Page 119 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
“That’s good.” Kateri settled into the chair beside the bed. “I’ll give Lilith the box.”
“No! Look inside.” Rainbow closed her eyes. “Look… inside. Promise.”
“I will look inside.” Between Margaret and Rainbow, Kateri would never hear the end of it if she didn’t.
She felt as if she’d been asleep for five minutes when Moen arrived, grabbed her shoulder and shook her. “Sheriff, come on!” The boy did not know how to keep his voice down.
Kateri lifted her head, blinked hard. “Shh. She’s asleep.”
“I know, she’s in a coma and she’s going to die and I’m sorry, but—”
“No. Haven’t you heard?” Kateri beamed. “She’s asleep. Really asleep. She’s going to recover.”
“Wow.” Moen stared at Rainbow. “She’s a tough old broad.”
Rainbow’s middle finger shot up.
Kateri chuckled.
“What did I say?” Moen asked, honestly bewildered.
“She is neither old nor a broad.”
He blushed as only redheaded Moen could blush. “I didn’t mean… okay. I apologize, Rainbow.”
Rainbow gave a little wave.
“Good night, Rainbow. Sleep well, my friend.” Kateri herded Moen out the door.
“Sheriff,” he said earnestly, “this politically correct stuff ishard.”
“I know. But cop or not, you’re going to have to get it figured out. It’s pretty simple. Think before you speak. Always.” She followed him toward the exit. “Nothing more was happening when I left City Hall. What happened now?”Please, God, not another murder.
“Mike Sun used the… the skin from the finger I found to identify the dead maid from the B and B.”
“That was good work, Moen.”
“Thank you, Sheriff.” He held the outer door for her. “I’m still not staying on the force.”
“I know, Moen. For the record, I think you’re doing the right thing.”
“Really?” He stood still in the brightly lit parking lot. “Cool.”
Kateri kept walking. “What do we know about the ID?”
He hurried after her. “Garik Jacobsen got the goods on her. I’m supposed to take you to the morgue, because she’s not at all who she said she was. She’s wanted by Interpol, the FBI, the CIA. A few terror organizations.”
Now Kateri stood still. “For what?”
“Her real name is Ashley Kocsis. She’s an assassin.”
That was the last answer Kateri expected. She hurried after him toward the patrol car. “What is an assassin doing working as a maid at a Virtue Falls B and B?”
“She was sent to assassinate someone.” Trust Moen to break the facts down to the basics.
They climbed in.
“Okay. Who?” Kateri answered her own question. “Merida Falcon.” She pulled out her phone and dialed.
