Page 3 of Investigate Away
“Well, not only did I go and get a girlfriend, I got myself engaged a few hours ago.” He paused for emphasis. “To Callie.”
“No fucking way. You and Callie?” Ajax asked with wide eyes. “How did that happen?”
“No idea. But I’m in love with her, and I can’t let her stand up there and report on a dead body when she doesn’t know it’s her sister.” Jag had delivered more bad news than a Navy chaplain. Another thing that never got easier.
But he suspected this would be about the worst thing he’d ever had to do in his life.
A large crowd had gathered in the parking lot. Many whispered and tossed about the wordsTrinket Killer. He wasn’t surprised that everyone had already jumped to that conclusion.
As soon as Callie saw him, she waved to her cameraman, who immediately flipped on his light.
Jag gave her the cut sign. “I need to talk to you. Alone.”
She handed her mic to someone and timidly made her way toward him. “What’s going on? You shouldn’t be pulling me aside like this. People will start talking.”
“Let them. I don’t care.” He curled his fingers around her biceps and tugged her down the path until he knew they were out of sight of the rest of the crew, who would be doing their best to figure out why a cop would pick one reporter to bring over to the other side of the crime scene tape. He paused and held Callie steady. He stared deep into her eyes. “I love you.”
“You pulled me aside to tell me that?” She turned.
“Callie. I need to tell you something about the victim.” He grabbed her by the forearms. “Babe, this isn’t good.”
“What isn’t good?” She blinked. “I appreciate all that you do, but don’t go out of your way to get me an exclusive.”
“Oh, sweetheart.” He pulled her close. “I’m so sorry, babe. I don’t know how to tell you this.”
“Tell me what? Just spit it out, before my crew comes looking for me, thinking you kidnapped me or something.”
He cupped her face. “It’s your sister. It’s Stephanie.”
“What about my sister?”
“She’s the victim.”
“What kind of cruel joke are you playing?” She shoved his hands to the side.
This was harder than anything he’s ever had to do in his career.
In his life.
“Callie, babe.” He held her wrist, tracing her matching tattoo. “I know it’s Stephanie because of this.”
Her fist came down on his chest. “What? No. It can’t be. We just had breakfast with her this morning. She was giving you shit for… for…” Callie took a step back. “You’ve made a mistake. It’s not Stephanie.”
Jag looped his arm around Callie and led her toward the body. The medical examiner and his team respectfully took a step back.
Ajax, however, stayed in his place, inching a little closer to Jag.
“Oh, my God. Stephanie,” Callie cried, starting to drop to her knees a little too close to the body.
“It’s still a crime scene.” Jag caught her and pulled her back a little. “I’m so sorry, Callie.”
She turned into his body and buried her face in his chest. “Adam Wanton did this.”
“I’m afraid not,” Ajax said.
“What?” Jag said. “That’s impossible.”
“The body that was found yesterday morning mutilated in that back alley downtown? Turns out, that was Adam. If you all had breakfast with Stephanie this morning, there is no way Adam could have killed your sister.”
