a steaming cup of coffee, which she sets in front of him.

“Ah, thank you.” He takes a deep gulp.

Starr flips open the folder. “Yes, she had an antidepressant in her system, but there’s no record of her receiving treatment, no doctor’s bills or anything, so no way to know who was treating her. I was surprised. Do you think this is something?”

“Anything that wasn’t looked at back then is fair game for us now. Gorman highlighted it in his personal file. We should track it down before we leave.”

“Flights a few hours off. You have time to follow this trail. I’m putting together all the files for the Colorado cops. Shout if you need me to run anything down for you.”

“Copy that. Thanks, Breezy.”

He picks up his phone. Vivian Armstrong lived near Vanderbilt—the closest ER to their house. Might as well start there.

53

THE WRIGHTS’ HOUSE

Zack falls asleep without issue after their late dinner, a result of the altitude, he supposes, and is awakened, surprisingly refreshed, at 4:45 in the morning, by Juliet, who is shaking his shoulder.

“Hey, I’m sorry to wake you, but the doctors want to do some testing as soon as possible. Can you get up and come with me?”

“Sure.” He’s awake instantly. He’s always been a morning person, likes the quiet before the dawn when nothing stirs but his memories. He jumps in the shower, dresses, and is downstairs in the kitchen five minutes later. Jasper is there making coffee, and Juliet is feeding Kat, who is gazing at this new goddess adoringly for both taking her for an early morning constitutional and giving her food without asking.

“Traitor,” Zack says to her, rubbing her ears while she scarfs down her kibble.

“Did you sleep?” Jasper asks. He looks like he was up all night, his face puffy and hair standing up in the back.

“I did, thank you. Passed out is more like it. Yesterday was a bit exhausting.” He continues petting Kat. “Do you have a good place for me to leave her? She’s used to sleeping on the couch at my place, but I don’t want her on your good furniture.”

Juliet shakes her head. “No, bring her. Today is going to be rough for everyone, and she’ll be a good buffer. Besides, Mindy won’t forgive you if you show up without her. She loves dogs, and Lauren’s already told her all about Kat.”

“Right. Good plan.”

“We should get going. Here’s a thermos.” Jasper hands him the coffee. He is quieter this morning, thoughtful.So much at stake, Zack thinks.All of our lives are going to change today.

Zack snaps on Kat’s harness, and they troop to the garage. Jasper gets into a silver Audi Q7, and Juliet leads Zack and Kat to her black Xterra. Kat clambers in the back and settles right down. Zack climbs in the front next to Juliet, cracks open the thermos and takes a deep drink.

“Jasper makes great coffee, doesn’t he? I wish he’d show up at my place every morning, carafe in hand.”

“He does.” He takes another sip. “You’re all so very kind. I appreciate it.”

“I don’t know about that. Mindy has been all of our priority for a long time, and especially now. Trust me, once we know how things are going to shake out with her, there will be plenty of drama.”

“I can do without the drama. I’ve had more than enough to last two lifetimes.”

“I don’t know if the media will allow that to happen, Zack. This is going to be a huge story once it gets out.”

“I’d rather it not be. I’m a private person, and with my past...let’s just try to keep things between us for now, okay?”

“I’m fine with that, and God knows Lauren will be, too, but the cops might have another plan. They’re catching a flight this afternoon. I’ve set up an appointment for them later today with my people at the CBI. Now that Mindy’sbeen found, they’re going to have to look hard at Castillo and her partner, Fuentes, to see how they managed to get her here. Did they have people across the country supplying babies? Was Vivian a casualty of something bigger? We’re going to have to look into everything, Zack. I’m sorry.”

“I want her murder solved as much as everyone else, trust me. But it’s been seventeen years. I don’t see how a few more days will hurt. At least give Mindy and me some time to talk, to get to know each other a little, hopefully.”