Page 23 of Forever Dead
“Saw headlights at Eleanor’s place after ten. Dark vehicle. Says he didn’t see much else.”
“And why did he seem off?” Selena asked.
“He says they got along, but I don’t believe him. Then as I was leaving, he asked what was going to happen to her house.”
Selena frowned. “Already?”
“That was my reaction. It was like he was a vulture waiting to pick her bones. He knows fine well she has no kids.”
“You checking property disputes?”
“Arnold’s on it.”
The familiar machinery of an investigation began assembling itself in Selena’s head before she could stop it. Scene. Victimology. Timeline. Anonymous caller. Neighbor. Vehicle. Cut line.
She reached for the door handle. “I’ll drive to the station. We should set up a briefing room and go over the evidence.”
Connor stared at her. “Absolutely not.”
Selena stopped. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“I can help.”
“No.”
“I’m not saying I’m going to run through the woods chasing somebody, Connor.”
“You’re not doing that either.”
“I can sit in a chair and review evidence.”
Connor shook his head. “You’re not on active duty with the FBI because of your injuries, and your assessment for returning to work isn’t for three weeks.”
“I know when my assessment is.”
Connor’s expression softened. “Then you know why you’re not coming to the station.”
Selena’s fingers tightened around the door handle. “I can still help, Connor.”
“No, Selena. I came here because I wanted you to hear it from me before that town gossip Eric Wilson heard and blurted it out to you over a bad horror film.”
Something in the way he said Eric’s name made Selena pause.
Jealousy?
She dismissed the thought almost immediately. Connor had more important things to worry about than who she watched old movies with.
“Please let me do something.”
He looked at her with empathy in his eyes, which only irritated her more. “I just want you to get better.”
Selena let go of the door handle. “What I need is for people to stop treating me like an injured bird.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“It is exactly what you’re doing.”
