12
Rowan and Thor rode with Evan to interview Zack at the Kerr ranch.
She listened as Evan talked about a dozen investigation elements that still needed to be addressed. The combined investigations involving Rod and Sophia McLeod—and the shooting at the auto body shop—had dozens of moving parts. Rowan could tell Evan was struggling to keep all the balls in the air. He looked very tired, and his eyes were bloodshot.
He gives it his all.
She loved that about him. He had a big heart and a strong sense of duty, and he cared deeply about victims—all victims. He took his job seriously and sometimes believed he was the only person who could find justice for a victim. He didn’t like to let people down.
And this case was personal. Doubly personal since he was searching for answers about both Rod and Sophia. Two people close to his heart.
Then there was Zack. Evan had told her he didn’t want Zack to wait years to find out what had happened to his mother, as Evan had had to wait when his sister vanished. He was determined to not put the boy through that suffering. Rowan studied his profile. The stubborn set to Evan’s mouth stated his mission: bring the boy’s mother home.
That was priority number one. Find Sophia before she ended up like Rod.
Yesterday Rowan had been at Evan’s sister’s ranch to get Zack settled, and Bridget had asked a question about a rescue dog’s odd skin condition. After looking the dog over, Rowan had suggested a different food and promised to bring a bag the next day. The dog food bag sat on the back seat next to Thor, who had sniffed it several times and then turned pleading eyes to Rowan.
/snacks/
“Not now.”
/snacks/
“That’s not for you.”
Thor lay down on the seat and blew out his breath in a huff, accepting her statement but making it clear he wasn’t happy about it.
“I haven’t been out here in a while,” said Evan as they finally came in sight of the Kerr ranch. The property was hidden away, several miles from any main roads. Bridget and Victor Kerr had been preppers for a long time and valued their privacy away from the world.
It was a peaceful place, and Rowan always relaxed when she visited. She hoped Evan would feel the rural farm’s effects. He needed a few moments of serenity before he attended Rod’s autopsy today. She’d weakly suggested one of the other detectives go instead. Evan hadn’t said anything; he’d just looked at her.
I knew better.
They parked near the house. Rowan grabbed the sack of dog food out of the back seat, and Thor leaped out. Bridget came out of the house holding the hand of Molly, her two-year-old. She hugged Evan and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Evan hoisted Molly into the air, making her squeal with joy, and Bridget took the dog food from Rowan. “Thank you so much. I hope this makes Rex feel better.”
“Me too,” said Rowan. “Where is everyone?” she asked as she scanned the outbuildings. The Kerrs had added heated dog kennels, a cat and kitten house, and another barn since they decided to start an animal rescue the previous summer. It went against a tenet of prepping to have so many animals that didn’t earn their keep, but the Kerrs had decided animal rescue was their new passion. An inheritance from Victor Kerr’s grandfather had made it possible. The growing number of animals required many vet visits since twelve-year-old Charlotte was determined to take in the injured and handicapped animals that other people were reluctant to help.
“Zack is with Charlotte in the new barn, and Theodore and his dad went into town.”
“Has the rescue’s name debate been settled yet?” asked Evan as they moved toward the barn.
Bridget grinned. “Charlotte’s choice won. We had to resort to flipping a coin because the kids had argued nonstop about it. I thought they’d come to a compromise, but they proved me wrong. Theodore sulked for three days after the coin flip. He still won’t say the new name.”
“Furry Friends Rescue,” Rowan told Evan. Yesterday Charlotte had eagerly shared the name with her when she dropped off Zack. Charlotte was a girly girl who enthusiastically loved all animals and had been the driving force behind creating the rescue. Her cutesy name selection hadn’t surprised Rowan at all.
“What name did Theodore want?” asked Evan. He carried Molly. Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and her blonde pigtails bounced with every step.
Rowan’s heart skipped a beat as the girl nuzzled her head against Evan’s cheek.
“Kerr Family Rescue,” said Bridget.
“Practical and solid,” said Evan. “Sounds right for him.”
“He says he’s embarrassed by Charlotte’s choice,” Bridget said with a laugh.
Rowan wouldn’t be surprised if embarrassing her brother had factored into Charlotte’s suggestion.
