Page 28 of If She Sensed

Sloane set the phone back down and drove on, feeling as if the whole case was moving in slow motion.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Kate was three miles from Bridget Hanover’s address when she decided to call Allen.It had been several months since a job kept her out past six and she figured he deservedat leasta verbal explanation.And it would be slightly easier at this hour—currently 9:10—because Michael would be asleep.

She placed the call via Bluetooth as she came to a red light, and he answered on the second ring.“Well, hello, Agent Wise.”

"Hey," she said.“Just checking in.I feel bad about being out so late, but this case is sort of going nowhere and right now…well, it’s getting bad.”

"No need to apologize,” Allen said.“Is it moving at all?"

"Slowly.We split up about an hour ago to follow two leads.I'm heading to an address right now."

"Is it safe?Where you’re going, I mean."

“I think so,” she said, touched by the fact that he still worried about her in such a way.“But as far as the case goes, there are now three dead women and not a single reliable lead.Nothing is clicking into place yet."The light changed and she turned right, scanning the numbers on the mailboxes."I'll be home when I can.Don't wait up."

"I wasn't going to."She could hear the quiet amusement in his voice."Be careful."

"I will.Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

She ended the call and slowed the car, pulling up against the curb at 714 Aldermoor Drive.The house sat back a little from the sidewalk on a wide, flat lot.It was a brick ranch-style, single-story, with white shutters and a covered front porch.A lamp was on inside, visible through a sheer curtain in the front window.A string of small café lights hung from the porch roof but were not switched on.Two terra cotta planters flanked the front steps, empty now for the season but positioned with a care that suggested warmer months had made something of them.

Kate got out of the car, walked up the path, and knocked.

She heard movement almost immediately.Footsteps, then a pause—probably someone checking the feed on the doorbell camera mounted to the left of the door—and then the door opened.The woman who appeared was in her early fifties, with warm brown eyes behind reading glasses she had pushed up into her graying hair.She was wearing a cardigan over a floral blouse and holding a half-folded dish towel in one hand,.She looked at Kate with immediate, open attention.

"Bridget Hanover?"Kate asked.

"Yes?"

Kate held up her credentials, a gesture that apparently never stopped feeling natural even after taking so many steps away."I'm Special Agent Kate Wise, with the FBI.I'm sorry to come by at this hour, but I was hoping to ask you a few questions."

The door opened wider before she had finished the sentence."Of course.Please come in."She stepped back and pulled the door open, holding it for Kate with both hands as if she'd been expecting exactly this kind of visit and was relieved it had finally arrived.

The front room was warm and settled in a very cozy way that made Kate think of English cottages in the countryside.A floral couch was pressed against the back wall, a crocheted throw across one arm.Framed photos sat on the mantle, most of them showing Hanover at various ages, usually in groups, and always smiling.A vision board leaned against the wall beside the television—half-finished, with printed phrases and cut-outs pinned at varying angles.ABUNDANCE.INTENTION.FORWARD.Kate had to catch her mental commentary as she thought it was a bit cheesy.On the bookshelf, a small Bluetooth speaker sat silent beside a library paperback with a bookmark two-thirds of the way through.

"Sit anywhere," Hanover said."Can I get you anything?I was just tidying up."

"I'm fine, thank you."Kate took the armchair nearest the door and waited while Hanover settled onto the couch.She was still holding the dish towel, seemingly unable to set it down.

"I need to ask you about the Fresh Horizons forum," Kate said."Specifically, your involvement there over the past several months.My current case happens to be wrapped up in it."

The word "involvement" seemed to land wrong.Hanover straightened slightly, her eyes locked on Kate."Is something wrong?Did something happen?"

"I'm afraid so.Three women connected to the forum have been killed in the past week."

Hanover's expression shifted immediately and completely.The color left her face.She pressed her free hand flat against her knee and her head started to shake as if on a swivel."Killed…killed?"

"Yes.I can share that much.Their names are Carol Paige, Donna Holt and Nancy Briggs.I'd like to know if you recognize any of those names."

"I know Carol," she said."I mean, I knew her from the forum.We weren't close, but she was always so good in the group.Very direct and encouraging."She looked away from Kate toward the middle distance, as if she was trying to conjure up a memory."And Nancy—I just liked one of her posts tonight.She posted about a date.She was so excited and… God, no one deserves this sort of thing…" She shook her head slowly, and Kate could see that she was genuinely working through it, not performing distress but actually absorbing it in real time."God.What happened to them?"

"I’m sorry, but that's an ongoing investigation.I can't go into details yet."Kate studied her face trying to determine if she was being sincere or sort of milking it.From what she could tell, the woman was definitely in a state of disbelief."I wanted to speak with you because your name came up during our review of forum activity.You've been an active and consistent member."

Something shifted in Hanover's expression then—not guilt, but a pleased, slightly embarrassed recognition that she had been noticed."I try to be.That community gave me a lot.After my divorce, I mean.I finished the program about a year and a half ago and I just—I stayed.Because it helped me and I thought maybe I could help other people going through the same thing."She said it without any great performance.It was simply true and she knew it."I know it can seem a little much, all the exclamation points and the cheering each other on.But that's what worked for me when I was in the thick of it.Having someone say that your small victory was worth celebrating.It sounds silly, I know."