Dedication is a good thing. But, like I said, you can think about it. And regardless of what you decide, youre now apprised of this situation. Crow indicated the pictures, then got to his feet. I believe Marshal OBrien has arrived. He smiled, glancing at his watch. Precisely on time.
Logan stood, too. He saw a woman coming toward them. He noted first that she had a thick head of auburn hair that fell to her shoulders, and then he went on with his assessment. She moved with fluid confidence, and she was tall, about five-ten. Slim and well-built. She wasnt wearing a badge, but there was a quality about her that spoke of law enforcement. He was pretty certain the bulge on her hip was a Glock.
As she came nearer, he realized that she had exceptionally fine features and might have graced a models runway rather than a crime scene. But before she reached them and offered each man a firm handshake as introductions were exchanged, he could tell that she wasnt some kind of delicate hothouse flower. Her walk, her movements, the way shed looked for them and found them instantlythey all registered authority and determination. Maybe shed perfected her manner to offset her beauty, which was vivid and startling. When she removed her sunglasses, he saw that she had green eyes, their color almost as deep as a forest.
He also realized that she was as curious as he had been about the meeting. Shall we order? he suggested. Were all here now.
He lifted his hand to summon their waitress. Crow was polite and friendly as he ordered his meal, and despite the fact that Kelsey OBrien couldnt have done more than glance at the menu, she ordered quickly. He did, as well, although he wasnt hungry. Something about this meeting was causing his stomach to knot.
Jackson Crow began the new conversation casually. How are you enjoying Texas, Marshal OBrien?
Its great, she said. San Antonio is beautiful.
Have you been able to see or do much yet? Crow asked.
Im staying at the Longhorn, a historic saloon. I can see the Alamo from my window. Very poignant, really.
The Longhorn has quite a reputation, Logan commented. Ridiculous! he told himself. For some reason, hed just had to throw that out.
He was irritated at his own pleasure in thinking he might know something Agent Crow didnt. This meeting was confusing him. He was usually willing to do whatever it took to stop crime, especially murder. But this
It felt as if once he took a step, hed fall into a pit, and he wasnt sure hed know how to maneuver his way out.
Maybe because he hadnt known that there seemed to be a pattern of disappearances. It was true that the FBI could recognize the similarities between these crimes.
Maybe he was still off his stride because of what had happened on his way herethe scene with the birds.
Logan began to explain. A murder took place there around the time of the Texas Revolution, he said. And about a year ago, a young woman disappeared from the murder room. Local homicide detectives tore the room and half the hotel apart, and she was never discovered. The room looked like thered been a bloodbath. Im not sure if that fits with the cases youve been showing me.
Sounds like it does, Jackson said. What do you think, Marshal OBrien?
Logan studied the young woman he had so recently met.
She smiled awkwardly and looked around before answering. We seem to be pretty casual here. Please call me Kelsey. And Im sorry but Im not up to speed. What cases? she asked.
One moment, Crow murmured. Our food is coming.
Kelsey OBrien had ordered salmon. Logan wondered if she avoided red meat and realized hed ordered fish that afternoon, too. When their waitress left the table, Jackson launched into the story hed already told Logan.
Logan sat back, listening, while Jackson Crow explained the FBI involvement. He waited until they had finished eating and then spread out the pictures to show her.
Horrible, she whispered.
I do believe were looking for one killer. Although, as I told Raintree, it is possible that these murders and the unknown remains weve discovered arent all connected. Were talking about a huge population here and, obviously, the larger the population, the easier it is for people to get lost in the crowd, Crow said.
Logan saw that Marshal Kelsey OBrien wasnt turning away from the pictures, but neither was her expression devoid of empathy and distress. She raised her eyes. Im sorry, she said. Ive seen the dead before, butin my area, its often a drug runner shot and down. Nothing likethis.
Jackson Crow scooped up the pictures as the waitress came to clear the table and bring them more coffee. When it had been poured and they were alone once again, Logan found that he was intrigued to discover what Kelsey knew about the Longhorn Inn.
What have you learned about the murder? he asked her.
She looked at him, and he gazed into her clear green eyes. You mean Sierra Monte? Very little, Im afraid. The owner, Sandy Holly, is an old friend of mine. Thats why Im staying at the Longhorn. So I only know what Sandys told me and a few things I read online. I also know it was incredibly complicated when she purchased the place, because she had a nonrefundable deposit down, with access to begin the renovations, and then Sierra Monte disappeared. Sandy still had to pay on the closing date and everything was put on hold while the police finished their investigation and then the people hired to do the crime-scene cleanup were brought in. She was devastated about the young woman, of course, but she was also in a predicament herself.
