Chapter 28 #2
Before I could answer, Nolan stood up, pulling the gloves off and tossing them in the trash.
He ran a hand through his thick, black hair.
It was usually slicked back and parted neatly, but I guessed he didn’t have time to do it before he got called in.
Dani shuffled to the side as he moved in front of me, inspecting my arm when I reluctantly pulled up the sleeve.
“Go in the next room,” he ordered. “I’ll get the supplies.”
“I don’t need—”
My words were cut off when Dani grabbed my good arm and nearly dragged me through the curtains. I cursed under my breath when she pushed me into the makeshift curtain room next to Miles.
“Sit,” she ordered, pushing me toward the small gurney. “You need stitches.”
I arched an eyebrow. “I do? Worried about me, Dani?”
Harry entered, interrupting our conversation. “I need to ask both of you questions about tonight. We need something that can help.”
“He wore a ski mask the whole time,” Dani said with a frown. “Gloves. Black clothes. Only a bit taller than me. Maybe five foot nine. Skinny. Small. Knows how to handle a knife.”
“The fucker is quick,” I grumbled as Nolan appeared with a small tray of supplies. I slowly sank on the narrow bed. “And he knows the woods.”
Harry looked at Dani. “I’m glad you’re okay. I’m going to need your help even more since Natalie is gone. We’ll have to set up somewhere else until the investigation is closed and the office is cleaned.”
Dani stared at Harry, disdain on her face. “She’s been dead under an hour, and you sound like you don’t even care. She’s been here for five years. Show some respect.”
My lips parted in shock as Harry’s face reddened. Nolan ignored them, jabbing a needle into my arm. I hissed out a curse, glaring at him.
“Sorry,” he muttered. “My nurse usually does this, but she’s at the police station. I haven’t done stitches in years. That anesthetic shouldn’t take too long. Once it’s numb, I’ll stitch you up.”
“That makes me feel better,” I said sarcastically.
“Of course I respect her,” Harry defended himself, crossing his arms. “She was an important member of our community.”
While his words were true, Dani didn’t understand.
Natalie was…different. She didn’t fit in like the rest of us.
Being a therapist set her apart. She knew people’s darkest secrets from her work in the hospital.
She wasn’t the easiest person to talk to.
She was the one person here who never came into my bar for a drink.
I couldn’t think of one soul who was friends with her.
“Once Miles wakes up, we need to find out why he was at the police station,” Dani muttered.
“He received a call from Natalie earlier today,” Nolan answered. “He was supposed to work the night shift but told Martha he would be coming in late so he could talk to Natalie about the intern who was murdered.” His eyes darted to Dani. “You’ve been questioning all the people who worked with her.”
Dani nodded, understanding on her face. “I didn’t know who was coming in tonight.”
“We need to worry about the hint the asshole left,” I spoke up, eyeing Nolan as he got the needle and thread ready. “He’s playing a fucking game with us.”
“Hint?” Harry repeated.
“The papers with the name Danielle on them.”
Harry rubbed his beard as he pondered that. “There isn’t anyone in this town with that name.”
My eyes drifted to Dani. “I think they’re coming after you.”
Her demeanor didn’t change. “Why?”
“Danielle…” I paused. “Isn’t Dani a nickname?”
“No. It’s my legal name.” My skepticism must have been sprawled across my face because she continued. “You remember the night we met? When I thought you broke into my house? Fiona looked up my information. She knows what my full name is. Ask her if you don’t believe me.”
“I never said I didn’t believe you,” I murmured. Usually, she was locked down when it came to her emotions. Her rambling in defensiveness was out of character for her.
“I bagged the folding knife,” Nolan spoke up, looking over his shoulder at Harry. “Miles did well keeping it in place until I was able to take it out. I made sure to wear gloves. You might get prints off it.”
“The guy was wearing gloves,” I muttered. “And we don’t have a fancy system to search up prints anyway. It’ll take forever.”
“My prints will be on it.”
Dani’s words had my eyes snapping back to her. “What?”
Her jaw ticked. “It’s my knife. I bought two of them when I moved here. They were in my purse earlier tonight, but when I got to the station, they were gone.”
Harry frowned. “You think the killer stole your knives? Why? He already has the ones from the butcher shop.”
“I don’t know,” she replied, crossing her arms. “But I’m just letting you know that you’ll find my prints.”
Harry rubbed his temples. “When will this fucking end? It’s wrecking my town.”
“Soon. It needs to end soon.” Dani’s voice had an edge of revenge I’d never heard from her before. She cleared her throat, her next words softer. “People are dying. We need to do whatever we can to catch the killer.”