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Mark
Mark scowled at the witness, very aware Darby had moved alongside him. He could sense her nearly vibrating. He’d seen the quick look of panic cross her face when the name of the DSHA was invoked. Honestly, he couldn’t blame her—and hoped she’d hold it together to get through the interview. They could re-evaluate when they were done.
He said, “Ms. Labbee, you want to see Prairie’s murderer caught, and her possibly revived, don’t you?”
“I don’t think Prairie would want to be brought back,” she sniffed.
“She surely would want her killer brought to justice, though.”
Winifred crossed her arms. “You’ll have to get a court order.”
Mark ran his tongue over his teeth. Time to change tactics. “I’ll need the names of any next of kin you’re aware of, as well as her boss’s name and contact information.” He offered her his glass and digital pen.
She took it and scribbled down some names, and a number for their boss, then handed it back to him.
Mark glanced over it, angling it for Darby to see. Even if he was pissed with her on a personal level, he could be professional.
“So, this Ian Brecunier, that’s her boyfriend?” Darby asked.
Winifred scowled at her, which gave Mark the unsettling feeling the woman didn’t like supers, although she worked for the DSHA—or maybe even because of that. If Winifred showed open contempt for Darby, it would set his partner off.
The history between the DSHA and Darby was long, complicated, and convoluted.
“That’s right,” the no-longer-crying witness said. “They’ve been dating about two years.”
He glanced down at the screen, taking in the information known about Prairie from the state database. “And her family is in Oklahoma?”
Winifred nodded. “When she applied to the DSHA, there wasn’t a need in the Tulsa office, so they offered her a place here.”
Mark took out one of his cards and handed it to her. “If you think of anything helpful, please contact us. Please don’t say anything to anyone until we’ve had the opportunity to inform her next of kin and her boss.”
She nodded.
Darby waved an officer over and had him escort Winifred out of the room.
Mark stared down at his glass, looking over the list of data the co-worker had input. Without glancing at his partner, he said, “DSHA involvement opens up a whole other can of worms.”
Darby moved next to him so they were faced in opposite directions. “I can handle it.”
She was bluffing and they both knew it. He gave her a sidelong look. “You sure?”
She shrugged. “They’re only the agency who abducted me two years ago, kept me sedated, and made me feel like I was an inch tall when I was awake. What’s the worst that can happen?”
Mark pressed his lips together, remembering his own panic when she’d gone missing. It had been around that time he’d come to the realization that he had been falling for her...and she’d been completely oblivious. While he wanted to say that the DSHA had been dealt with, their involvement, even in passing, made him unsettled.
Especially after the bombshell she had launched at him on the plane a couple weeks earlier.
He said, “Right. Worst that can happen is they claim conflict of interest. It wasn’t just you, I also have issues with them after what they did.”
“This is the murder of one of their own. You’d think they’d realize we’re the best team for the job.”
“Or maybe they’ll want to call in someone from the federal level.”
Darby nodded. “If they do, we’ll deal.”
“Word of warning. If I think you can’t handle this case, I’m pulling you off.”
“You think I can’t handle it?” Now she turned to face him, her brown eyes beginning to flare in anger.
“Didn’t say that. But if I think for even a minute that you can’t, I’ll have you removed from the case.”
She scoffed. “What’s this about, Mark?”
Now, he turned. “You don’t have a great record on emotionally trying cases.”
“Emotionally try—I don’t even know this woman.”
“But I do,” Holly said from behind them.
They both turned to the doctor. The lovely woman who always seemed so polished to Mark was visibly shaken.
“What do you mean?” Darby asked, crossing to her friend and fellow superhuman.
“I know her. I should’ve recognized her. It’s Prairie Rasmussen.” She said the name as though it held some meaning.
Darby glanced back at Mark.
“Yeah, Doc?” he asked.
Holly pressed her hands together and brought them to her lips. “She handled my file last time I was in the DSHA office. Remember when you both helped me move?”
Darby nodded. “When you did the address change?”
“Yeah, she did my re-interview and testing. I was close to up on my time anyway, so kill two birds, right?”
Mark scowled, but neither of the supers caught it.
Darby put a hand on Holly’s arm. “Are you okay? Do you need to call in another M.E.?”
She shook her head quickly. “I’m done for now. My assistant is going to help load her body up. I can’t believe I didn’t catch on when I first got here!”
“Will you be able to do the autopsy?”
“I may have to hand it off. It’s different when it’s someone you know.”
Darby squeezed Holly’s arm now. “How well did you know her?”
Holly took a deep breath and shook her head. “Not well, not really. Never outside the DSHA headquarters. But I saw her. I liked her.”
“Well, it’s up to us to find her killer.”
She nodded. “I know. And they’ve got the best team working the case.”