“The chief’s getting in touch with some of the surrounding towns,” Lonnie continued. “He’ll probably be able to get a few people out of the ones that haven’t already committed officers to the task force.”
Jen was impressed. For the first time since the fiasco of the night before, she felt hopeful. It might take a small army to do it, but with all that manpower, they were bound to get him sooner or later. She hoped it would be sooner.
CHAPTER 46
The rest of the day was routine activity, but by four that afternoon, they knew which women on all the lists lived alone. There were thirteen besides Carpenter from the first two lists. The final list, the one with Reyna Lin’s name, contained eleven who lived alone and had initiated their divorces. Deleting Lin’s name, that left ten more women to guard for a total of twenty-three. Lonnie assigned officers to cover the women, and then the four of them went home to get ready for an event that none relished.
Trish’s body had not been released yet, and when it was, it would be cremated per Trish’s wishes, but a memorial service and reception was scheduled for that evening. The service was at six, with the reception to follow. Will dropped her off on the way to his motel, promising to pick her up at five-thirty.
Brandon had returned from his trip and was sitting in front of the television playing his Xbox. Based on the score, he was on his way to breaking a personal record, but he turned off the game when she came in.
“Hey, Mom.” He hugged her tightly. “Are you okay?”
“Of course I’m okay.” She hugged him back. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“We heard about the new murder on our way back from the river. They said the killer almost got caught last night, but he got away. Were you there?”
So the word was out. Jen was surprised it had taken the media this long.
“Yes, I was.” She kicked off her shoes and dropped onto the couch, suddenly feeling very, very tired. “We’re pretty sure it was him. He went after the girl that Vic Hensley and a deputy were watching.”
“Where do you think he went?”
“No idea,” Jen said. “Vic said the last thing he saw was a man moving toward the rear of the house. That’s where Hank and I were, and he never came past us.”
“Maybe Vic imagined he saw him.”
“I don’t think so. We found a place in the bushes where the branches were broken and the grass smashed down. Someone was standing there, all right.”
“He couldn’t have just disappeared.” Brandon sounded exasperated.
“I’m beginning to wonder,” Jen said, more to herself than to Brandon. “So, sport, what do you say we fix some dinner, and you tell me about your weekend?”
“Sure.” Brandon hesitated and then looked at her shyly. “Are you going to stay home tonight?”
“Not all night, I’m afraid.” She watched his expression change. The killings had him scared, but his fear was more for her than for himself. “Tonight is the memorial service for Trish. I’ll only be gone a couple hours or so. Then I’ll be home, and I’ll bring Will with me.”
“Good.” Brandon perked up at the mention of Will’s name. “Mom, do you think I could go to the service with you? I’d kind of like to.”
Jen was surprised. She hadn’t even thought to ask him. She realized now that was because she still thought of him as a little boy. But he’d always liked Trish, and he was involved in this case because he was her son and worried about her. It was only natural he would want to be with her tonight.
“Of course you can go,” she said. “I’d like that. I just didn’t know if you’d want to.”
“Mothers don’t know everything.”
No, they sure don’t, Jen thought, ruffling his hair while he ducked and protested.
She fixed hamburgers and frozen french fries. While they ate, Brandon regaled her with stories of his adventures at the lake. Afterward, she showered and dressed in a conservative black pantsuit with a grey blouse.
Brandon was waiting for her in the living room. Earlier she had started to choose his clothes for him but stopped, reminding herself that he was no longer a little child requiring constant supervision. He had lived up to her expectations. He was dressed impeccably in his good—and only—suit, with a white shirt and a clip-on tie. Will arrived a few minutes later, and the three of them left for the funeral home.
The service was crowded, both with police officers and civilians, many of them the families of officers. Trish’s mother was pointed out before the minister spoke, and they went to offer condolences. Jen saw resentment in the woman’s reddened eyes. She didn’t know if it was resentment that Jen was alive while her daughter was dead or resentment that Jen had gotten Trish involved in this case. Trish’s mother had no way of knowing that Trish had been marked for death the day she filed for divorce. Jen offered brief condolences and turned away from the accusatory eyes.
The minister kept his talk short, and afterward people mingled, sharing reminiscences about Trish. The time sped by with people coming and going. Brandon didn’t seem bored, and Jen was impressed with how mature he acted. She also did not miss the way he looked at Will with open admiration or the way that Will patted his shoulder from time to time and smiled at him. She realized that, to a stranger, the three of them looked like a family. The thought warmed her.
They drove home in silence. Even Brandon seemed subdued. He excused himself soon after they got home, pleading fatigue. Jen suspected the experience at the funeral home had bothered him more than he let on,
