Free Exposed by Rage by Sherrel Lee Page A

was...distant.  I have no idea what happened.”
    “Well you’ve never been known as sensitive.  You know, about the feeling of those around you.”
    “Ashley, I really don’t think this is the time to go into all that...”
    “No, you’re probably right.  I’m not sure there ever will be a time.  So, she was here.  Anyone else here?”
    “Of course.  The house is always full of people.”
    “So, was there anything unusual?  Different?”
    “I don’t know.  I don’t remember.”
    “Of course not.”
    “Look, Jillie came around and we talked about business.  We sat around the pool, had drinks.  The others were just background.”
    Trixie brought her hand up, caressed my face with her fingers.  I brushed them away.
    “Ashley, I loved Jillie.  She’s been by friend, my sister since the day we met.  She was younger than me but we clicked.  Grew close.  I miss her.”
    “Trixie, this is not about you. If you’re able, take some time and think about the last time Jillie was here.  Make a list of people who were at the house.  I want...no I need to talk to every one of them.  Call me when you have the list, you have my cell number.”  I didn’t wait to hear her answer as I walked back into the hall and out the front door.    

11
    “Ashley, I’ve been thinking about this brand.  You said it’s a lotus?” Poppy closed the computer and turned toward me.
    “It sure looks like one.    I keep thinking it means something to me but I can’t remember.”
    “Well, it’s s symbol in some cultures meaning rebirth.  A water plant, it closes up at night and sinks below the surface, sunlight brings it back and it reopens.  I looked it up on the web.  You think this might be what they guy is saying?”
    “Maybe.  I guess this guy could think by killing Jillie and Randi he’s going to cause them to be re-incarnated as something or someone else.  Killers are loony in that way, but it doesn’t feel right.” 
    I rubbed my temples.  My head hurt and I wasn’t getting anywhere.  Poppy got up and went to the fridge, started taking out meat and fruit, fixing lunch.  She’d decided, years ago on the street, to be my official caretaker.  I loved her for it, but wished sometimes she’d just leave me the hell alone. 
    “Pop, I’m not hungry.”
    “You never are, but you have to eat and I’m starving.”
    The sandwich tasted like cardboard and stuck to the roof of my mouth.  After the first bite I picked at the crust but couldn’t bring myself to try another.  I pushed away from the table and went to change for a swim.
    As I was getting out of the pool, Poppy brought my cell phone out and handed it to me.  DeMarco was on the line.  Not really surprised, but concerned he was calling so soon, I took a deep breath before placing the speaker to my ear. 
    “Your friend Dylan…”
    “Is he alright?” Felt a tsunami of fear.
    “No.  He’s fine.  He came to see me.”
    Instead of feeling relieved I felt irritated.  “Why?  He came here to help me, not you.”  I was in bitch mode and didn’t know what put me there.  DeMarco is a smart cop and I wanted him to get along with Dylan.  The fact is I wanted him more than anything I’d ever experienced.  I didn’t want to need him—but I was hooked.
    “Whoa.  I offered to show him the murder books.  He asked me a couple of questions that made me think maybe we hadn’t completed our search of the house.” 
    “So you’re calling to tell me you’re sending the crime scene investigators back out?  Fine, you have the house under wraps.  They won’t bother me.”
    “You could be the most irritating woman I’ve had the pleasure to talk to, but remembering last night and hoping more are to come—well just let me tell you why I called.”
    I smiled.  He was insulting me and all I could do was smile about it.  “Go ahead.”
    “Thanks.  Dylan told me your friend Jillie was paranoid about some things.  It made me