The Heart-Shaped Murders by Denise N. Wheatley

Author:Denise N. Wheatley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2022-02-23T21:54:59+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

David held the door open for Lena as they exited the crime lab.

“Whew!” She sighed, bouncing down the stairs. “That felt good. Really good. I can’t thank you enough for talking my father into letting me process the evidence, David.”

“Don’t mention it. That’s the least I could do, especially considering you were the one who retrieved it from the crime scene. I still don’t understand how all of Clemmington PD managed to overlook it.”

Lena gave him a wink and dusted off her shoulders. “Hey, what can I say. I’m just that good.”

“Oh really. Is that what it is?”

“That’s exactly what it is.”

David couldn’t help but smile at her upbeat demeanor. Despite her most recent attack, he was glad to see she was in better spirits. It reassured him that he’d done the right thing by talking her father into letting her analyze the evidence.

Lena turned to him as they headed toward his car. “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you something. Was the woman who was murdered on the Juniper hiking trail ever identified?”

“Yes, she was. Her name was Ashley Duncan. What’s strange is that she wasn’t a Clemmington resident. She actually lived a couple of towns over, in Valley Oak.”

David noticed Lena’s pace slow down a bit. When they reached his car, she fell against the passenger door.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I’m—I’m fine,” she breathed while holding her hand to her chest. “I just... I wonder if the suspect kidnapped her in Valley Oak, then assaulted her here in Clemmington, just to torment me.”

David had already taken that theory into consideration. But he didn’t mention it to Lena for fear of stressing her out even further.

“Well, the good news is the lab director promised to have the DNA results back on the evidence you just processed within the next week or so,” he said in an attempt to steer the conversation in a positive direction. “Hopefully that’ll bring us even closer to arresting the perp.”

“Hopefully...” Lena mumbled, her wavering tone less than confident.

“Come on. Be optimistic. We’re getting closer and closer every day, and—”

David was suddenly interrupted by a woman’s voice.

“Lena? Lena Love?” she called out.

He turned around and noticed a thin, dark-haired woman walking toward them.

“Katie?” Lena called out. “Hey, girl!”

David looked on as the woman ran over, embracing Lena tightly.

“How are you?” Lena asked her. “What are you doing here in this neck of the woods?”

“I’m doing well. I actually just started working here at the lab as a forensic scientist.”

“Really? Oh, wow, congratulations!”

Lena clutched the woman’s arm and turned to David.

“David, this is Katie Winters. She and I attended Pacific Western University together. Katie, meet David Hudson. He’s a detective with the Clemmington PD.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Katie,” he said, reaching out and shaking her hand. “Congratulations on the new job.”

“Thank you so much. It’s nice to meet you, as well.”

Katie turned back to Lena and gently placed her hands on her shoulders.

“How are you doing?” she asked softly. “I was so sorry to hear about what happened to you back in LA.

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