“But he’s designing a logo,” said Bridget. “And he’s created some great options. At least this way he’ll feel he had a part of the identity.” She opened a fence gate, let everyone pass through, firmly latched it behind them, and then looped an additional thick chain around the post. “Mr. Beans may be blind, but we discovered he can open any gate. Luckily he hasn’t figured out the chain. He’s tried his best to gnaw through it, though.”
“Mr. Beans?” asked Evan. Loud braying abruptly came from inside the barn. Thor’s ears turned in that direction.
“He heard you. He’s our newest rescue. A blind donkey,” said Bridget. “Now he’ll expect treats.”
“Treats,” repeated Molly. She squirmed until Evan set her down, and she sprinted to the barn.
“She knows where to find his treats. I swear all the animals would double their weight if Molly had her way with feeding them.”
Evan nodded, and Rowan could tell he was distracted. His brain was overloaded with work, and he was worried about interviewing Zack. He’d told her he was concerned about upsetting him more.
“How is Zack doing?” he asked Bridget.
Her forehead wrinkled. “I heard him crying in bed last night and went to check on him, but he acted as if he hadn’t been. I’ve told him several times he can talk to me about anything, and he says okay, but his gaze is very apprehensive. He ate a good dinner last night and played video games with Theodore. I heard my son tell him how his father had gone missing for several weeks last summer, and that it’d worked out okay.”
If “okay” includes his dad being severely beaten and nearly dying.
Bridget smiled at her brother. “Theodore told Zack you were the best detective in the state and would find his mother.”
Evan’s eyes glistened, and he wiped one. “Shit, that’s a lot of pressure.”
Rowan took his hand and squeezed it. Every time she’d worked with him in the past—before they got together—Evan had always had the gaze of a man with a great burden. When they’d reconnected last summer, she’d immediately noticed the weight was gone. Finding his sister alive after she’d been missing for fifteen years had wiped it away.
But it’d reappeared the day before at the news of Rod’s death.
Rowan wanted it gone.
The group moved into the new barn. It smelled of freshly cut wood, manure, and hay. The barn had fifteen large stalls. Several had back doors that also opened to individual outdoor paddocks. Thor wandered, sticking his nose everywhere, enjoying the myriad smells. Rowan peeked into a stall where a half dozen pygmy goats were delighted to see her. They lifted their front legs against the stall door, nearly climbing on top of each other to get closer. Mr. Beans was in the next stall, gently taking the treats Molly held for him on her flat palm. He lifted his head, ears turning and nostrils flaring in their direction, curious about the visitors. Rowan stopped to scratch and stroke the soft ears.
At the far end of the barn, Zack stood holding a wheelbarrow in front of a stall, and Charlotte threw a scoop of manure into it.
“Zack’s cleaning stalls?” Evan asked his sister in a low voice.
“Why not? We need all the help we can get, and it keeps him busy and his mind off things,” said Bridget. “Although he did look rather surprised when I told him he’d be helping Charlotte with her chores today. I figured she’d be the best of us to keep him distracted.”
Rowan couldn’t argue with her logic. She’d heard Charlotte talking nonstop to Zack since they entered the barn. It was normal for her to give a running commentary on everything she saw or talk about anything that popped into her head.
“Bridget, there’s a goat in Mr. Beans’s stall,” said Rowan as she spotted the smaller animal on the other side of the donkey. The goat stuck his head under Mr. Beans’s neck to peer up at her. He had floppy brown ears and little horns that curved backward.
“It’s okay. That’s Ralph,” said Bridget. “The other donkeys weren’t very fond of Mr. Beans and constantly nipped and kicked at him. When I moved him out of their pasture, Ralph immediately decided the donkey was his best friend and hasn’t left his side since. I don’t think Mr. Beans feels as strongly about Ralph, but he tolerates him.”
“He can’t see,” little Molly informed Rowan in a serious tone, her gaze earnest. “Ralph tells him where to go.”
“I’m glad they’re friends,” Rowan told her, matching her tone and expression.
She’s adorable.
“I’d like to take Zack outside for a few minutes,” said Evan. “Can you run interference with Charlotte?” he asked Bridget.
“Yes. Although she won’t be happy to lose her assistant. She’s enjoyed telling him what to do. Theodore doesn’t put up with that.” Bridget pointed at a door beyond where the two kids worked. “Take him out there. It’ll be quiet.”
