Page 133 of Last Girls Alive
“You okay?” said McGaven, holding his hand to her face.
Katie could hear him clearer. “I’m okay,” she said.
“You know how close that bullet came to doing some serious damage?”
“No, how close?” was the only thing that Katie could think of to say.
McGaven tore a piece of his shirt and pressed it against her cheek. “Too close. It grazed your cheek.”
“That wouldn’t even need a Band-Aid on the battlefield.”
McGaven shook his head.
Katie finally averted her eyes, tearing them away from the killer lying on the ground, wrists handcuffed behind his back—as his eyes stared fixed at the sky.
Katie thought that was too good for Jerry Weaver—he got off easy.
Sirens sounded.
Cars screeched up to the rundown motel.
McGaven hugged Katie and then helped her walk up to the motel and to the parking lot as they met reinforcements.
The sky finally released the rain.
Fifty-Five
A week later…
Katie heard the car pull up her driveway and when she looked out the window, she saw a black Lincoln Town Car slowly ease in and stop. She had no idea who it was until Candace Harlan jumped out and ran to the front porch.
Katie opened the door still wearing her robe, with Cisco at her left side.
“Hi, Detective Scott,” said Candace, who was all smiles.
“You can call me Katie,” she said. “What’s going on?”
“I wanted to… I mean,wewanted to say thank you.”
“Who?” Katie was puzzled at first then she saw Mrs. McKinzie step from the car. She was dressed casually in a pair of slacks and a yellow blouse, still looking elegant.
“Ms. Scott, I thought long and hard about what you said that night of the gala. And I took your advice. You made quite an impression.”
“Yes, she did,” chimed Candace. “And guess what?”
“What?” said Katie. Even though she had an idea of what the news was going to be.
“She’s my mom—myrealmom,” said Candace.
Katie looked at Mrs. McKinzie who nodded.
“Well, we had the mitochondrial DNA testing done. And yes, Candace is definitely my daughter. Candace and Carol are my daughters. We’re going to stop by Carol’s grave today.”
“And we’re going to visit Tanis at the hospital too. She’s doing much better,” said Candace.
“I’m so happy for you, both of you. That you were able to find each other.”
“We just wanted to come by and see you and tell you the good news in person,” said Candace. “Thank you, Detective Scott—I mean Katie.” She hurried back to the car. “I hope you’re feeling better,” she yelled over her shoulder.
