Paws and Effect by Sofie Kelly Page B

wasn’t sure how John and Travis would feel about staying in the area and continuing their work without her. I knew they felt strongly about stopping the development.
    Maggie promised to take pictures of anything that seemed promising and we said good-bye. I knew she was right about Brady. He and his brothers had grown up in the woods in and around Wisteria Hill. His father, Burtis Chapman, had worked for Idris Blackthorne, Ruby’s grandfather and the one-time area bootlegger. A lot of things had happened at the old man’s cabin on his stretch of land adjacent to Wisteria Hill, but the trees told no tales.
    I called Rebecca and explained what had happened to her as well. She expressed her sympathy and I promised to be in touch if she could help in any way. “John was out here last night after supper,” she said. “I’d found two more of my mother’s books. He spoke about his friend. It sounded like she was a nice person.”
    â€œI think she was,” I said.
    *   *   *
    Marcus came into the library just after eleven. He’d been home to shower and change. He was wearing a white shirt with dark trousers, he’d shaved, and the ends of his hair were still damp.
    â€œC’mon up to my office,” I said. Susan was at the circulation desk. “I need a few minutes,” I said to her.
    â€œTake your time,” she said. As usual, there had been a reporter from the
Mayville Heights Chronicle
out at the scene of Dani’s accident. The story was already online at the paper’s website.
    Once we were in my office Marcus hugged me. “How are you?” I asked, leaning back to study him. He still looked tired but he was in police officer mode and his emotions were firmly in check.
    â€œWe found Travis,” he said.
    I waited, holding both of his hands in mine. There wasn’t anything I could say to erase the pain in his eyes. I would have given anything to be able to do that.
    It was then that I noticed the beginning of a bruise on the left side of his jawline. I let go of his hand and touched it gently with two fingers.
    He winced.
    â€œHe hit you,” I said softly.
    Marcus nodded. “He still has a pretty good right cross.”
    â€œYou let him?” Marcus was strong, with fast reflexes. He’d clearly taken the punch instead of avoiding it.
    He looked away for a moment and a flush of color came into his cheeks. “I don’t expect you to understand, Kathleen,” he began, “but he needed to.”
    â€œI do understand,” I said. “Do you want some ice?”
    â€œNo, I’m okay.” He worked his jaw from side to side. “It looks worse than it feels.” He let out a slow breath. “He cried, Kathleen. He swung at me and then he started to cry.”
    I felt the prickle of tears myself but I swallowed them away because this wasn’t about me. “What do you need?” I asked.
    He let go of my hand so he could rake his own through his hair. “They’re both coming over to the house tonight. We, uh, we want to do something—I don’t know, maybe some kind of memorial service for the people she worked with and her friends. I thought maybe we could plan something.”
    â€œThat’s a nice idea,” I said. “What about Dani’s family?”
    â€œThere’s just an older brother and her grandmother. John is going to try to contact the brother.”
    â€œSo how can I help?”
    â€œWill you come tonight?” he said. “I know you didn’t really know Dani but—”
    I cut him off before he could finish the sentence. “I would be honored.”
    He smiled and I saw some of the stress ease in his face. “I have to get to the station,” he said. “Hope is waiting to find out when we can expect the medical examiner to be finished.”
    â€œAll right,” I said. “I’ll see you tonight. If you need me