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there really wasn’t anything you could have done.” He satback on his heels, bagged swabs, and marked them with my name, the date, and his initials. “I have a good friend who’s a trauma counselor.” He reached into his open jacket and pulled a card from his shirt pocket. “Give her a call. These things can sneak up on you. When they do, she’s a good one to go to.”
    â€œThanks.” I glanced at the card. It said Judith Miller, Trauma and Grief Counselor, and gave a phone number. “I handled the last dead body I found pretty well . . .”
    â€œKeep the card,” he said as he stood. “Nice to meet you, Pepper.”
    â€œNice to meet you, Blaine.” I shook his hand and he moved off to whatever other duties he had. I turned to Detective Murphy. “Do you know her name?”
    â€œWho? The victim?”
    â€œYes. I feel like I will carry her with me for the rest of my life. The very least I should do is know her name. Was it Eva?”
    He raised an eyebrow questioning my guess.
    â€œOur appointment was with an Eva,” I explained.
    â€œRight.” He shoved his hands into his pants pockets. “We don’t have an official ID yet.”
    â€œWhat about the woman who came back from getting coffee? She obviously works here. It sounded like she recognized her. Didn’t she call her Mom?”
    â€œI can’t give out the identity of the dead woman until we follow proper channels.” He raised his right eyebrow. “You’re going to have to wait for the details just like everyone else.”
    â€œOf course.” I stood. The earth tilted a little as I got that woozy feeling from standing up too quickly. Detective Murphy’s hand was out of his pocket like a shot and cupping my elbow. “I’m good,” I lied, and stepped away from his touch. “Do you need anything else?”
    â€œI need to get a statement from your mother and your sister. Then you can go.”
    â€œGreat.” I moved to the salon door where my family was stashed. “I’ll send Felicity out next.”
    â€œThanks.” Murphy sent me a curt nod. “It’s best if you don’t discuss what happened until we let you go.”
    â€œRight,” I put my hand on the doorknob. “Thank you, Detective.”
    â€œWe’ll talk again.”
    â€œI’m sure we will.” I opened the door to see Felicity resting her head on Mom’s shoulder. My sister’s face was blotchy from crying. “Felicity, Detective Murphy needs to ask you a few questions.”
    My sister sat up. She pulled a tissue from a paper box, blew her nose, and stood. “That poor woman.” She shook her head. “Who does such a thing to another human being?”
    â€œI don’t know,” I said, and held open the door. “I trust Detective Murphy will find out.”
    â€œI certainly hope so.” Felicity walked through the doorway and I closed the door behind her.
    â€œWhat a terrible thing,” Mom said, and blew her own nose. My mother’s eyes flashed with anger as quickly as they welled up with tears. “No one deserves to die like that.”
    â€œThe med tech said there was nothing we could have done to save her.” I took a seat next to Mom. “Did you call Dad and let him know we were going to be late coming home?”
    â€œYes, the officer here let me make the phone call as long as I didn’t mention details.”
    â€œWhat did Dad say?” I took Mom’s hand and her fingers were cold as ice, so I rubbed them between my hands.
    â€œHe wanted to come straight down, but I told him we were fine.”
    â€œWe’re all pretty shaken up,” I said, and glanced at the officer. “Maybe you should have Dad come down and drive us home.”
    â€œWhat about my car?” Mom asked. “I refuse to get another ticket.”
    â€œI can have someone drive the