Page 61 of Sangre
“Of course.”
“I’ll need their names and phone numbers and where they’re staying while in town.”
She shook her head. “They have nothing to do with this. Why would any of them do this?”
“I just need to talk with everyone.”
“They weren’t even here when those other two women were killed. I wasn’t either.”
“I’m not accusing them of anything. I just need to talk with them.” He stared at her, the frown lines between his eyes deepening. She gave him the information, and after he jotted it down, he stood up. “Let me know if you receive any more letters or if anything out of the ordinary happens.”
“Okay.” She walked to the front door and opened it, watching him until he drove off.I wonder if I should’ve told him how one of his deputies keeps coming around here. I can’t believe this whole nightmare.Fear curdled in her stomach as she contemplated the possibility that the person who murdered the three women could be the same one sending her the letters. It was too horrible. She glanced over and saw Mark sitting in his car looking at her, and it calmed down her fears a bit. Isla closed the door and went back to the living room to work on a new song that kept swirling in her mind.
After several hours of writing, she stretched her arms over her head to loosen up the kinks. The room had grown dark, and she switched on a floor lamp near the chair she sat in. Standing up, her legs screamed from stiffness; the time had escaped her. Glancing at her phone, she was surprised that it was almost nine o’clock. There were a few texts she’d received while working, but none of them were from Sangre.He’s ignoring me. Well… fuck him.
She padded over to the hallway closet, took out her gym bag and terry cloth hoodie, and went to the garage. What she needed was to exercise her stiff muscles, and then take a relaxing swim in the pool to void her mind of all thoughts, especially the ones about Sangre.
After she pulled up in front of Fitness Gallery, she walked over to Mark’s car. He stepped out and waited for her, his head moving as he looked all around.
“I’m just going in for a quick workout and a swim. I should be inside for about an hour. Do you want me to call you when I’m ready to come out?”
“I can wait inside.”
“You don’t have to. I need the space. Remember Sangre said it was okay when I was in the gym?”
“All right. You have my number if you need me. No reason to call otherwise. I’ll be in front when you come out.”
Mark was all business. He never chitchatted or even cracked a smile with her. He was efficient, reliable, and capable, but she thought it a bit odd that he never engaged in any conversation with her. Keith would ask about the band or how she was doing, but Mark never did.
Nodding her head, she walked away and went into the fitness center. When she entered, she saw Scott sitting at the front desk reading a textbook. He looked up when she came up to the counter to swipe her card.
“You’re coming in late tonight,” he said.
“I lost track of time. I’ve been working on songs that have been stuck in my head for too long. What’re you studying?”
“Forensic Investigation. I’m getting a degree in Criminal Justice.”
“That’s cool. Where do you go to school?”
“I go to Fort Lewis College in Durango, but a lot of the upper division classes in my area are online. I’m taking a couple of summer school classes so I can graduate at the end of the year.”
“That’s awesome. I hope it all works out for you.”
“Thanks.” He threw her a wide smile, and she returned it then went into the weight room.
The first thing Isla did upon entering was glance around to make sure Devin wasn’t around. The last person she wanted to see was him. He was so pushy and aggressive, and he definitely didn’t catch on that she was flat out not interested in him at all. As she made her way over to the treadmill, several people looked at her, and a few of the women pointed at her, smiling. Not in the mood to engage in conversation, she opened her gym bag and rummaged for her ear buds and MP3 player.
“Did you just get here?”
Hearing Devin’s voice froze her in motion.Fuck. He’salwayshere when I am. I’m beginning to wonder if it’s planned rather than a coincidence.Turning around, his dark eyes bored into hers. “Yeah. I needed to chill out. My brain is mush, and I just need to get lost in my zone.”
His gaze roamed slowly over her body as though he was undressing her, and Isla cringed and clutched her duffel bag in front of her chest. “Your workouts are really paying off,” he said, leering.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but I’m not really in the mood to chat.” She backed away.
“You are being rude.” Hardness etched his voice.
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “No, you are. I told you I want to zone out and that I don’t feel like talking, and you don’t give a damn. You think you can bully or manipulate me to talk to you when I just told you I don’t want to,” her voice was loud and high pitched and a couple of men turned to look at her.
