Chapter 57 Louise
LOUISE
Two more officers had arrived while Miles, Austin, and I were packing up our things.
We were told not to touch Margie’s belongings, that they would be taken care of.
Searching for evidence or clues, I assumed.
We were also asked to go down to the station to make formal, recorded statements, and also to meet with the FBI agent who’d arrived that morning to investigate the connection between the String Strangler and Kara’s homicide.
And now Margie’s.
Ryder, the chief, and Detective Darby were still at the ravine with Margie’s body when we left, Austin in his truck, and Miles and me in Ansel.
Three grueling hours later, we were given the okay to leave town. Side by side, we pushed out the doors of the police station and staggered across the parking lot like zombies.
“Well, guys, I’d like to say it’s been fun, but…” Austin unlocked his truck as Miles and I stepped up to Ansel.
Miles snorted.
“Call me if you guys need anything.”
“Will do,” Miles promised as the men shook hands.
Austin turned to me. “I don’t usually do this, but…” He opened his arms for a hug, and I stepped into his embrace. “They’ll find the guy, Lou. They’ll find him.”
I nodded, looking down as I stepped back, feeling that damn sting of tears again.
With that final good-bye, Austin fired up his old Chevy and disappeared down the highway.
“Keys.” Miles turned to me and held out his palm.
I tossed the ring to him, noticing the weight as I released it. My key ring had over two dozen keys, and five or six pointless keychain collectibles that I’d had forever—one, a faded plastic taco, and another a bejeweled kitten with one eye missing. Even my keys were a disorganized mess.
I have to change my life.
“Thanks for driving and for riding back with me,” I said as I climbed into the passenger seat.
“Are you kidding? You’re a mess. No way was I letting you drive three hours alone.”
I sighed, then looked out the window. “I can’t believe all of this.”
“They’ll find him.”
Ansel roared to life. As we pulled onto the highway, I looked over my shoulder at the mountain in the distance where Ryder was busy convincing the cops he had nothing to do with Margie’s death. I wondered if I would ever see him again.
Tears stung again. I turned away from Miles so he wouldn’t see me cry and stared out the passenger window, watching the small town of Berry Springs fade to woods.