December 20th, 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada
Pickett watched as Sarge knocked on the well-kept suburban home’s front door just to the south of the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gilbert had lived here for over forty years. They clearly kept their home up and loved it. It had a new roof and a fresh coat of tan paint. Even the windows were clean which was almost impossible to do in the winter in this area.
The day had turned cold, with steel-gray skies, but not cold enough for Pickett to need to wear a heavier jacket. She hoped to make it through the entire winter without a heavy jacket.
A young woman answered the door, clearly about college aged. She had a bright smile and long blonde hair. More than likely she resembled what Dawn had looked like when she died.
“Looking for Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert,” Sarge said, opening his badge and showing it to the young woman.
Then Sarge introduced them both as the young girl’s eyes got round.
“My name is Connie. My grandparents are in the back sunroom. Is everything all right?”
Pickett assured her that nothing was wrong, they just had news.
“Oh, about my aunt Dawn I bet,” Connie said, nodding.
Pickett said nothing to the young girl. No need to, she understood.
Connie led them through the well-furnished and comfortable home to the back, where what looked to have been an outdoor porch area had been glassed in. It was comfortably warm and had a view of a valley and the mountains in the distance.
In the summer it would have to be air-conditioned to stay useful, but Pickett had no doubt it was.
“Grandma, grandpa,” Connie said, “the police are here to see you.”
Connie moved over and stood against the wall, watching and waiting.
Pickett introduced her and Sarge as both of the Gilberts stood and shook their hands. The Gilberts looked to be in their late seventies and both seemed to be in good health. Pickett hoped that in another fifteen years she could be in as good of shape.
“It’s about Dawn, isn’t it?” Mr. Gilbert said.
Sarge and Pickett both nodded.
Pickett went on to tell them about how her daughter had been trying to do the right thing, but was trapped in a room at the closed Landmark and not found until the following spring.
Both of the Gilberts just nodded, but Pickett could tell they were both sad and relieved.
Pickett then went on to tell them they had arrested her killer yesterday.
Both the Gilberts looked relieved at that.
After all the questions they had were answered, the Gilberts walked Pickett and Sarge to the front door and thanked them for finally allowing them to know what happened.
“Sorry to have to do this at the holidays,” Sarge said.
Mr. Gilbert just shook his head and brushed that aside. “Actually, after all these years, knowing is a great gift.”
“Very much so,” Mrs. Gilbert said. “Thank you.”
Pickett and Sarge rode in silence back toward their complex. Pickett couldn’t imagine what that couple had gone through, losing a daughter and not knowing what happened, yet still raising three other children.
Impossible to imagine.
It was as Pickett pulled into the parking garage and parked that Sarge said, “We need to talk about what we are going to do for the holiday?”
“A tree would be nice,” Pickett said, smiling at the man sitting beside her.
“We have kittens,” Sarge said, smiling back.
“So we anchor it solidly,” Pickett said. “Let them play and be kittens.”
“I was hoping you would say that,” he said, “because I have a fifteen foot tree being delivered at four this afternoon.”
“And if I hadn’t wanted a tree?” Pickett asked, laughing.
“I would have had to head the guy off at the pass,” Sarge said. “But I left the choice of decorations on the tree up to you.”
“How about up to us,” Pickett said.
“We better get something before he gets here,” Sarge said, “because I’m not climbing a ladder to decorate the top of a tall tree.”
She started the car back up. “Well then, let’s get going. We’ve got a lot of decoration shopping to do if we’re going to get ready for a Christmas party.”
“Christmas party?” Sarge asked, staring at her as she backed out of her spot and headed for the entrance to the garage.
“We live in one of the largest condos ever created in this town,” Pickett said. “If we can’t throw a party, not sure who can.”
Sarge just laughed. “Sounds like fun to me. But you know, we would be starting a tradition.”
“After these last few weeks,” Pickett said, “some fun and tradition is what the doctor ordered for us and all of our friends.”
“Especially on our first Christmas together,” Sarge said.
Pickett glanced over at the man she loved more than anything. He was smiling.
And she was as well.
It was going to be a great Christmas, she had no doubt about that at all.