Chapter 3
Callie sat in the living room of the Saratoga Inn, hugging her purse. She stared out the big picture window at the slight drizzle misting from the sky. The thin fog rolled through the hills and out to the sound.
“Here you go.” Kara handed her a Diet Coke before sitting in the chair next to her. “What exactly did the note say?”
“Welcome back, Callie. I’ve got a trinket or two for you. Let the games begin.” Callie shivered.
“I wish you would have called me the second you found the note.”
“I didn’t feel like hearing, I told you coming back to Seattle was mistake.” Callie chugged half the can of soda. She needed a good boost of caffeine if she was going to get through a day with Jag in detective mode. It amazed her how quickly he went from the new laid-back, relaxed Jag to his old in charge, barking out orders at a crime scene Jag.
“Seattle has too many ghosts for both of us. It’s making me crazy too, and I ended up fighting with Ivy last night.”
“Over what?” Callie asked. Kara had been just as obsessed with the Trinket Killer as Callie, but in a different way. Kara’s wife had been the first known victim, and when Callie had first met Kara, it seemed all Kara wanted was knowledge and to help in some small way.
That’s how she ended up being her research assistant, and she’d been a damn good one for the most part. She’d never been trained in the field, so there were some skills she lacked, but she was a fast learner, and Callie trusted her, which was huge because she didn’t trust too many people.
“Being back here brings up a lot of memories and feelings over Renee, and while Ivy isn’t jealous of my late wife, she does get upset over the obsession that begins when we walk into this city.”
“She used the word we?”
Kara nodded.
“I’m sorry.” The last thing Callie wanted to do was ruin anyone’s relationship. Kara and Ivy had only been together for about five months, but Callie had seen a huge change in Kara’s well-being since she’d fallen in love. It was good for Kara after all these years to move on.
“It’s not your fault.” Kara reached out and took Callie’s hand. “It’s mine, but knowing that killer is out there, lurking in the streets of Seattle, makes me want to run.”
Callie nodded. Before her sister died, it had just been another story. Another notch on her career belt. She was hungry to make a name for herself.
Now it was all about making sure her sister didn’t die in vain.
“Besides, that note sounded more like a threat,” Kara said. “Why didn’t you tell me you were staying out here?”
“I didn’t want a lecture about Jag.”
Kara laughed. “Other than Jag being an arrogant asshole, I think he’s a good guy. But he did fuck up the case, and seriously, we both know they caught the wrong guy, but he just wouldn’t listen. He’s a stubborn mule, and to be honest, I wish anyone but him was handling this now.”
“You don’t like him because he accused you of killing your wife, but statistically—”
“Hey, he was the first one to apologize when I was cleared, so he gets points for that. I just wish you weren’t still so hung up on him. He’s not worth it.”
Callie wished the same thing. Falling in love with Jag had been the most unexpected thing that had ever happened. Of all the men she’d met, Jag wasn’t even on her radar. Sure, she’d found him sexy when they had crossed paths, but they butted heads in ways that wasn’t conducive to even having a conversation.
Until that night at the bar.
A heated discussion turned into a night of passion that didn’t end until the Trinket Killer murdered their love for one another.
“I’m over him, but he’s a damn good cop. Everyone makes mistakes, and sadly, I’m as much to blame for that botched investigation as he was, and my sister is dead because of it.”
“Oh, stop that right now,” Kara said. “There is only one person responsible for Stephanie’s murder, and that’s the Trinket Killer. So stop that self-destructive thinking. I’m really tired of it.”
Callie patted Kara’s thigh. She’d been her rock for the last year. Kara had stuck by Callie’s side during her darkest moments. Her friendship meant everything. However, it was time for Kara to take the next step. “I think you and Ivy should leave now. I appreciate both of you coming back here, but I don’t want this to be the cause of problems between you two.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because I told Ivy this morning that we can go back to San Francisco. We were going to leave today, but we can wait until—”
“No. Go now. Get on the next ferry and get the hell out of this godforsaken place. Whatever work we need to finish for the book, you can do from your place in San Fran.”
“Are you sure? I wouldn’t go, but I want to make this work with Ivy.”
Callie smiled. “Ivy’s amazing. You should go.”
“Thank you.” Kara leaned in and hugged Callie. She held Kara for a long moment, resting her head on her shoulder.
The sound of someone clearing his throat startled her.
“Oh, hey there, Jag,” Kara said as she stood, stretching out her hand. “You look like hell as usual.”
“And you’re still the prettiest woman in any room.” He took her hand and pulled her in for a brief hug, giving her a little peck on the cheek.
“Even if I was interested in men, which I’m not, I’d be way out of your league.”
“Most women are,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Kara said as she headed for the front door.
“Text me when you get to San Fran.” Callie didn’t bother to stand up. It wasn’t even noon, and she felt like she’d
