Chapter 53
WALKER
The fluorescent lights of the sheriff's office give way to the biting Wyoming cold as Levi and I step outside through the back door.
Santiago stands outside the employee entrance with both hands shoved into the pockets of his Carhartt jacket. The floodlights wash the color from his face, leaving him looking almost ghostly against the snow.
The second he sees us, he shakes his head. “It’s bad out front.”
He’s right.
We couldn’t go out the front door because that’s where the reporters are, the ones who were covering the grand opening. I’m sure many of them think they just got their career-making story with what happened today.
Abbott sits in a holding cell inside. The ski resort has been evacuated. The crisis should be over.
Instead, it feels like it's only beginning.
Abbott isn’t the Debt Collector, but he isn't innocent either.
The distinction matters.
One man acted out of desperation.
The other meticulously plans.
I feel like I’m back at square one.
Levi leans against the wall next to Santiago, staring off into the trees.
I don’t need to ask to know what he’s thinking.
Abbott has been his vet tech—his friend–for years.
Then the man walks into Silver Pines Resort with a rifle.
He’s lucky the first shot missed Neil or else he’d be dealing with a whole other shit storm.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and part of me wishes I could throw it into the snow and forget it ever existed.
But I can’t.
I answer the call without greeting.
“Walk,” Jolene clips. Her tone is all business.
"We've got another one."
Everything inside me goes still. "Where?"
"Maintenance crew found a body at Silver Pines.”
Thankfully, Santiago’s car is parked here in the back, so we get to bypass all the camera crews. Ridge stays behind at the station with Abbott since Tessa is still at the hospital.
We speed through the streets, racing toward the mountain that looms ahead, its lights still glowing against the night sky. Families should've been laughing inside the hotel tonight. Instead, the parking lot is flooded with red and blue emergency lights.
The grand opening banner still hangs over the entrance.
WELCOME TO SILVER PINES
It almost feels like a cruel joke now.
Tad gives me a rundown as he walks us down the hall, letting me know they put out the fire before it spread beyond the body.
The smell reaches us before the body does.
Gasoline and burned flesh.
Santiago pinches the bridge of his nose as we duck beneath the crime scene tape. "I don't think I'll ever get used to that smell."
I clap him once on the shoulder. "Nothing wrong with that."
He nods.
"Just don't contaminate my crime scene."
Santiago’s face wrinkles up. “No promises.”
The body sits in the chair behind the desk, looking as if he were working. I doubt he expected someone to walk through the door.
The nameplate on the edge of the desk is in pristine condition.
Neil Redford
“Well, there’s no need to wait and figure out who this is,” Levi comments.
I nod. “We need to photograph everything.”
Santiago exits the room and jogs to his truck to get the items we need.
Levi examines the body closer.
“Is there anything in his mouth?” I ask.
Levi forces the jaw open and angles his head to get a better look. “Not that I can see. If the killer stuffed something in there, it’s too far down. Dr. Adler will have to be the one to get it.”
“Maybe the name tag is our only clue,” I theorize.
“More like a flashing neon sign,” Levi comments.
Santiago returns, loaded down with supplies. The shrill ring of his phone cuts through the oppressive silence of Neil's office.
He barely glances at the screen before answering. “Hola, Papí.”
I snag a camera and begin photographing the scene while Levi continues to examine the body.
Behind me, Santiago's boots stop moving. “What?”
Something in his voice makes me lower the camera.
He's staring straight ahead, every muscle in his body rigid. “When did she leave?”
My stomach tightens.
Levi looks up from where he's crouched.
Santiago's complexion drains of color. “She should've been there by now.” He listens for another few seconds before pinching the bridge of his nose. “I'll call you right back.”
The office suddenly feels too small.
“What happened?” I ask.
Santiago lowers the phone slowly. “Blake called Dad about an hour ago.” His voice is strained, almost disbelieving. “She said she was coming over.”
My pulse quickens. “And?”
“He waited for her.” Santiago swallows. “She never showed.”
Levi is already reaching for his own phone before I can say another word. He hits Javier's contact, placing the call on speaker.
The line rings.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
“Hi, you’ve reached Javier Nolasco. Sorry—”
Levi hangs up and calls again.
Same result.
A knot forms in my chest.
Santiago’s skin is now ghostly pale. “Javi always answers.”
I radio Jolene and let her know where we’re going. She assures me that she’ll get the scene handled. I don’t know if that means she’s sending Ridge or something else. But I don’t have time to clarify with her.
I turn toward Santiago. “Call your dad back. Tell him we're on our way.”
Santiago doesn't move. His eyes meet mine. There's fear in them.
Real fear.
“Walker...” Santiago stumbles, unable to find the words.
He doesn't have to.
I already know.
Something is terribly wrong.