Page 68 of Night Moves
“What does that mean exactly?” She listened to the birds chirping in nearby trees as she waited for him to answer.
“A bullet in the chamber. So in the event of an emergency, I’m locked and loaded. I mean, if you’re going to carry a weapon, you gotta carry hot. Makes no sense to carry when the gun’s not ready to go.”
“Sounds like some people don’t do that.”
“A lot of them don’t. They’re afraid the gun’s going to go off. But it won’t, not in the holster.”
She believed him but… “No accidental discharge then.”
“Oh, that happens but not with the gun resting in its holster.” His expression and tone grew animated. “Think about a gun like a TV remote control. A remote does nothing lying on your table. You have to do something to make it work. Same thing with a gun. So if you’re uncomfortable with carrying one in the pipe, that means you’ve just got to train more.”
“Makes sense, but then I’ve never even touched one, so you could tell me anything about guns, and I’d believe it.”
“Maybe we need to change that. Get you out to a shooting range.”
She didn’t even need to think about that while the children remained in danger. She shook her head. “I’d fall under the uncomfortable group.”
“Not after I gave you the right training. I promise you’d change your mind.” He watched her for a long moment. “I hope never to use my gun, but we need to be sure we can protect our clients. Especially when they’re being stalked by a crazy person.”
“Like when you protected the skier, Harper Young. She had a stalker.”
He flashed her a look, his eyes wide. “You heard about that?”
“You’re not the only ones who can do some research.”
“Touché.” He grinned then opened his door.
Natalie joined him, and they made their way to the high-rise apartment building where Faye Babcock lived on the first floor. The building was sleek with an all glass exterior and the sun glistened from the glass. Still, the place looked cold to Natalie, but she didn’t comment as they approached the door and knocked.
When the door opened and the scent of buttery popcorn drifted out, Natalie explained the purpose for their visit.
Faye peered out at them and scratched a thick head of inky black hair. “I told you before. I didn’t really know Laura all that well.”
“Please.” Natalie firmed her stance. “We really need to talk to you.”
“I don’t know.” Faye ran a hand over her face. “I told you everything I know last time I talked to you, and I’m kinda beat. Was a tough shift.”
“It’ll just take a minute.” Natalie tried her hardest not to sound like she was desperate, but if she had to beg to find her sister’s killer then she would.
“Okay. But just for a minute.” She stepped back, and her purple clogs squeaked on the tiled floor.
Natalie hurried past Faye into the small living room before the woman changed her mind. Drake’s footfalls sounded right behind her. The door banged closed, and Faye joined them.
“Go ahead and take a seat.” Faye rubbed her shoulder, wrinkling the blue patterned uniform top. Faye was very down to earth. Very Oregonian in her appearance. Hair natural. Clean skin. No makeup. Earthy.
Natalie settled on the soft beige couch, and Drake sat next to her.
Faye kicked off her clogs, dropped to the carpeted floor and drew her legs in to lean on the bright blue uniform pants. The coffee table next to her held a large bowl of popcorn that looked like it was going to serve as her breakfast.
“You were the one who found Laura,” Natalie stated, hoping to get the conversation started.
“Yeah.” Faye clenched her hands and tipped her head to the left. “Bedroom’s over there. She didn’t get up for work that day. I wondered what was wrong, so I knocked on her door. She didn’t answer. Normally I didn’t bug her ’cause we weren’t friends or anything, but something told me to check on her. Found her on the bed. Blood everywhere. Multiple stab wounds to the chest.”
Natalie cast Faye a sympathetic look. “That must’ve been hard.”
“I work in the ER, so I’ve seen worse.”
“Where did Laura work?” Drake asked.
