Field of Graves(24)

“Or we could have one man who’s ridding himself of dead weight.” Price stroked his mustache. “I don’t want any talk outside this room about serial killers, series killers, or mass murderers on the loose with a hard-on for Vandy coeds. Dan, we need a press conference. We’ll need a very succinct and brief statement for the late news. I’m talking bare bones here. And I want Taylor to be there with you to take a few questions.”

Both Franklin and Taylor opened their mouths to protest. Price held up his hands. “We’ve had quite enough controversy in this shop, and enough media attention to last a lifetime. Putting Taylor on camera will show we’re back to normal. She is in charge of investigating these homicides, and I want a female face on the case. It will make the coeds listen. And it will help after yesterday morning’s little snafu.”

Taylor closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes at Price. He simply smiled.

“Now, Taylor, get a subpoena for Jordan Blake’s records, and do it fast. I want you and Marcus to go back to Vandy and check things out. Be a little discreet. This is eventually going to get out, and I don’t want it to look like we’ve stepped on anyone’s toes. Fitz, I’m pulling you back in full-time. You head over to Private Match and sit on Loughley until he comes up with the results.”

Fitz shrugged. “It’s not going to happen tonight, Cap. It takes time to run all those little tests.”

“I don’t care how long it takes. Just go over and help him out. Y’all are dismissed. Dan, stay behind—we’ll work on the statement. You can call Taylor later with the time she needs to show up.”

They stood, and Fitz said, “Taylor, can I have a second?”

“Sure. I need to check on Lincoln anyway.” They left the room, Price still barking instructions to Dan Franklin in the background.

Lincoln was hanging up the phone when they walked in. “Here’s something interesting for you. The chaplain called his counterpart in Houston, who knows Jordan’s family. They ran out to the house—apparently the parents don’t live far from their HQ. Jordan’s parents have been in Europe for the past month. They’ve got another month planned, and their maid didn’t know how to reach them. She said the dad calls into his office every once in a while, so we called over there to have him call as soon as he gets a message. The maid gave them the number of a sister who lives in Washington, DC. They’re trying to get in touch with her, see if she can reach the parents.” He shook his head. “Some family. No one seems to talk to anyone else.”

“Very sad. Keep after them, Lincoln. If we’re having a press conference tonight, I’d like to be able to use Jordan’s name. Fitz, let’s go in Price’s office.”

They went in and Fitz closed the door. She saw the look of concern and steeled herself.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

“Of course I am.”

“Hey, little girl, this is me you’re talking to. Marcus told me about your panic attack over at Vandy.”

She felt her chest tighten. “Great, now he’s tattling on me?”

“No, no, no, he didn’t know what happened, exactly, only said he thought you were feeling sick. Lucky for you, you do look like you’re coming down with a cold. That’s what I told him. I’m the one who put it together.”

She laughed. “Why does everyone think I have a cold? I feel fine.”

“You don’t look like you feel fine. You look stressed and strung out and ill. What’s up? Are you worried about the grand jury?”

“Fitz, honey, I love you to death, but I’m fine. I just got a little hot and stopped to catch my breath. Maybe I am catching something. So stop worrying about me. We’ve got two very dead girls and a city that’s going to go into panic mode when they hear the connection. More important things, you know? Sam may have gotten some herbs off Jordan Blake’s body. Tell Price and Lincoln for me, okay? I didn’t want to mention it in front of Franklin.”

Fitz nodded but still looked doubtful. He knew about the dreams. He knew about the panic attacks. He knew she’d been riding the edge. He had tried to talk her into taking some time off after the shooting. She’d bullied her way back and hadn’t stopped. She was finally starting to show some cracks.

“You got me worried, little girl.”

“Fitz, I’m fine, I swear. I haven’t been sleeping, that’s all. We solve this case, I get my testimony over with, and I’ll take a few days off. Promise. But right now I have to scoop up the puppy and go over to Vandy. Okay?”

He leaned over and put a hand on her shoulder. Squeezed, then got up and left without saying another word.

Taylor took a deep breath. Shit. If Marcus was noticing she wasn’t 100 percent right, the others were, too. She needed to get herself in check, and fast.

David Martin just wouldn’t let her go, the bastard.





17



Taylor and Marcus took the familiar route to Vanderbilt’s administrative offices. Chief Graber was nowhere in sight. Taylor didn’t complain. They caught a plump, grandmotherly woman holding a clear plastic umbrella just as she was locking the doors to leave.

“Excuse me. I’m Lieutenant Jackson and this is Detective Wade—”

“Detective Wade. I remember seeing you yesterday. I’m Gladys Thorton.” She gave Marcus a sweet, inviting smile. He coughed and looked at the ground. “You were here about Shelby Kincaid. I saw you talking to Chief Graber right after he came and got the Kincaid girl’s records. I heard more about it on the news. Poor little lamb.”