Page 36 of Night Hawk
“Take pictures. Yeah. I got it.” She arranged the clothing on nearby boxes and got out her phone, revulsion swirling in her stomach. The photos might not lead them anywhere, but hopefully Trent’s forensic team could locate DNA from the clothing to help find the girls.
Toni reached the bottom of the pile.
“No. Just no.” She backed away from the box.
Clay hurried over to her. “What is it?”
She pointed in the box. He looked inside, his forehead furrowed.
He looked up, opened and closed his mouth a few times as if he didn’t know what to say. Finally he looked her in the eye. “How can this creep have the clothes you’re wearing in that picture with your mother?”
9
Clay squeezed his fingers on the steering wheel, working hard to eliminate his frustration. He would do just about anything to remove the shock and pain Toni was feeling. But all he’d been able to do was gently lead her to their vehicle and encourage her to get into the passenger seat and close the door while he’d returned everything to the boxes and called Trent.
As expected, Trent wasn’t happy that they’d gone into the house and garage, even if they’d worn gloves and booties to protect the scene. He’d sent the closest deputies to the house to take over. Now, as he arrived, lights twirling on the top of his vehicle, his angry expression was evident even through the windshield.
“Wait here,” Clay told Toni and got out. He prepared himself for a confrontation with the sheriff and searched for a way to pacify him.
Trent crossed the few feet separating them. He held his elbows wide from his body, his chest thrust out. His nostrils flared. He reminded Clay of a bull ready to attack. Clay would have to do some fast dodging.
“Don’t go anywhere,” he snapped. “I’ll have a look at the scene, and then we’ll talk.”
“We’ll be here.” Clay waited for Trent to go inside before sliding behind the wheel.
Toni looked at him. “Trent looks mad.”
“As expected.”
She dabbed a tissue at her eyes.
She’d been crying. Clay wasn’t surprised, but it hurt to see. He hated when any woman was in distress, but seeing Toni, usually so strong, distressed enough to cry? That was an extra punch to the gut. But this wasn’t about him at all. It was about her and the personal connection to this creep that had to be shredding her insides.
She angled to face him, mascara smeared below her eyes. “Do we have to tell Trent about the picture and my outfit?”
“Those items won’t mean anything without an explanation, and it could be the information he needs to find Rader’s killer.”
“Still…” Her words fell off with a choking sob.
“Aw, Toni. Don’t cry.” He took her hand and held it tightly. He wanted to do more. To get out, pull her from the vehicle, and give her a proper hug. But that would be too much for a crime scene with law enforcement present. “It’ll be all right. I promise.”
“How can you promise?” She pulled her hand free and retrieved a fresh tissue from her purse. “I hate crying like a helpless victim.”
“You’re far from helpless, but youarea victim. And it has to be horrible to see a man we think was trafficking girls in possession of something so personal.”
“That’s the thing, though.” She patted her eyes. “I don’t even remember the clothes. Not at all.”
“How old were you?”
“My dad said I was eleven, so I feel like I should remember.”
“You wouldn’t remember every outfit, right?”
“No, but my mom is dressed up, so it seems like a special day. Shouldn’t I remember something like that? Especially since it was just before she died.”
“Did you ever ask about the occasion?”
She nodded. “Dad said he wasn’t sure. Mom dodged the question too. I thought it was odd, but after Mom died, it didn’t matter anymore. I just enjoyed seeing my mom smiling in the picture.”
