“He watched me, and was always ordering Joanie about, controlling her. She was like his puppet; it was hard to watch.”

Lieutenant Heath took a picture off his desk and showed it to her.

“Is this him?”

Dylan had seen plenty of these types of pictures. Gaunt-looking people with big eyes and pale, pockmarked skin. Hair lank, with empty-eyed stares.

“That’s him.”

The man nodded and scratched something on the paper before him.

“We found his body three days ago in a house that is well known for selling drugs, Miss Trainer.”

“I shouldn’t say I’m happy about that, but I am,” Piper said. “But did Joanie know he was dead?”

“We believe she did, because we found something in the child’s diaper bag, a note addressed to you. I’m sure you will understand that we had to open it.”

Piper managed a jerky nod.

“We believe she took her life deliberately, Miss Trainer.”

“Oh, Joanie.”

Dylan leaned in and wrapped an arm around Piper when she made a noise that sounded like a wounded animal.

“Are you willing to identify Miss Prentice’s body, as she has no next of kin, Miss Trainer?”

“Are you sure there’s no one else?” Dylan spoke for the first time. He’d seen his share of bodies, and didn’t want that memory for Piper, especially not of her friend. It would be a lasting one, and one that would stick with her forever.

“I’m afraid not.”

“I need to do this for her, Dylan.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that.”

“I’ve seen dead bodies, she hasn’t. I’m going with her.”

Lieutenant Heath’s eyes ran over Dylan.

“I’m a profiler with the FBI.”

“No way.” The man sat back in his chair. “Must be a hell of a job, I’ve always thought, and not always in a good way.”

“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” Dylan said.

Chapter 19

They walked into the morgue together, and Joanie’s shrouded body was pulled out for Piper to identify.

“One look, Piper. Just keep it brief then walk away,” Dylan told her.

Her nod was jerky, and she still had his fingers in a viselike grip. They walked forward together and the cover was pulled back. The moan of pain that came from Piper knifed through Dylan.

The woman on the bed was tiny. Soft, mousy brown hair, fine bone structure. Eyes sunken, and Dylan could easily see the ravages drugs had inflicted upon her.

“Oh, Joanie.”

Piper reached out a hand and touched her friend’s hair. She started to move, leaning over, so Dylan lowered the arm he’d wrapped around her so she could place her lips on Joanie’s cheek.

“R-rest now, my sweet friend. I’ll watch over Grace, I promise. I will raise her as my own, Joanie. My family will be hers.”