I leaned in and asked in a low voice, “So why the yellow tape?”
“Gunshots were reported.”
“Shit.”
“Unless you’re family, you need to back it up. Nobody is going inside.”
“But my friend—is she okay?” Unknown Texter squeezed the hell out of my bicep.
“No, ma’am.” The officer cut his gaze at me. “It’s a crime scene.”
I could read between the lines. Her friend was dead.
My day just imploded.
“How can we be sure it’s her friend Lisa? Maybe it was someone else inside.” It was possible. No sense in putting this mom through hell if Lisa wasn’t dead.
“We identified the victim as Lisa Stanton from Las Vegas.”
The woman buried her face in my arm. “Oh my God, it’s her.”
“Thank you, officer. Come on, darlin’.” I tugged her away. At the passenger door, I patted her back as she cried.
“I can’t believe she’s dead,” she whimpered. “I just spoke to her not even five hours ago.”
“Stuff happens, you know. Nothing we can do about it.”
“What will Sadie and I do now? I’m the worst friend to be worrying about my situation when Lisa is dead.”
“You don’t have to figure it out right this second.”
She cried some more into my chest, fisting the hem of my shirt. “Yes, I do. Lisa was my only connection here. I have no one else.”
“You got me.” Crap. The words flew out unbidden.
She reared back in surprise. Mascara ran down her pretty face. “You don’t know me. Why would you help us?”
“Because I’m not a jerk. You and your daughter need help. It’s the right thing to do. Now, will you tell me your name?” It was probably a dick move to ask when she was clearly vulnerable, but I needed to know it.
She sniffled. “Jaynee.”
“Okay, Jaynee. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I assume you flew in from Las Vegas?”
She nodded and wiped under her eyes.
“I can help get you back home.”
“No!” Fear sparked in her eyes. “I can’t go back there.”