Page 60 of Three Girls Gone
“I did no such thing.”
“Did you take her home, hide her from your grandmother, hold her for three days, assault then kill her?” Amanda asked.
“No.”
“You saw the little girl you wanted in Julie. Maybe that urge never left, and when you saw Hailey, you just had to have her.” The words were pouring out of Amanda like a torrent. Trent touched her briefly on her shoulder, but she kept her gaze fixed on Anne.
“That’s not true. Oh my God, you think I touched Julie and this Hailey girl? And killed them too?”
“Did you?” Amanda tossed back. “Little girls would be easier to control than men.”
“I would never! I’m not a monster!”
“I’m not so sure I believe you.”
“Lawyer.” She dragged out the word and hit the button to call the nurse.
“We were leaving anyhow,” Amanda said, “but you won’t be going anywhere. Even if you figure a way out of the cuffs, there’s a uniformed officer outside your room.”
A nurse came into the room and halted her steps at the sight of Amanda and Trent. “Is everything all right here, Ms.Harrington?”
“Get them out of here.” She jabbed her eyes at Amanda and Trent.
Amanda swept past the nurse. Before talking to Anne, shehad her reservations about her guilt. But after speaking with her, they were melting away. Anne’s shifting moods made her unpredictable, borderline unhinged. She could be the killer they were after.
Amanda turned to Officer Wyatt in the hallway. “Don’t leave for one minute and call us the second her lawyer gets here.”
Wyatt bobbed his head. “I can do that.”
“Thanks.” She and Trent almost made it to the doors when footsteps rushed toward them. She turned around and came face to face with Dr.Paulsen.
“Amanda? Ah, Detective Steele,” he corrected.
Hearing him say her given name caused more sensations in her body than she cared to admit.
“I’m glad I caught you,” he said, breathing easily despite hustling to get to her.
Healthy heart… check. She stiffened and cleared her throat. “Why’s that?”
“Anne Harrington is scheduled for reconstructive surgery on her nose at ten PM. I thought you’d like to know when she comes out of surgery. If I could get your number, I’ll make sure that you’re contacted as soon as she’s ready to have visitors again.”
“Ah, sure.” She handed over her card.
“Great. I’ll call you then.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled and dipped his head before walking away. Trent was shaking his head and started moving again. She was flattered by the doctor’s interest. He had confidence but was unassuming, and she found that refreshing.
She joined Trent outside.
“You know that line he gave you was entire BS? He wanted your number for himself.”
“I’m hoping he does.” She smiled at Trent, but he wasn’tsmiling. “And if he does… Why should that bother you?” She hated how her walls came up, but he had Kelsey. Didn’t she deserve someone too? When she dared to look at him again, his lips were in a straight line, his brow was set, and a slight hue colored his cheeks. He said nothing.
TWENTY-FIVE
After briefing Malone, she and Trent clocked out. A search warrant was being executed on Harrington’s car and her grandmother’s house, but neither required them on scene. With their prime suspect unavailable for questioning until sometime the next day, it presented a natural cut-off point. She picked up Zoe from Libby’s a bit before six, and they were on their way home.
