Read Now That She's Gone for Free Online Page B

said.
    Birdy slid her reading glasses down the bridge of her nose. Her silver earrings dangled.
    â€œI figured. I take it that you don’t want to.”
    â€œNo. I don’t. There isn’t time for it.”
    â€œHave you heard from Steven?” Birdy asked, taking the conversation where she thought Kendall needed it to go.
    â€œNot since last night. It’s not about that, Birdy. It’s about taking advantage of people who don’t know they are being taken advantage of.”
    â€œKaty’s parents? Her sister?”
    â€œRight. Them.”
    â€œI know the Fraziers, Kendall. They have been stuck in limbo for years. This might help them in some small way.”
    Kendall didn’t know Birdy knew Roger and Brit, and she asked about it.
    â€œThey go to my church. I can’t say that I’m close with them, but we’ve talked about Katy a few times. They aren’t any different than other parents whose kids have gone missing. Sad. Heartbroken. Hopeful.”
    â€œNo one knows what happened to Katy. I understand that. But, Birdy, Pandora and that cretin of a cop are never going to do anything more than exploit their grief for the cameras.”
    Birdy nodded. “Maybe,” she said. “Maybe not.”
    â€œYou don’t believe in that crap.”
    Birdy didn’t answer.
    â€œTell me you don’t believe in that crap, Birdy.”
    Birdy paused, took off her glasses, and folded them into a black leather case. “I’m Native American, born on a reservation, and raised to believe that the spirit lives in all of us, in all things. Do I know for sure that Pandora can find out something the county missed? No. Is she probably a fake? Yes. But if there is a slightest shred of hope for a family who can barely hang on, I’m willing to take the chance.”
    â€œI can’t believe you’re saying this,” Kendall said.
    Birdy rolled her shoulder a little. She’d played tennis with Elan the week before and it was still bothering her. “Chalk it up to one of our cultural differences. It’s part of who I am. It’s the reason I sometimes sing quietly to the people who end up on my table downstairs. It’s why I still pray for them. It’s why I promise them that I’ll do all I can to find out what happened.”
    Kendall knew Birdy did all of that. That didn’t bother her at all. Birdy was sincere. It wasn’t trumped up for the cameras.
    â€œI know all of that,” Kendall finally said. “I just don’t believe Pandora is going to do anything good here, and I’m really mad at the sheriff for forcing me to be a part of it.”
    â€œHe picked you for two reasons, Kendall.”
    â€œAnd what might those be?”
    â€œYou won’t make the department look bad—and you weren’t here when the girl went missing.”
    Birdy picked up a folder and handed it Kendall.
    â€œThis is all we have from the labs from the Katy Frazier case. Some blood work was done on samples from the scene. Some hair and fibers recovered. You need to do your homework.”
    Kendall made a face. She wasn’t happy about that at all. She took Birdy’s paperwork and folded it into the slender file she’d printed out from the department’s computer system.
    â€œAny Brenda sightings?” Birdy asked.
    Kendall shook her head. “Nothing.”
    â€œMaybe Pandora will be able to find her too,” Birdy said, offering a wry smile.
    Kendall didn’t return the smile. “Don’t even say that, Birdy. That’s the last thing we need right now.”
    â€œTalk to you tomorrow, Kendall.”
    Kendall started for the door.
    â€œWait,” Birdy called out.
    Kendall turned. “What is it?”
    â€œJust wanted to tell you to break a leg. I’ve always wanted to say that to someone.”
    â€œI hope I do,” Kendall said, this time smiling. “Then I won’t have to do