the top of his mug. “We’ve got Tennyson on our side.”
Ronan loved how much faith people had in Tennyson, but he could only do so much. “Skye didn’t make contact with him this afternoon.”
“Shit, I wondered about that. He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t want to pry.”
“Ten brought up a good point when we talked about it. He said maybe Skye wasn’t there because someone in the house killed her.” After all the pain this family had been through, Ronan knew it could be the end of them if one of the siblings killed Skye.
Jude was silent for a few seconds. “It’s possible. Both parents and the older siblings all had cars. Skye was a little thing. Either of them could have taken her in a fight.”
Ronan hated the thought, but Jude was right. “Everyone’s a suspect. That’s how we have to treat this case, only with a softer touch.”
“Agreed. Where the hell do we go now that we’ve spoken to the parents?”
“I’m hoping Ten will have a new direction or two to take this investigation once he’s finished reading the diary and going through the pictures.” It was all they had at the moment. The three friends would be the best people to interview, but might not remember as much with the crime happening so long ago.
“I got a look at them in the car. Same three girls with Skye in all of them. Kind of like Wolf with Aurora and Everly.” Jude’s lips quirked into a quick smile.
“Muriel told Ten that those four girls had been the best of friends since kindergarten.” Ronan wasn’t friendly with anyone he knew from his twelve years in school but knew that wasn’t always the case, especially with women.
“I want to speak with them, no matter what Ten reads in the diary.” Jude took a sip from his mug, only to discover it was empty.
“I agree completely.” Ronan drained his cup. “Want another? I know there’s something on your mind.”
Jude nodded and held his cup out to Ronan.
Ronan took his time making the next cup, so Jude would have a minute to get his thoughts together. He even walked back to the table more slowly. “So, what’s up?”
“Cope has the same worries Ten does about me going into business with you and Fitz.” Jude wrapped his hands around the hot mug and breathed deeply.
“We all have small kids at home, but there are also going to be nights when we need to be out on stakeouts or we’re simply following the evidence.” Ronan had a feeling this might be an issue for the new father.
“If I had a nickel for every late-night stakeout I’ve worked, I’d be a millionaire.” Jude shrugged. “There’s no way around those circumstances, but how do we do this in a way that won’t land us all in divorce court?”
Ronan chuckled. He’d been trying to figure out the same thing. “Right now, we don’t even know if we have a viable business.”
“Yeah, but after your interview today, people know our unnamed agency is going to be open for business. If we solve the Washington case, then we’re going to have more cases than we can count.”
Jude wasn’t wrong. “We’re going to have to pick and choose cases the same way you and Cope have done with your haunting investigations.”
Running a hand through his hair, Jude sighed, again. “We’re still going to be working those cases, so whatever I do with the two of you will be in addition to what I’m doing with Cope.”
Ronan knew what was bothering Jude. “There’s going to be plenty of time to spend with our families. It helps that we’re all so close and in the same boat with being newly married and new parents.”
“I want to do this work, Ronan. I want to solve Skye’s murder. I want her parents to sleep again.” Jude shook his head. “It’s been three and a half decades, and her parents look like they haven’t had a good night’s sleep since 1985.”
“I’m right there with you.” Ronan took a sip from his tea. “I’ve been home full-time with Everly for eighteen months. I didn’t notice how much my opinion on cases had changed in that time. So much of my work was anger driven. I needed to get out there and catch the dirtbag killer or kidnapper. Now, I have a softer approach.”
“Bullshit!” Jude challenged. “I don’t believe that for a second. This case is ice-cold at the moment, but the minute we get a