Chapter 23 #2
“How could we find out who his new friends were? Would some of his old ones know?” asked Noelle.
“You could talk to Carson Vohland at the post office. He and Michael used to go out sometimes. I’ve met him, but he hasn’t been around since at least last fall.”
Noelle wrote down the name, and an idea occurred to her. “Does the name Rachel Johnson mean anything to you?”
Evan met her gaze and gave a tiny nod, acknowledging it was a good question.
Louisa thought. “No. I never met anyone he dated, and I can’t think of any female friends he had. Why do you ask?” She shifted on the sofa. “Did she hurt him?” she asked hoarsely.
“No,” said Noelle before she realized she didn’t know that for a fact. “Just a woman we came across in another case recently,” she added, not wanting to mention Rachel had also been shot in the head. “Can you think of anyone who’d want to hurt your brother?”
“No. I rarely knew what was going on with him.”
“There’s a Chevy pickup registered in Michael’s name,” said Evan, looking at his phone. “I assume you don’t know where it is?”
“I don’t,” said Louisa. “He loves—loved that truck even though it was almost twenty years old. Always kept it sparkling clean and was very proud of its custom wheels and huge tires. It wasn’t with him?”
“It wasn’t,” said Noelle. “We’ll put out a BOLO for it.” She exchanged a look with Evan and lifted an eyebrow.
Anything else?
He shook his head and stood. Noelle followed suit.
She handed Louisa her business card. “You can pass on my number to your brother and mother in case they want to speak to me before I call them tomorrow. And please contact me if you think of anything that can help us,” she said.
“Anything, no matter how small you think it is. We’re determined to find who did this to your brother. ”
“I will.” Louisa took the card and got to her feet. “I appreciate you coming in person. This can’t be an easy part of your job.”
Noelle was touched. It was rare that someone who’d just learned a family member had died would express sympathy for the messenger.
“It’s not. But it’s nothing compared to a family’s pain.
They become victims too. A death is like dropping a stone in a pond.
The ripples spread out and impact the circle of people who loved him. ”
“I agree.” Louisa walked them to the front door, and they said their goodbyes.
Inside the SUV, Evan and Noelle sat in silence until they were several miles from the home.
“You did really well,” said Evan. “People can tell that your sympathy is genuine.”
“It’s not hard to be sympathetic,” said Noelle. “I can easily slip into their position. I know how it feels to abruptly lose someone.” Her grandfather’s face flashed in her memory.
Because I’ve been there.
A wave of emptiness washed over her, and she suddenly craved Max’s touch, aching to relax into his arms, where she didn’t have to think about anything else. It’d been a difficult day with first the autopsy and then this. Who knew what else would happen today?
She sent him a text.
Rough day so far. Can you come over this evening?
A moment later she had his reply.
Absolutely. I can’t wait
She settled back in her seat, relieved that she’d get to see his face and hear his warm voice that evening.
A few days ago they’d had a fantastic dinner with his sister Keira and her husband, TJ, at their home.
Lots of good conversation and embarrassing stories about Max when he was younger.
After dinner Keira had pulled out more wine and a version of the card game Uno called No Mercy.
Noelle had never heard of it. The game was brutal.
Draw ten cards. Mandatory hand swaps. Keira, TJ, and Max fiercely attacked one another, laughter filling the house.
She suspected his family took it easy on her, but there was definitely no mercy for each other.
But the love among the three of them was apparent.
Noelle had thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Several times Max had caught her gaze, his full of joy and happiness, making her smile and warming her heart. The serious FBI agent was a different person with his family.
There had been almost no mention of his other two sisters and mother.
Too little, Noelle had noticed. It felt deliberate.
Keira had started to mention something about one of her sisters, and then Max had changed the subject, and TJ had exchanged a look with Keira.
Noelle thought back over their other dates and realized he hadn’t told her much about the rest of the family.
Something is up there.
Noelle took a long second to evaluate how she felt at this very moment in their relationship.
Happy. Not pressured. Ready for more.
That’s pleasantly surprising.
Max Rhodes was a good man. She’d been lucky to have him appear in her life.
She hadn’t asked him for this kind of support before, where she’d had a bad day and needed his presence to get past it.
In the past she would have picked up a pint of ice cream or a bottle of wine or both and wallowed alone.
It’d been years since she’d trusted a man enough to get this close, and she was taking the relationship very slowly with small, tentative steps.
So far, so good. She almost worried it was too good to be true.
She still had a secret to tell him. It sent chills through her when she tried to picture his reaction. She worried that the longer she put it off, the bigger it would seem in his eyes. Because it indirectly involved him, and he’d realize she’d held back something important.
And he’ll wonder what else I haven’t told him.
But I had no way of knowing we’d be looking at a future together.
“Future?” she said out loud.
Is that what’s happening?