Its up and running now, and doing well, right? Logan asked.
Kelsey nodded. She did a stunning job with it. There are parts of the inn that make you feel as if youve been transported almost two hundred years back in time. And, of course, Room 207 was gutted, and yet thereve been people clamoring to get into itand people claiming theyve seen ghosts and blood . She paused. Some people are fascinated by this stuff. Sandy was worried about it, naturally. And now
She stopped speaking. There was a lot more to the and now but she didnt seem sure she should be talking about it.
Kelsey was aware that both men were watching her, waiting. She shrugged. Its oddjust before I left today, a big bruiser of a cowboy came running out of that room, screaming. He was convinced that the entire room was covered in blood. Of course it wasnt. She grinned. Eventually, he calmed down and I went up to the room and looked around.
And? Jackson asked her.
It was just as the cowboy had left it, Kelsey OBrien said slowly.
Logan noticed that shed hesitated before she spoke. Her words were smooth enough, but there was something she wasnt saying. She didnt fully trust them; however, that was okay. He wasnt sure of his own feelings about Jackson Crow or Marshal OBrien yet, either.
Impressionable minds can create ghosts, Crow said.
Very true, Kelsey OBrien agreed.
But Crow homed in on her words. What about you? What did your mind see in that room?
She leaned back, startled, but composing herself as she returned Jackson Crows gaze.
Anyone could get impressions in that roomonce you know what happened there, she replied. And, of course, I know.
Does it ever distress your friend? Crow asked her.
Definitely. Shes sunk a lot of money into the Longhorn, especially since she bought it in bad conditionand under bad circumstances. Sandys wanted to own it for ages, though.
Anything unusual occur during your nights at the inn? Crow asked next.
In my room? Not a thing, Kelsey said.
She didnt share easily, Logan thought.
But you do feel the saloon is haunted? Crow persisted.
She hesitated again, frowning, and then answered with What exactly do you consider haunted, Agent Crow? When I walk through places that are steeped in history, theres always an air about them. The Alamo? I feel like Im walking on hallowed ground. I get that same feeling at the Tower of London and the battlegrounds at Gettysburg. I think many people feel this way in certain places. The Longhorn Inn is no different. It witnessed history. I suppose many people imagine they see the past when theyre going through places like that.
Crow listened, nodding, a small smile curving his lips. Nice reply. And not an answer to my question.
Well, what do you want? Kelsey asked him, clearly irritated. Do I pass ghosts walking up and down the stairs or in the saloon? No.
Have you seen them at all?
She looked as if shed been trapped. Obviously, she had to be competent and able to stand on her own, but Logan suddenly felt that he wanted to step in; he hated being cornered himself, and he didnt like to watch it being done to someone else.
What kind of haunting are you talking about, Agent Crow? he asked. Residual haunting, where the same traumatic event occurs over and over again? Or are you referring to intelligent or active haunting, where the ghosts actually partake in life?
What kind of haunting are you talking about, Agent Crow? he asked. Residual haunting, where the same traumatic event occurs over and over again? Or are you referring to intelligent or active haunting, where the ghosts actually partake in life?
Either, Crow said, shrugging. Im curious. He leaned across the table, his casual manner gone. Kelsey, I know damned well that you see what others dont. What did you see in Room 207?
She frowned. What did I see? A murder. She looked over at Logan, and he couldnt tell whether she saw anger or appreciation in his eyes. Absolutely nothing that could help us with the here and now. I saw a murder that took place over a hundred and fifty years ago, and the murderer himself is long gone. I guess what I saw was a residual haunting. No bloodthe poor woman was strangled. So, perhaps we should get back to what were actually dealing with. Dead women. Corpses dumped here, there and everywhere in San Antonio. Im assuming you have more to work with than just photos, Agent Crow?
He nodded. Im set up at the police station, about a mile away. Ill pay for our meal, then well go there and you can see how far weve gotten. Tomorrow, Ill be briefing local law enforcement, but for now, you can come over and get started.
Whoa, Agent Crow. I havent agreed to be part of this team, Logan reminded him.
Crow raised one shoulder. You dont want to see what we have? he asked.
Logan let out a deep breath.
Of course he did. This was happening in his city, and Jackson Crow had been right about one thinghe had to be in law enforcement.
He had to be involved.
And since hed seen the pictures of the remains
He turned to face Kelsey OBrien. She was watching him with her intent green eyes, and he wondered if she felt the same sense of urgency he did. The same need to know, despite the risks.