He raised a brow at her and she burst into laughter.
His sister joined her and soon, his mother was laughing so hard she had tears streaming down her face.
Ciela looked at all of them like they’d lost their collective minds and in a way they had.
He normally had an issue with his mom breaking out stories to tell them to others, but this?
This he didn’t mind.
They’d just finisheddessert when Duval got a call from West.
He asked if he could stop over and give them an update in the case.
For a moment Duval hesitated.
They’d had a wonderful day with Noelle and her family and he wasn’t eager to talk about the woman whose body had been found on the property, but he knew how much it was worrying his mother.
And really, the likelihood of West just ‘being close’ wasn’t likely.
He was couching his visit as a casual thing, but there was more to it.
“Sure. Come on over. We’re almost done with dinner, but we can make you a plate.”
“No thanks,” he cleared his throat, “I’ve already eat with Tracy and the baby. This is just a quick visit.”
Duval nodded, and spoke into the phone. “We’re around back, the outside lights are on and-”
“I found my way easily”
Duval turned to see West walking around the house with a large envelope in one hand. West ended the call on his phone with the other.
He looked over at Finola and Patricia. “I’m sorry, ladies.”
Finola waved at him. “No worries, West. You’re always welcome.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Katie got up from her place on the picnic bench and reached for Ciela.
Noelle’s little girl went easily into Katie’s arms putting her head down on Katie’s shoulder.
Katie looked at Noelle with a soft smile. “I’ll put her down in my room. She can stay here as long as you need.”
Noelle smiled at his sister and whispered her thanks.
As soon as the screen door closed behind her, West approached the table.
He greeted everyone in turned and opened the clasp on the envelope. “We’ve had a hit on the image we put into the media.”
Duval’s eyes widened at that. “Already?”
West nodded and pulled out the thin stack of papers.
Duval saw his mother reach for the picture on the top of the stack. “Can I show this to Patricia?”
West agreed. “It’s public now.”
His mother handed the drawing to Patricia and she studied it with a slight frown on her face.