She looked up again as Alex and Shane reached the truck and casually tossed their flak jackets into the backseat. Shane caught her staring and raised a brow. She sank her chin deeper into her jacket and watched the kids enjoy their uncomplicated lives.

Sunita came outside carrying a large tote bag. “I’m taking the children to my mother’s for a few days. She said she’d watch them for me.”

She secured the toddler into his car seat and Alex helped clip in the little girl. Then he took Sunita aside and spoke to her quietly.

The woman gripped his t-shirt and bowed her head against his chest.

He’d obviously told her that he’d found her missing night manager.

Emotion grabbed Yael by the throat.

Had the woman been fond of Wayne Stockwell? Or did she understand how close she’d come to death? Judging from the depth of her sobs, probably both.

Yael looked away and once again caught Shane staring at her with an expression she couldn’t decipher. “What?”

“Nothing.”

Alex wrapped his arm around Sunita for a long moment, until she was strong enough to push away.

Shane got another phone call and he walked a few feet away before squatting down to play with the kittens who meowed loudly at him, begging for food. Yael would search for some as soon as Sunita left.

The woman wiped her eyes and Alex said quietly, “The FBI will probably need to talk to you again in the next couple of hours.”

The medical examiner’s vehicle—which looked a lot like a hearse—pulled into the parking lot and Sunita’s eyes once again filled with tears. She stared at the black vehicle until it pulled to a stop outside unit eleven. Then she climbed inside her car and drove away.

“You think she’s gonna come back?” Yael asked.

“It’s her motel. She doesn’t have much choice.” Alex stood beside Yael as the wind pulled at her hair.

“I don’t think I’d be back.” Yael grimaced and hugged herself. “There’s no way EG could be hiding in her apartment, right?”

“Only if he locked himself in the refrigerator.” Alex sent her a glance. “I had the same thought so I talked my way inside earlier—and took a good look around.”

“You bought out the entire place for the night?”

Alex shrugged. “I can write it off as a business expense. These people are gonna be hit hard by the news of a murder on their premises. Least I could do.”

Her boss was a softy even though he’d never admit it. “Where’s the kids’ father?”

“He works for an oil company and is currently on a rig in the Gulf.”

Yael grimaced. That was not her idea of fun. “Could he be our guy?”

Alex shook his head. He’d obviously checked him out already. “Find anything on the surveillance tapes?”