Page 38 of Investigate Away
“Hi, Callie girl,” Kara finally said.
Callie plopped herself on the stool at the island and let out a long breath, fighting the tears stinging the corners of her eyes. “I need to tell you something.”
“Why do you sound so ominous?”
“Because those raven trinkets I showed you? They were bought in bulk at the same store where all the dolphin ones were purchased.”
“Oh no,” Kara whispered. “Ivy and I were talking about the differences between a dolphin and a raven. A dolphin symbolizes harmony, resurrection, and protection. Ravens generally represent death, often predicting it. It’s a really big jump for a killer to go from one concept to the other.”
Callie had to agree, but psychopaths often made connections normal people couldn’t possibly understand. “What about resurrection and death? They go hand in hand.”
“I suppose. But one is sunshine and unicorns while the other is all Alfred Hitchcock,” Kara said. “One is about balance, and the other really deals with the coming of something terrible.”
One of the things Callie loved about working with Kara was that she constantly forced Callie to stretch her mind, examine every angle, even the ones that seemed so obscure that the ideas bordered on the ridiculous.
But Kara was often right on the money.
And something horrible was on the horizon.
Callie pinched the bridge of her nose. “What if we’ve had it all wrong from the beginning and the Trinket Killer is a woman?”
“Why would you say that?” Kara asked. “That’s not anything we’ve ever really talked about before.”
“I know you don’t want to hear this, and I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, but Renee was having an affair.”
A faint gasp echoed from the other side of the cell. “Why would you bring that up? Why would you tell me that? Are you trying to hurt me?”
“No. It’s not like that. Whoever killed my sister and your wife knew them. That’s a key connection,” she said, taking a quick breath. “Did you get to see Renee’s body?”
“I identified her, yes. Why?”
“Did you know all the details? How many times she was stabbed? What she looked like at the crime scene? Did the police show you any of that?” Callie asked, trying not to sound so desperate.
“The police tried to trip me up so that I’d admit to killing my wife or give them something they could arrest me for,” Kara said with tinge of resentment hanging on her words. “Why are we talking about this?”
“I know the Trinket Killer is back, only I’m really thinking he’s a she, and I believe both your wife and my sister knew the killer. But what’s the connection? What’s the common denominator?”
“Callie. Slow down and take a breath,” Kara interjected. “Have you talked to Jag? What does he think about all this?”
“He hasn’t said too much. He’s eerily calm about the entire thing.” One thing Callie had learned early on was not to always tell Kara what Jag’s theories were. When she’d first met Kara, she and Jag clashed, which was understandable since Jag all but accused Kara of murder. It had taken a long time for the two of them to become friends. “I’m not exactly sure what he thinks, except that I don’t think he’s ever really given up looking for the killer.”
“Well, that’s good. I’m glad someone is still looking, but you need to stop. Remember when you asked me to tell you if you crossed that line into the abyss? Callie girl, you’re there.”
“I’m not obsessed,” Callie said. “I stepped foot in Seattle, and shit started happening, and today I found out that my sister’s crime scene was identical to Renee’s. Those two were different from all the rest. What does that tell you?”
“That the cops don’t always tell the public and the press everything?” Kara said sarcastically.
“I can’t believe you of all people are taking this piece of information so lightly,” Callie said softly.
“I’m not. I find it disturbing, and it hurts my heart. But I lived in the past for a good five years. I’m not doing it anymore. I can’t. But I swore to you I’d help you finish this book, so if you want me to come back, I will. All you have to do is ask.”
Callie dropped her head to her forearm. No way would she ask Kara to come back. They’d been through a lot over the last couple of years, but it had become painfully aware to Callie that she’d been holding Kara back. That Kara had been trying to move on with her life, but Callie wanted to hold on to the pain and suffering a little while longer.
“No. I want you and Ivy to chase your hopes and dreams. I just wanted to keep you informed of what was going on here and ask about the ravens.” Callie slumped her shoulders. For the longest time, Jag told her that Kara had formed an unhealthy attachment to her. That Callie had let Kara get too close, something a reporter should never do with a family member of a victim.
Maybe he’d been right back then, but now it was Callie who was holding on to Kara for dear life. It was as if letting go of Kara meant Callie had given up on finding her sister’s killer.
“Come to San Francisco, Callie. You got the interview. You can finish the book anywhere. That place is no good for either of us.”
