Shed spent the morning talking to Windhams colleagues. No one liked to speak ill of the dead, but everyone seemed to truly love Lexa. Well, almost everyone. Danielle had detected a few sour notes here and there from a few colleagues. Probably what Stark had said. They were jealous of the position Lexa had risen to, but that was hardly a motive for murder. Besides, what did it have to do with Michelle Schultz? Shed been a lab tech. A good job, but hardly one that inspired the kind of jealousy that would lead someone to murder.

She hadnt gotten much else useful from her morning at the hospital. Well, except for her conversation with Morgan Stark. That little detail about the scrapes on Lexas knees was more than interesting. Shed have to check the crime scene notes on Michelles file to see if there was anything similar. She sighed. What else might that man notice that would get past other people? Danielle was sure he could be key in wrapping up the investigation. It frustrated the hell out of her that hed refused to get on board.

Danielle opened the door of the car and got out. Squaring her shoulders, she made her way up the flagstone sidewalk to the front door and rang the doorbell. Talking to bereaved families wasnt her favorite part of the job. At least she hadnt had to make the death notice. Those were brutal.

It had been bad enough to tell Morgan that Lexa hadnt made it. The anguish on his face had made her own heart clench. Then shed watched as he pulled himself together and made an action plan. It was an impressive combination of emotional and intellectual intelligence. That was something that couldnt be taught. People had it or they didnt. Shed seen how it worked out in the field. Having someone like that on the team could mean the difference between breaking a case and having it be one of those that haunted you as you tried to fall asleep at night.

Damn. She really wished he hadnt rejected her idea of him consulting on the case so quickly. She slipped her sunglasses off and tucked them in the pocket of her trench coat.

Through the narrow windows on either side of the door, she saw a middle-aged white woman coming toward her. She was a big woman, tall and blonde and busty. Shed probably been a brickhouse when she was young, but shed gone soft around the middle as she aged. The woman opened the door a crack. Yes?

Danielle flashed her badge. Mrs. Windham, Im Special Agent Danielle Hernandez with the FBI. I was hoping we could talk about your daughter.

The womans face crumpled. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue and nodded, opening the door wider to allow Danielle in. Sorry, she whispered.