Youâve already been hit by lightning. What are the odds of that happening twice?â
âWhat were the odds of it happening once?â I countered, though my real reasons were probably not what he supposed.
We drove slowly, and the red Honda stuck with us. The roads around Sarne were narrow and flanked by some steep terrain, and there was the ever-present possibility a deer would dash across the road.
When we got to the motel, we had a debate about whether to stop and let the unknown girl see where we were staying (which sheâd already know if she was a cop) or keep riding around until she tired of following us. Going to the police station, we agreed, felt silly. After all, she hadnât threatened us or done anything other than ride behind us.
It was my bladder that determined our course of action. We pulled in, I dashed into my room, and by the time I came out, Tolliver reported, âSheâs trying to make up her mind to come over and knock on the door.â He was concealed behind the curtains, and he hadnât turned on a light in the room.
I joined him, and it was like watching a pantomime. The girlâs car was clearly lit up by the lights in the parking lot, and she was recognizable; that is, Iâd be able to pick her out in a police lineup now, though her features werenât crystal clear. She had short brown hair worn in a longer version of a standard boysâ haircut, which looked cute on her, since she was a petite thing. She was maybe seventeen, maybe younger, and she had a pouting lower lip. She was wearing enough eye makeup for three ordinary women. Her small face had that look so common in teenage girls from homes where all is not wellâpart defiant, part vulnerable, all wary.
Cameron had worn that expression on her face all too often.
âHow much are you willing to put down on this? I think sheâll give up and drive away. Weâre too scary for her.â Tolliver put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it.
âNah, sheâs coming in,â I said with assurance. âIâd be taking your money too easily. See? Sheâs daring herself.â
Rain began to pelt down again as she made up her mind to brave us. She launched herself from the car and dashed for my door. She pounded on it twice.
Tolliver turned on the lamp beside the bed as I answered her summons.
She glared at me. âYou the woman that finds bodies?â
âYou know I am, or you wouldnât have been following us. Iâm Harper Connelly. Come in.â I stepped back, and, shooting me a suspicious look, she entered the room. She looked around carefully. Tolliver was sitting in the chair trying to look harmless. âThis is my brother Tolliver Lang,â I said. âHe travels with me. You want a Diet Coke?â
âSure,â she said, as if turning down a soft drink was unthinkable. Tolliver got one out of the ice chest and handed it to her. She took it with her arm extended as far as she could reach, to keep her distance from him. I pushed the other chair out to indicate she should use it, and I perched on the side of the bed.
âCan I help you?â I asked.
âYou can tell me what happened to my brother. Iâm not saying I think what youâre doing is okay, or even morally defensible.â She glared at me. âBut I want to know what you think.â
I thought she had a good civics teacher.
âOkay,â I said slowly. âMaybe first you could tell me who your brother is?â
She flushed red. She was accustomed to being a notable fish in a very small pond. âIâm Nell,â she said, clipping off the words. âMary Nell Teague. Dell was my brother.â
âYou canât be much younger than he was.â
âWe were ten months apart.â
Tolliver and I looked at each other briefly. This girl was not only a minor, but the sister of a murder victim. And I was willing to bet sheâd never been out of