“I’m sorry.” She didn’t mean it, but she hoped she sounded appropriately contrite. “I didn’t realize Marvin had ... issues.” That was probably the politest term she could possibly use. “I really did think he was talking to me. He kept saying ‘stupid girls’ over and over. I assumed he was talking about Maisie and Ava.”
“I liked them.”
You would, Ivy muttered inside her head, all the while keeping her smile in place. “I jumped to conclusions. I’m sorry.”
“Well, did he say where he was going at least?” Concern washed over Greg’s features as he went back to staring at the woods. “I do not want to do the paperwork on two missing people today. That’s going to bite the big one.”
Since that was part of his job description, Ivy didn’t have a lot of sympathy for him. All she could do was shake her head. “He didn’t say. I’m sorry.”
“Well, head over to the line by where the medical examiner’s office is finishing up. Make sure they don’t leave any garbage behind. Then you can be done for the day.”
Ivy couldn’t hide her surprise. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost four o’clock.”
She had no idea it was so late. She felt naked without her phone, but it was locked in her car again in Max’s lot. “Okay.”
She headed in the direction Greg indicated, not stopping until she almost collided with Deacon. He was emerging from the woods with an evidence bag in his hand. He looked to be alone.
“I’m so sorry,” Ivy offered immediately, horrified. “I didn’t see you there. I thought you guys might be gone for the day.”
“I’m just finishing up.” Deacon’s expression reflected concern as he looked Ivy up and down. “Your face is a little pink. You might want to bring more sunscreen with you when you’re out here. You obviously don’t get a lot of sun.”
“I do, but I can usually put sunscreen on three times a day if I need to.” Ivy was rueful. “We’re not allowed sunscreen.”
“What?” Deacon’s eyebrows drew together. “That’s a stupid rule. What do they think you’re going to do with sunscreen?”
Ivy held out her hands and shrugged. “I have no idea. I don’t make the rules, though.”
“No.” Sympathy washed over Deacon’s features. “You’re just trying to make it through the day. I see that. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry about all of this. You don’t deserve it.”
Ivy happened to agree, but that was no longer a concern. “Whether I deserve it or not, it’s happening. I just want to keep my head down and get through it.”
“I don’t blame you.”
An idea formed and Ivy licked her lips and glanced over her shoulder before continuing. “In addition to sunscreen, we’re not allowed to have our phones either.”
Deacon looked concerned. “Do you need something?”
“I need you to get a message to Jack.”
Deacon bobbed his head without hesitation. “Absolutely. What message?”
“Tell him that the guy Marvin who is in my group — I can’t remember his last name so he’s going to have to look it up — but tell him that Marvin was talking to himself and mentioned Sasha. He kept talking about stupid girls and then mentioned running them over.”
“Seriously?” Deacon’s eyebrows migrated up his forehead.
Ivy nodded, glum. “It could be nothing. He could just be a mentally ill man or something.”
“It could be something, though,” Deacon surmised. “Don’t worry. I’ll call Jack from my car. That way we can be sure that your crew chief won’t hear me.”
“I really appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it.” Deacon flashed a smile and moved to leave but Ivy stopped him with a quick pop of her lips. He waited expectantly.
“Also, because he’s going to ask, tell him I’m fine and that nothing bad happened today ... other than the whole Ava and Maisie thing, which he already knows about.”
Deacon’s smile was small but heartfelt. “I’ll tell him. It’s going to be okay. In a few weeks, this will be nothing but a bad dream.”
“That’s what I keep telling myself.”
12
Twelve
Ivy’s feet ached when she got home. All she wanted to do was throw herself on the couch and not move again ... ever. Since she could smell herself during the drive home, that wasn’t an option.
She raced through the front door, startling Nicodemus from his nap on the couch, and extended a finger in Jack’s direction. “I just have one question for you.”
From his spot next to the stove, where he was making homemade spaghetti sauce — with the morels he detested — he arched an eyebrow. “Yes, the answer is I love you more than anything.”
She didn’t crack a smile, as he’d intended. “That’s sweet. You can tell me again when I don’t stink.”
“I don’t care if you stink.”
“I care.” Her eyes flashed a warning when it looked as if he might mosey in her direction. “Don’t even think about it. You can’t touch me until I’ve scrubbed five layers of skin off.”
He hated that she was so uncomfortable but decided to make things easy on her. “That should give me plenty of time to finish up the sauce ... and pop in the garlic bread you love so much.”
Her expression softened. “You bought the garlic bread? You said you hate it when I eat that stuff because it makes me smell like I have the breath of a corpse.”
Honestly, he didn’t remember being that colorful when he voiced his distaste for the garlic bread. “We’ll both eat it and I won’t be able to smell anything. That’s why you don’t have to shower.”
“Oh, I’m showering.” Ivy was determined. She felt absolutely filthy and it was something she wouldn’t be able to shake without copious amounts of body wash. “It’s happening and you’re just going to have to get used to it.”
“Fine.” Jack held up his hands in mock surrender. “I won’t say another word about
