Until Dark - Mariah Stewart [43]
She stepped aside and pointed to the path beyond the yellow tape.
“Then, after raping and murdering the young mother of three, the killer apparently carried her body up the path toward the parking lot I’m standing near, possibly intending to leave his victim elsewhere. It is believed that it was during this trip back up the path that he encountered nineteen-year-old Julie Lohmann. Police think the killer attacked Ms. Lohmann, then returned to the cave with her, where she was viciously murdered. Her body was then taken to the stream that runs through the park, left on the bank while, sources tell me, he may have washed up in the swiftly moving water. . . .”
A photograph of Julie Lohmann flashed on the screen. Her high school senior photo, Kendra suspected, that of a pretty, dark-haired girl whose smile confided her belief that a life brimming with endless possibilities lay just beyond graduation.
The image on the screen switched back to Kendra’s sketch, and the reporter repeated the phone numbers to call if anyone thought they’d seen the man in the picture.
Kendra clicked off the TV, wondering if anyone had called those numbers with reliable information. Had he been sighted? Identified? She had Adam’s cell phone number in her wallet. She could call.
Then again, so could he . . .
The sound of the car pulling into the drive drew Kendra’s attention as well as Lola’s, who knew the sound of that car and couldn’t get outside fast enough to greet her mistress.
“Hey!” Kendra called from the top step. “How was your visit?”
“Great.” Selena got out of the car and slid her sunglasses onto the top of her head. “The christening was fun, except that they had me seated at the table with my sister Christine, who has the worst case of self-congratulitis I’ve ever seen. She just can’t tell you frequently enough just how good she is, and at how many things she does, in fact, excel.”
“Ah, yes,” Kendra nodded sympathetically, “there are few things more boring than listening to someone toot their own horn.”
“I’ve had to put up with it all my life,” Selena grumbled. “We all thought she’d grow out of it. But how’s my doggie? How’s Lola?”
Lola barked a greeting, jumped up to cover Selena’s face with a big slurp, then barked again.
“Was she good?”
“She was great,” Kendra answered honestly. “She’s wonderful company. I’m thinking I should get a dog myself.”
“Did you ever have one?”
“We always had dogs when I was growing up. My mother was never without one. Her last dog . . . the one she had . . . at the house in Princeton . . . died about two weeks before she did.” Kendra hadn’t thought about Job, her mother’s dog, in several years. “I didn’t realize how much I missed having one until I had Lola here for a few days.”
“The local animal shelter always has wonderful dogs,” Selena noted.
“That’s what I’m thinking.”
Lola jumped at the side of the car.
“Well, I guess that’s pretty clear.” Selena laughed. “Someone wants to go home.”
“And I was starting to think she liked it here.”
“You know what they say, there’s no place like home.” Selena gave Kendra a quick hug. “Thanks so much for letting her stay with you. I really appreciate it. Especially since, well, since this week.”
“It was my pleasure,” Kendra said as she returned the hug. “I really enjoyed the company. Maybe I’ve been alone long enough here. Maybe it’s time to get a dog.”
“Or a man.” Selena grinned as she started the car.
“Oh, sure. Lots of them around.” Kendra laughed. “I think