Needing to shower and dress, Skye had turned toward the hall leading to the guest bath when Edge’s cell began to ring. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and checked the caller ID.

“It’s Akins,” he said.

Barefoot, Skye padded back to him. She couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but Edge’s jaw looked tight.

“I’d appreciate if you’d keep us posted, Sheriff.” He nodded. “Will do.”

Edge turned to Skye. “They found Sarah’s body. The coroner hasn’t ID’d her yet or specified official cause of death, but Akins said they could tell she’d been badly beaten, and there were signs of strangulation.”

“Oh, God.”

“It’s going to be tough on Callie.”

“Yes, and she’ll be terrified for Lila.”

“We’re going to find her,” Edge said.

Skye prayed it was true. “Callie only knew Sarah by her married name, Rankin, which could very well be fake. Once the coroner ID’s her, we can start looking into her background.”

“Be good if we could talk to some of the other women, but without Akins’s help, it’ll be tough to find them.”

“Zoe’s going to take a look.”

He nodded. “In the meantime, let’s talk to Callie and Mollie again, see if there’s something they might not realize they know.”

“Good idea. I’ll go take a shower.” She started down the hall.

“Want some company?” Edge called after her.

Skye’s insides clenched. “No,” she said and wondered if Edge knew it was a lie.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“READY TO HEAD OVER TO MY PLACE?” SKYE ASKED.

Edge’s gaze ran over her. She looked good—too good—her dark curls loose around her shoulders, her cheeks still flushed from her time in the shower. He felt a familiar stirring in his loins, forced himself to ignore it.

“I thought about calling,” she said. “But I’d rather keep it casual. No stress, just a few easy questions.”

“Good idea.”

They walked the few blocks to Skye’s apartment building, and Edge pulled open the big glass front door. As they crossed the lobby, he looked up to see Trace walking toward them.

“I came over to check on Molly,” he said, “but she isn’t here. Callie says she packed her things and left early this morning.”

“Oh, no,” Skye said.

“I hope she knows what she’s doing,” Edge said.

“She’s afraid of her ex,” Trace needlessly explained, since they all knew exactly why Molly had run.

“Did she tell Callie where she was going?” Skye asked.

“She has friends somewhere in the Midwest,” Trace said. “Apparently, that’s all she was willing to say.”

Edge set a hand at Skye’s waist. “Let’s go on up, see if there’s anything else Callie can tell us.”