Phil reached for a kerchief and handed it to Mary. "Aw, hush now, you look fine," he said. He almost instantly regretted it. Here he was, trying to say how pretty she was when she was grief-stricken. His heart was sinking, too. Her description of the shirt matched what had been found at the crime scene.<br/><br/>At least they had learned more about the relationship. Phil believed Michale was innocent and he was pretty sure Sheriff Lorenzo would see it the same way. Then an idea occurred to him.<br/><br/>"I could drive you back to the sheriff's office if you want, we can talk there," he said. "Or even home, and we talk again tomorrow." If she was too upset it really would be better to wait. Being alone with her did appeal, though. He'd square it with James Turnbull.<br/><br/>Then his cell phone rang. It was Lorenzo. The sheriff wasn't using the radio because he didn't want this heard out loud. When he picked up Lorenzo's voice carried a brief, curt message:<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"It's her. We've told next-of-kin." </span><br/><br/>There was a click as he rang off. Lorenzo was giving Phil the freedom to tell Mary.  Phil put down his cell phone, not saying anything. But the expression on his face said it all. He'd have to get her out of here. There was no way she could keep working.