Kenzie quickly walked up to Patrick at the crime scene. A couple were murdered and found in their car.
'What's going on," asked Patrick.
"Looks like two bullets to the chest for each of them," said Van Pelt. "Freshness of the wounds suggests it happened in the last few hours."
"Selby and Jana Vickers," said Teresa. "33 and 31 years old, from here in Rancho Rosa. Sheriff ID'd them from their driver's licenses."
"Who found the bodies," asked Kenzie.
"Couple of teenagers. This place is a local lover's lane. Apparently, thieves know that, too. Sheriff thinks that it's a robbery gone sour."
"Little old to be necking, aren't they," asked Van Pelt.
"There's an age limit on that," asked Patrick.
"Plus, their clothes aren't, you know, disheveled."
"Good point. Oh, there's a little white thing there, sticking out from Jana's dress." Patrick pointed to the dress. "Could you ju– yeah, that's it."
Van Pelt pulled the thing out, revealing a tag. "$800 dress."
"Why would you spend that much on a dress," Kenzie muttered to herself.
"Aha!"
"Is that a useful 'aha' or an irritating 'aha'?" asked Teresa.
"The borrowed dress tells us they were going somewhere fancy and wanted to make an impression. Not usually something they'd go for, or they'd have a later model car. He needed a few pulls on the scotch just to take the edge off because he was nervous about who was gonna be there, which in a small town like this likely means relatives or people from his past," explained Patrick.
"Uh, wedding, maybe? Or birthday party," suggested Van Pelt.
"No gift, which leaves..."
"No guessing games. Ay..." said Teresa.
Patrick turned to Kenzie, who shrugged. Her mind was blank. He turned to the sheriff. "Uh, excuse me, sheriff? What's the name of the local high school?"
🙂
"Everybody dance now."
Kenzie, Patrick, and Teresa walked down a hallway at the local high school. Kenzie looked around, seeing all of the adults talking to their old classmates. She quietly let out a sad sigh.
As they were walking, a man turned to Teresa. "Stephanie? Oh, my god. You look fantastic."
"I'm sorry. I'm not Stephanie," said Teresa.
The man grabbed Teresa's face and kissed her. Kenzie's eyes grew wide in shock as she laughed.
"Whoa. Do that again, and I'll arrest you."
"Sorry, I had to... You've always been the one."
"No way." The men around him laughed.
Kenzie leaned over to Teresa. "Looks like Teresa Lisbon got some moves."
"Don't."
"I'm not the one," said Patrick, raising his hands.
The three of them walked into the thriving reception room. People were dancing. People were talking amongst themselves. Party lights flashed.
"High school," sighed Patrick. "Best years of your life."
"For you, maybe," said Kenzie.
"What do you mean? High school football. The pep rallies. Prom. Homecoming."
YOU ARE READING
I Bet on Losing Dogs - Patrick Jane
Fanfiction"I bet on losing dogs, I know they're losing, and I'll pay for my place by the ring, Where I'll be looking in their eyes when they're down, ...
