Cora:
Doesn’t matter.Weknow you, and the answer is no.
Ace:
The last time you asked a question it was to see if you thoughtMomandAuntiewould be mad if you bought a peacock for the farm.
Gale:
Peacocks are underrated as pets
Iris:
The answer is still no.
Gale:
I was actually going to see if you all wanted to get together for a girls’ thing, but okay, guess the answer is no.
Cora:
Bullshit.We’vebeen trying to get you to do a girls trip for years, and you never want to.
Hazel:
Where did you have in mind?
Iris:
I just moved toVegas.Youcould all come here!
The last line had me pausing.
“Your sister lives inVegas?”
“Yeah, she just moved there a few months ago for her new job,”Acereplied, though it was not the answerIwanted to hear. “Shefinally got her dream position at theNationalWeatherServiceoffice there, butIhaven’t been able to visit her yet.”
Oh shit.Mystomach sank asIrealized we now had a new complication to add to the mix.
“DoesSaraknow this?”Iasked her, thoughIwas guessing she didn’t.
“Umm,I’mnot sure.Usually, we just talk about cases and work.Idon’t really talk much about personal things.Why?” she asked at the end, likely picking up on my tension as she started to go alert.
“Sara,”Icalled out, and she popped her head up and turned to acknowledge me.
“Did you knowAce’ssister,Iris, just moved toVegasa few months ago and is now working there at theWeatherService?”Isaid nothing more becauseIsawSara’seyes and knew she’d realized the same thingIdid.AxelandVincelikely did too, sinceIheardVince’scurse from beside me.
“What amImissing here?”Aceasked, loud enough for all of us to hear.
“Is her last nameO’Haralike yours?”Saraasked.
“Yes, she…”Acebegan to answer before stopping as realization set in.
“Then, while it’s a long shot, it’s possible thePaganoFamilycould make the connection,”Sarapointed out.
“ThePaganoswere known for using family members as leverage to get what they wanted,”IinformedAce.
“Thankfully,O’Harais a common enough last name and you look nothing like your sisters, but let me make some calls,”Saraadded. “Bareminimum,I’llget someone to put eyes and ears on her until we can clear any threat.”
