She pressed her hand to her chest, which had been empty since her father died, and her mother vanished. Experiencing another tiny twinge of feeling. The idea that she might be regaining some kind of emotional tethers was terrifying. She didn't want to love, hate, or feel anything that might only result in more pain.
She tried to recall how to feel empty, how to stay safe within the dark fog, but neither had been brought on deliberately, and now they seemed to be leaving her, just when the past had been revived and returned to haunt her.
A knock on the door against her back made her jump, her heart thundering in her chest. Neither Lucia nor Camelia would have knocked. Besides they couldn't possibly be done, especially as she had little doubt that Pastor Ian would invite them both to stay for Sunday lunch. Before she could quite gather her wits, someone outside hammered on the door again. Heavy, no-nonsense blows. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the door open, just enough to see the two people standing on her porch, one man and one woman.
"Ms. Kay? I'm Agent Daniel Reis. This is my partner, Agent Gabriella Boone. We have a few questions for you. May we come in?"
6
Rosa didn't open the door any further, looking from their ID badges to their faces. The woman, agent Boone, had not removed her sunglasses and Rosa disliked not being able to see her eyes, to gain an idea of what she might be thinking. The man on the other hand, had eyes the color of melted caramel and were currently displaying patience, his short ginger hair reflecting the bright sunlight.
"What's this about?"
Agent Reis sighed and tucked his ID away. "The murder at Turquoise Valley."
Rosa let that sink in, well aware that he was gauging her reaction to his blunt words. "As far as I understand, the victim was not a local. Why do you want to speak to me specifically?"
He frowned for a moment then seemed to come to a realization. "I would like to speak to all three Ms. Kays, if possible."
Rosa nodded, then took advantage. "My sisters are not home. I don't know when they will be back."
"We can wait."
"Then you're waiting out there," Rosa said, looking between them again. "Why don't you come back tomorrow? I will make sure both my sisters are here too."
"Please, Ms. Kay, this is a time-sensitive matter," Reis began.
Rosa shook her head. "Unless you can give me a better reason, I am not letting you into this house when I am alone. Good day." With that, she shut the door with a snap.
Her heart was still beating overly fast. She shook her head. She had half expected him to block her attempt to close the door as they did in the movies. Instead, she heard their feet descend the stairs and, a moment later, a car engine flaring to life, then fading into the distance.
What the hell is the FBI doing here? She wondered, still with her back pressed against the door. Could it be that they think the murders are linked? She sank down onto the floor. She didn't want to think about the past. The FBI had no business coming to dredge it all up again.
****
"That went well," Gaby mused as they drove back towards the house on the eastern outskirts of Naco that they had been given.
Reis frowned, glancing at the people they passed, all of whom stared, even the children.
"I don't get it."
"You didn't really think she'd just let us in, did you? Besides, she gave us a date for tomorrow; we can push harder then."
"That's not what I mean. Look at this place, these people. They see us drive by and need no more than a glance to know we don't belong. How can there be a conspiracy hidden here?"
Gaby tilted her head, looking at the last locals before they began to pass open areas of arid land. "Maybe they're all in on it."
Reis scoffed. "Impossible."
Gaby shrugged. "I don't know. That Ms. Kay, by the way, who by the way you failed to get a first name for..."
"Rosa. She was Rosa Kay. According to their photos in the file from the time of their father's murder, only one had green eyes."
"Fine. Did you notice more than her eye color?"
"Like what?"
"Like how empty they were. Curiously devoid of emotions. I'm telling you there's something strange going on here."
Reis laughed. "Look, Gaby, I know your streak of weird has been helpful in the past, but don't let your crazy show too much, okay?"
Gaby stuck her tongue out as they pulled up at the house. "Whatever you say."
"Wait," Reis said. Something in his eyes made her release the door handle. She knew that face well. It was the one he wore whenever he was connecting information and trying to see if they could get a jump on their invisible targets. "Let's go and visit Dr. Fell."
Gaby sighed and reclipped her seat belt, pulling the address from her notes and adding it to their GPS. "You really think he'll be your in? The Sheriff didn't seem very confident in the guy's abilities."
Reis gave her a sidelong glance as he left their house and drove to the address. "And I didn't much like the Sheriff."
Gaby chuckled. "Just like my weird, your gut has been useful, but don't fly off the handle, okay? We don't