Evan headed toward the kids but stopped and looked back at Rowan with a small frown. “Do you mind coming?”
“Not at all,” she answered, surprised. “What for?”
“I want a second pair of eyes and ears.” He grimaced. “And you’ll be a softer presence than me. I’m worried I’ll be too stiff.”
“No, you won’t.” She walked down the wide aisle beside him, Thor at her heels. “He trusts you.”
“Hey, Zack,” said Evan as they reached the stall where the boy was scrubbing out a waterer as Charlotte supervised. “Can I talk with you for a bit?”
Zack had immediately straightened and searched Evan’s eyes, clearly looking for good news. He didn’t see it, and his face fell. “You haven’t found her?”
“Not yet.” Evan motioned the boy out of the stall. “We’ll be back,” he told Charlotte.
For once the young girl was silent. She’d seen Zack’s hopeful expression too.
Evan, Rowan, and Zack stepped outside into the sunshine and found themselves near a small, fenced pasture. Two donkeys lifted their heads, studied the trio, and went back to eating. But a small sheep approached. It stopped at the fence and butted its head against a board. Zack squatted and reached between the rails to scratch its head. Thor sniffed at the sheep and then glanced at Rowan, his gaze eager.
/play/
“Sit,” she told him.
He sat and stared forlornly at the sheep.
Evan leaned against the fence, looking out at the donkeys. “What do you think of the ranch, Zack?”
“It’s nice. I like being around the animals—especially the dogs. There’s a lot to do, though.” He made a face. “And everything poops.” As if on cue, the sheep dropped several tiny balls into a pile. Zack sighed.
“True,” said Evan. “Bridget said you played video games with Theodore.”
Zack’s face lightened. “Yeah. I’m a lot better than he is because he only got his first PlayStation two months ago.”
Evan turned toward Zack. “I want to ask some questions about your mom. That okay? I know they can be uncomfortable, but I need to know everything. You never know when some small detail that doesn’t seem important could turn out to be very relevant later on.”
Zack nodded and stood, looking Evan in the eye.
Good. He’s ready.
“What can you tell me about your mom from the past week or two?” Evan asked. “Was she happier than normal? More sad? Maybe stressed?”
Zack looked back at the sheep and lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. Normal, I guess.”
“Did she ever mention she was worried about money?”
Confusion crossed Zack’s face. “Not exactly. But she always complains about the price of gas and doctor bills. Is that what you mean?”
“That’s a good answer,” said Evan. “This is a hard question for me to ask, but do you know if she was scared of anyone? Maybe had a bad argument? Say with a neighbor or at work?”
“I’ve thought a lot about that,” said Zack. “And I don’t remember anything like that.” His eyes grew wet. “But I doubt she told me everything.”
“That’s her job as a mom,” said Rowan. “Moms want their kids’ lives to be happy. Parents shouldn’t share their adult problems with young kids.”
“That’s true,” agreed Evan. “Do you know if she was concerned about your grandpa recently?”
The boy wrinkled his nose as he thought. “No. She says he eats too much red meat and drinks too much beer, but she says that all the time.”
Rowan watched Zack for any more hints of distress. He’d wiped his eyes and pushed through. She was proud of him.
“Do you know when she saw him last?” asked Evan.
“Last Sunday, probably. We always eat dinner there on Sundays. Sometimes he comes to our house, but we’ve mostly been going there. I don’t know if she saw him since then.”
“I’ve done a few Sunday dinners there,” said Evan. “It’s been a while, though.”
“Yeah, sometimes his other friends or a neighbor is there, but usually it’s just us.”
“What about last Sunday?”
Zack thought. “One of his old police friends was there. I think his name’s Brian? He’s missing two fingers. He always tells a story about how he lost them in a fight with a suspect.”
“Dean O’Brien,” said Evan. “Everyone just calls him O’Brien.” He gave a half smile. “He likes to tell the fight story, but he actually lost the fingers in an accident with a saw.”
Evan met Rowan’s eyes and silently mouthed, “Saw and tequila.”
“Ian was at dinner too,” added Zack.
“I don’t think I know Ian,” said Evan.
“Mom’s boyfriend.”
Rowan blinked.
I didn’t know there was a boyfriend.
According to the shock on Evan’s face, he hadn’t known either.