Page 141 of Forever Gone

“What about Ruth’s laptop?”

“No HearthSpace credentials or cached pages. It appears she used the platform through her phone.”

Selena nodded. “Same cleanup after all three.”

“Exactly.”

Selena tried to move and then thought better of it. “The wedding announcement triggered it.”

Kelly nodded. “It appears so. The first search for Karen took place the night Andrew’s remarriage was announced online. Carol searched Ruth and Linda the following morning. Deb came two days later.”

Months of preparation reduced to dates on a screen. Carol had built the murders in silence while presenting herself as a sympathetic voice to other women.

Selena glanced toward the rain-streaked window. “How is Deb?”

“Recovering. The knife missed the major vessels in her shoulder and side. She lost a lot of blood, but there’s no permanent organ damage. They expect to discharge her in several days.”

“Has she given a statement?”

“Enough for the charging affidavit. They’ll take a fuller one when she’s stronger.” Kelly closed the folder. “She asked about you.”

“What did you tell her?”

“That you were complaining, which meant you were improving.”

Selena laughed. “You got the first part right.”

For the first time, Kelly smiled.

It faded quickly.

“There’s something else,” she said.

Selena waited.

“I’ve been called back to Seattle.”

The words took a moment to settle. “Why?”

“I put in the request.”

“You asked to go back?”

“Yes. I head out tonight.”

Selena shifted too quickly, and pain ran through her wrist. “Why?”

Kelly ran one thumb along the folder’s edge. “The temporary assignment was supposed to be reviewed after the case. I spoke to Meg yesterday and asked her to end it now.”

A familiar guilt rose before Selena could test whether it belonged there.

“If this is because of me, I…”

“No.” Kelly’s answer came firmly. “It isn’t anything like that.”

“Kelly, we’ve barely managed to work in the same room without dragging school into it. And… I’m sorry for that. It’s hard to let go of the past. I see the great agent you’ve become. You’re not that girl anymore.”

“That’s part of why I came, to fix things, but it’s not why I’m leaving.”