“There was so much there, some of it’s definitely going to come through. For one thing, there are hair matches already. And I’m sure we’ll get some DNA matches.”

I nodded. Though these men would eat, breathe, and sleep the case until it came to trial, to me it was at a close.

“How are you doing, by the way?” the sheriff asked. She just wanted to point out that Klavin and Stuart hadn’t inquired. They both looked only a tad sheepish.

Tolliver said, “Her arm is broken all the way through. Her scalp stitches had to be redone and there are more of them now. The scalp wound is infected. She has multiple severe bruises and two loose teeth. You can see the black eye. And now she’s got an upper respiratory infection, too.”

Also, a torn fingernail, but he left that out.

Tolliver was glaring at them so indignantly that I expected they would break down and weep, but they just shuffled around uncomfortably until they thought of a good reason to leave. It didn’t sound as though I’d have to come back to Doraville, maybe. At least, not anytime soon. That suited me just fine.

Manfred called, but I didn’t talk to him. Tolliver did. I was too tired—too emotionally tired—to want to talk to him again.

The only guest I was glad to see was Twyla Cotton. She came in moving even more heavily, it seemed to me. Her face was so serious that it didn’t seem she would ever smile again.

“Well,” she said. She was standing right by my bed, and she couldn’t meet my eyes. “They’re caught, and my grandson’s gone for good.”

I nodded.

“I did the right thing bringing you here, and I’m glad I did. They had to stop what they were doing, even if it was too late for Jeff.”

It had been too late for Jeff by months.

“They’ll rot in hell,” Twyla said with absolute conviction. “And I know Jeff is in heaven. But it’s hard for us left here.”

“Yes,” I said, because that was something I knew about. “It’s hard for those left behind.”

“You’re thinking of your sister who’s missing?”

“Yes, Cameron.”

“Kind of ironic, huh?”

“That I can find everyone else but her? Yes, you could put it that way.”

“Then that’s what I’ll pray about for you. That you find your sister.”

Looking at Twyla’s stricken face, for the first time I wondered if I really wanted to find Cameron. If it would really give me peace. I switched my gaze over to Tolliver. He was looking at Twyla with an unpleasant face. He thought she was making me unhappy, and he didn’t think I needed any more unhappiness.

“Thank you, Twyla,” I said. “I hope…I hope your remaining grandson brings you joy.”