Vie patted Marta’s arm. “I’d appreciate that. Let’s get you set up in the hallway.”
As they walked down the hallway Marta said, “I keep thinking about Teresa. She’s not that much younger than that poor woman in there. I can’t help thinking our lives are just one bad decision away from tragedy. I just wish I could get Teresa to think that way.”
Vie smiled. “Come on, Marta. You were young once too. If we all second-guessed every decision we made in our youth we’d never leave home and experience the world.”
Marta pointed back toward the patient room. “Leaving home isn’t always a good thing.”
*
At nine o’clock that morning Josie walked into the office at the police department and found Otto typing something into his computer, his phone pressed between his ear and shoulder. Josie’s desk was full of paperwork and pink “While you were out” messages. She wondered how many were checked “Urgent,” and felt a weariness settle into her bones. In her mid-thirties now, she’d noticed working a twenty-four-hour shift affected her differently than it had ten years ago. The adrenaline surge didn’t last as long as it used to.
Josie filled her coffee cup from the pot at the back of the office and sat down at her desk. She found a package of cheese crackers in a drawer and opened them for breakfast.
Otto hung up and scowled as he turned to face her.
“Nothing. No leads on two young women missing over the past week. At least not in the surrounding areas. Cowan called and said he’s already entered information into the NamUs system from the Department of Justice.”
“That’s the unidentified persons database?”
“Yep. No hits. I checked Texas missing persons and a few other databases.”
“You checked Piedra Labrada?”
“Nothing connects with anything that’s happened in the past week. I’ll expand the search parameters.” He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes. “How’s the other woman doing?”
“Marta just called with an update. The woman’s still not said a word. Vie said she’ll call a psychiatrist from Odessa to come talk with her later today, after she’s had some sleep. And on my way over here I called Ms. Beacon to see if she’d meet me at the trauma center later today to translate.”
The phone on Josie’s desk buzzed and Lou said, “Mayor’s on his way up.”
Josie leaned her head back and looked at the ceiling. “Otto. I do not have the patience for him right now.”
“Pick up your phone. I’ll deal with him.”
“You’re a saint.”
It was pathetic, but she blamed it on sleep deprivation and picked up her phone. She pressed the handset to her ear and turned from the door to face her computer monitor, eavesdropping on the conversation taking place behind her.
“Morning, Mayor,” Otto said.
“How the hell are you?” the mayor said.
Josie pressed her lips together in irritation. The mayor had never once in her career addressed her in such a casual, friendly manner. Generally, he greeted her with a disapproving nod of his head. She imagined he viewed their relationship as drill sergeant to lowly private. And it ticked her off.
She opened the drawing program on her computer and began entering measurements from her crime scene diagram. With the measurements in place, she’d be able to print a drawing to scale. Josie occasionally muttered yes or no into the phone, hoping the mayor would get a quick update on the investigation and leave.
“You keep me updated, you hear?” she heard him tell Otto.
“Yes, sir,” Otto said.
“Who’s she talking to?”
Josie heard Otto hesitate. “I’m not sure, Mayor. Can I give her a message for you?”
“Tell her Caroline’s sponsoring a tea for the women of Artemis to support her mission project. I expect Josie will want to attend. Tomorrow at six in the basement of the Methodist church.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll do that.”
“Tell her to invite her mom. I’m sure she’d enjoy the event. You take care, now.”
Josie listened to his boots clip-clop down the stairs and replaced the handset. “So now I’m required to support his wife’s charity work? That bastard infuriates me.”
“It’s not like he’s asking you to do something immoral. It’s a charity event.”
Josie’s eyes widened and Otto threw his hands in the air. “All right, all right. Just tell him you’re busy.”
“I have a murder to solve. I’m not worried about his wife’s latest do-good cause.”
“So send your mom. It’ll keep her occupied for the evening.”
*
Josie clocked off at ten a.m. to get a quick shower before returning for an eleven to seven-thirty shift. In order to get their shifts straightened out again, she would be back at work at eight the next morning. The swing shift was the worst. It would take her a day or so to get acclimated to the new sleeping schedule, and she had her mom visiting from Indiana, hoping to be entertained on Josie’s off hours.
Josie called her mom on the drive home to fill her in on the situation.