Northrop summer cabin

  Merrville County

  Hazel Northrop flops flat onto the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. She raises both arms above her head and gives a loud sigh. A secret smile turns up her lips.

  "Oh, Dave. Dave. Mmmm. If my father only knew. You've been such a bad boy. Ha ha."

  Hazel's jovial mood is disrupted by the ringing of her cellphone. With another sigh, from exasperation this time, Hazel leans over and grabs her phone from the nightstand on her side of the bed.

  "Yes?" Hazel practically yells, recognizing the number immediately and pressing SEND.

  "Babe...Hazel? Baby, where are you? What's going on? I tried to call you earlier, but your phone was turned off. My phone calls kept going straight to voicemail," District Attorney William Stranic breathes into the phone.

  "I don't know what to tell you, Will. Maybe I turned it off by mistake. As you can see...My phone is on now," Hazel lies, her expression dull and unforgiving.

  "You're still mad at me, aren't you? Look, Hazel...I'm sorry. I've got some really burdensome cases right now, and I needed some space. Some time to sort things out. Sort of clear my head. You're the daughter of a prominent sheriff. You can understand that, can't you? Needing some space?"

  "Sure, Will. You needed space. What more is there to say? I'm giving you space."

  "Don't be like that, Hazel. Damn...Hazel...You know I care about you," Will protests in a strained voice.

  "No, Will...I don't. You run out on me every chance you get. And I'm supposed to be the loyal little girlfriend who lets you back in every time you need a shoulder to cry on or a bed to fall into. I'm sick of it. You wanted space, Will. You've got it. Don't call me again...Until you've figured out exactly what it is that you do want."

  "Come on now, Haz--,"

  Hazel ends the call before Will's plea is completely out of his mouth. She gathers up her long wavy hair at the top of her head and leans against the headboard of the bed. Issuing another long sigh, she closes her eyes.

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  "Will, you bastard! If only I didn't love you so much!"

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  Deputy Newsome is just grabbing his coat from the rack when Gladys enters the processing area. She smiles and waves a slender hand at Dave. Dave gives Gladys a respectful head nod and strolls in her direction. Gladys is a nice enough woman. But devote and married. Beautiful, but unavailable.

  Meeting Dave halfway, Gladys hands him a large manila envelope. The dreaded crime scene photos, Dave presumes. He takes the manila envelope and shoots Gladys a genuine smile, pairing it with a coy wink.

  "I was headed into town to pick these up. Thanks for bringing them by, Gladys. You saved me a trip."

  "Don't mention it, Dave. I was headed this way anyway. My granddaughter has the flu. I'm going to look after her while my daughter-in-law is in the hospital."

  "The hospital? Is everything alright?" Dave inquires.

  Gladys reaches forward and lightly touches Dave's forearm. A tiny giggle escapes the grown woman's lips.

  "Oh. Yeah. I thought you knew, Dave. Ellen had our second grandbaby last night. A baby girl. She's so cute. Looks just like her dad."

  "Cute must run in the family. I can definitely see where she gets it," Dave says, temporarily forgetting himself.

  Gladys shifts her gaze away from Dave's face, she absently toys with the necklace around her neck. Dave's eyes wander even further and he inhales sharply. Clasping both hands together, Dave tries to appear casual.

  "I just mean...Josh looks like you, and he's a handsome fella. Good looks must run in the family. I always forget that you're old enough to have grandkids, Gladys. You don't look it."

  "Everyone married young in my family," Gladys says, casually reminding Dave that her husband exists. "Give it time."

  "And you'll still be beautiful, Gladys."

  Gladys' gaze shifts again and she glances around the processing area. After offering a female officer a kind smile, she returns her attention to Dave.

  "Thank you, Dave. That's so nice. Now, I've got to go. My son is expecting me. Tell Sheriff Northrop that I'll see him later. Bye, Dave."

  Gladys rushes off without another word or a glance backward. Dave puffs out his cheeks and then exhales loudly. No wonder he never got married. Too many choices and not enough time. And then, you have to factor in men like Gladys' husband. If only he were the last man on Earth.

  Dave nearly chuckles at his own inside joke. He turns the giant manila envelope over and opens the clasp, deciding to take a peek. He will have to see them eventually anyway. Dave immediately regrets his decision upon glimpsing the top photo. The battered, toothless face of what was once a young woman stares up at him from the opening. Dave quickly closes the envelope back and takes another deep breath.

  "It doesn't get that much easier," Dave hears himself say, reliving his conversation with Officer Blake.

  "No, it sure as hell doesn't," Dave grumbles. "But you've gotta deal with it. Well, I'm dealing with it."

  Storming back in the direction of Sheriff Northrop's office, Dave holds the manila envelope tightly clasped in his right hand.