Page 231 of Hidden Nature

“It’s really not a problem at all, not on a day like this.”

“Officer Sanchez.” Elana shot out a hand. “I’ll give you some room.”

“Thanks, Elana. Why don’t you see if those hikers just unloading need any help or direction?”

“I’ve got it.”

“There’s a bench over there by the rest station.” Sloan pointed. “Will that work?”

“Sure will. Have you ever worked with a police artist before?”

“Not as a witness.”

“I can promise, it won’t hurt a bit. Why don’t you give me general features as you remember. Say, the shape of the face. Round, oval, square, triangular?”

“More diamond-shaped, but squarer on the chin. Oval eyes, long-bladed nose, full lips—fuller on the bottom. Straight thick eyebrows, barely an arch.”

“You’re going to make this easy.”

“I got a clear look the first time. The second time he wore sunglasses, wraparounds. Not quite that sharp at the cheekbones,” she said as the artist worked. “A little larger eyes.”

“Yours are amazing.”

“Thanks. Or thank my grandmother. He wears his hair in short twists. Very neat and tidy.”

As they worked, Sloan began to see the man on the page. “That’s really close. Ears a little closer to the head. Lips a little… I want to say thicker. Really close.”

“Close your eyes a minute. Just close your eyes, breathe, and take your mind off him. It must be wonderful to spend so much time outdoors on days like this. Spring’s my favorite, when everything’s just coming back to life.”

“Wild dogwoods and redbuds blooming now. They make a picture.”

“Take a look at this one now.”

Sloan opened her eyes, looked at the pad. “That’s him. You’ve got him.”

“And you made it easy. Do you want to try the woman?”

“I just didn’t see enough of her face. White, and the quick glimpse I’d say round face. Short mouse-brown hair, about to here.” Sloan cut her hand a couple inches below her ear. “Looked curled under at the ends a bit. I can give you height, weight, what she wore both times, but not her face. But.”

Sloan tapped the pad. “She was with this man. For all I know they’re a couple from who-knows-where taking a vacation.”

“We’ll see if we can match this guy, and find out.”

Clara checked on Terry Brown. They’d kept him sedated overnight, and now through the morning. Though anxious to hear his story, she thought it best to wait until they had the witch strapped in the bed beside him.

He’d see for himself the difference between good and godly and evil and dark. She considered it a gift to him before they let him go.

Sam came in. “Everything’s ready, babe.”

“All right. It’s a long time to leave him alone, but he’s well under. Even if he comes around before we get back with her, he’s secure.”

She laid a hand on his head. “By tonight, or the morning, he’ll go to glory. I’ve got a strong feeling about this one, doll. He’s going right into the light.”

Gently, Sam rubbed his bruised jaw. “I’ve got a strong feeling about him, too.”

Laughing, Clara went to him, rose up to kiss that jaw. “Let’s give him that as a reflex. The ice packs and the Voltaren’s kept the swelling down. That bruise’ll fade off in no time. You’re still the most handsome man I know.”

He gave her butt an affectionate squeeze, but over her head sent Terry a vicious look. When the time came, he’d love every minute of cutting the bastard up.

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