“Good. I like her, and I feel better than I have in years. If I’m imagining this situation with somebody watching me, she’ll help. Now that we’ve talked about it, I feel like I was just being hypersensitive.” Deidre ruffled her short blond hair. “In fact, I might even go on a date. I mean, actually see a man.”

Laurel coughed. A date? A real date? “That’s fantastic. Who’s the prospect?”

A pretty blush spread from ear to ear across Deidre’s face. “Well, actually, it’s Monty Buckley. We met in the hospital visiting you and Huck after, well, you know.”

After the Snowblood killer had almost murdered them both.

“Oh. He seems like a nice man.” Laurel frowned but kept knitting.

“I know he’s ill, but he’s a good person, and if nothing else, we can be friends.” Deidre sounded more upbeat than she had in a long time. Then she sobered. “I saw your new case featured on the news. Those poor women.”

Yes, the story was now on all of the stations as well as online. Huck’s ex was already giving interviews as the journalist in the know, and he seemed fine with that fact. “One of the victims is the mayor’s sister-in-law, which draws attention.”

Deidre set the hat to the side and reached for a peach-colored ball of yarn to begin a pair of booties. “I think it’s the creepy flowers left on the snow that’s attracting the press.”

“The media does love a ritual aspect to a crime.”

A knock on the front door had them both jumping. Laurel set aside her knitting. “I’ll get it.” As her mother continued with the booties, she strode through the kitchen to the front door and opened it. “Huck.”

“Hi.” He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets in that way he had. Was it to disarm people? To make himself appear as less of a threat? “There’s something wrong with this case.” In the porch light, his eyes gleamed and tired lines spread out from the corners. “I need to work it through.”

Interesting. “All right.” She looked at the long, plowed driveway behind him. The clouds had dispersed, leaving the moon bright and powerful as it glinted off the trees and snow. “Do you mind walking?” It was freezing outside, but walking would help clear her mind. Plus, she didn’t want her mother to be bothered by the facts of the case she didn’t already know.

“I’d prefer it.” His boots were already covered with plenty of snow.