In Her Tracks (Tracy Crosswhite #8)(58)

“Well, good luck,” Faz said. “We’re up to our eyeballs with that shooting in Pioneer Square. Try getting a deranged vagrant to tell you anything worth a shit.”

“The world has turned upside down,” Del said. “And we’re all standing on our heads.”

“Go on home,” Kins said to Tracy. “I’ll prepare the search warrant, take it to the judge, and let you know how kind he is when he rejects it.”

“No. I’ll stay and help,” she said.

“Go,” Kins said. “If I go home, I’ll be eating leftovers alone. Shannah has book club tonight, which should be called ‘wine club.’ Half the time she doesn’t even read the book.”

“Sounds lonely,” Tracy said.

Kins shrugged. “It’s different when the kids move out.”

“Tell me about it,” Faz said. “When Antonio moved out, me and Vera looked at each other like two strangers.”

“We have a set date every Tuesday,” Kins said to Tracy. “In the spring and summer, we golf. This time of year, we have dinner and watch either a movie or a show. We trade off picking the movie and complaining. Go home. Go see Dan and your little girl.”

“She took her first steps the other day,” Tracy said. “Ahead of schedule.”

“She’s smart, that one,” Faz said.

“Best to keep her away from you then,” Del said.

As Tracy turned to leave, Nolasco and Maria Fernandez stepped into the cubicle. He wore his jacket and had his car keys on his index finger. He looked to Tracy, then announced, “Maria’s case just finished.”

“What happened?” Faz said. “You get a conviction?”

“He pled,” Fernandez said. “First degree. Life in prison.”

“That’s good,” Del said.

“You still working that missing girl investigation?” Nolasco asked Kins, now ignoring Tracy.

“Tracy and I were just about to put together a search warrant.”

“Maria’s available. Bring her up to speed.”

“Tracy is already up to speed,” Kins said.

“Tracy has her hands full working cold cases,” Nolasco said.

“Tracy is standing right here,” Tracy said. They all looked at her. “You have something to say, say it to me, Captain.”

Nolasco smirked. “Maria’s working the A Team now. I want Kins to bring her up to speed on the Cole investigation. Do we have a problem?”

Tracy shook her head. This was her case now. She didn’t want to give it up, but she also wasn’t going to fight with Nolasco in front of other detectives. “Not with Maria. No.”

“Like I told you. Nunzio didn’t do you any favors. You got big shoes to fill. I’d start filling them.”

“I’d like to talk to you, in private.”

Nolasco shook his head. “No can do now. I’m on my way out.” He looked around the bull pen, turned, and left.

Fernandez grimaced. “I’m sorry, Tracy. I didn’t know you were working with Kins on this one. I told Nolasco about the plea deal and he told me to talk to Kins and get up to speed.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Tracy said, seething that Nolasco didn’t have the balls to talk to her in private. “I was going home anyway.”





CHAPTER 26

Evan looked from the television to the sound of the garage door rattling open. Franklin was home. Evan had felt sick to his stomach for three hours, ever since those detectives came up behind him on the sidewalk. He felt like he was going to throw up.

Franklin had told him not to answer the front door. He’d said if the detectives came back, Evan was to hide, then call Franklin’s cell phone. He said the detectives couldn’t talk to him no more. Evan hadn’t disobeyed him. He hadn’t opened the door. The detectives hadn’t even knocked. They’d come up to him on the street. They’d surprised him. He knew he shouldn’t talk to them, but they kept asking him questions, confusing him.

Franklin would think Evan had said too much. He wouldn’t give Evan a chance to explain what happened. He’d just start yelling. Then he’d beat him, like he’d always done. The way their daddy beat him.

“Keep your mouth shut.” That’s what Franklin had told him. “Keep your mouth shut. You’re going to ruin it for all of us.”

Evan didn’t want the belt. Not again. His arms and legs still hurt, bruised purple and yellow. Franklin had made him wear sweats to the doctor, but the doctor had lifted Evan’s sweatshirt to check his breathing. He made a face when he saw the bruising. He asked Evan what happened.

“He lost his footing and fell down the ravine behind the house,” Franklin said. “It was a nasty fall over rocks.”

The doctor asked Evan if that was what had happened. Evan said what Franklin said, so he wouldn’t get beat again.

He didn’t want to get beat again.

Car keys dropped on the counter. Franklin had driven back to Cle Elum and picked up Carrol, who stepped into the room just after him.

“Who cleaned up in here?” Franklin eyed the couches and the coffee table. Evan had cleared them of all the stuff. He’d even vacuumed so Franklin would be in a good mood.