Part 73 (2/2)

”Yes.”

”So you found her okay?”

”Yes.” The man didn't elaborate.

”What happened?”

”Just a misunderstanding,” Marshall replied.

Jake was sure there was more to it than that. ”Do you mind if I come in?” he asked.

Marshall shrugged and stepped aside.

”Did you hear about the hostage situation in Mount Airy?” Jake asked, watching the man's face.

Marshall kept his gaze steady. ”Yes.”

”You know anything about that?” Jake asked.

Marshall shrugged again. ”Just what I saw on television.”

”When I was here the other day, I didn't check your wife's ID,” Jake said.

”Is that routine?”

”No. But I'd be remiss if I didn't see some identification.”

Marshall turned toward the back of the house. ”Honey, the detective we met the other day is here. Can you come out here and bring your purse?”

Moments later, Rinna Marshall stepped into the room, a worn leather purse slung over her shoulder.

”He'd like to see your ID,” Marshall said.

The slender dark-haired woman reached into her bag and pulled out a leather wallet that had obviously seen a lot of use. From the card case, she extracted a Maryland driver's license.

Jake looked it over, noting the vital statistics.

Rinna Marshall was twenty-two, five feet six inches tall with green eyes and brown hair. The picture matched her perfectly.

Still, he should take the license out to the car and check it through the motor vehicle administration's computer. But something kept him standing there.

He should...

He forgot what he had been thinking about. He didn't want to ha.s.sle these people.

The woman held out her hand, and he gave back the plastic card.

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