Chapter 2 #3
A wave of doubt hit hard. Maybe they should find a rental property, but it was getting late, and he doubted anyone would respond at this hour. With a grimace, he decided they just had to survive the night. Tomorrow, they could make other arrangements.
The hotel suite was nicer than he’d anticipated. He handed Evie’s suitcase over, and she walked into the bedroom to the right. Bruno followed her inside.
She emerged a few minutes later. “This is nice, thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” He had tossed his duffel into the other room and watched now as she unpacked Bruno’s dog dishes and food. “Let me know when you have to take him outside, I’d like to go with you.”
“Is that necessary?” Her brow furrowed. “I thought we were safe here.”
“We are,” he hastened to reassure her. “I just want to be extra careful.”
“Okay, let’s do that now then.” She smiled down at Bruno. “Do you have to go outside?”
Bruno trotted to the hotel room door, staring up at her intently.
“He’s really well trained,” Cam said as they went back outside. “How did you do that?”
“It’s him more than me.” She shrugged. “I rescued him as a five-month-old puppy. Not sure if the person who had him prior had done any training or if he’s just that smart.”
The dog was smart, no doubt about that. He’d been impressed at how the dog had sat near the same pricker bush where he’d spotted the fleece. Cam stood back, resting his hand on the butt of his weapon as Evie led the way to the grassy area beyond the parking lot.
Bruno did his thing. When finished, he escorted them back inside. “Did you name him after the singer?”
“What?” Evie looked confused, then shook her head. “No. My grandfather on my mother’s side. His name was Bruno.”
He didn’t remember her mentioning her grandfather back when they were young. Granted, they hadn’t become good friends until they’d worked together as lifeguards the summer of their junior year. As he’d been seeing Skye, his relationship with Evie had been causal friendship.
They were barely settled in the hotel room when his phone rang. Pulling the device from his pocket, he frowned when he saw a local number. His gut tightened with dread as he answered. “Hello?”
“Is this Cameron Walker?” a deep voice asked.
“Yes. Who is this?” He felt sure he already knew.
“Detective Rueger. You remember me, don’t you?”
He turned, his gaze clashing with Evie’s. The call he’d dreaded had finally come through. “Yes, I remember you, Detective Rueger. Although I’m surprised you’re still with the Grand Haven Police Department after all this time.”
“I have a couple years yet before I retire.” The detective’s tone was dry. “Where are you staying? I’d like to talk to you. From what I gather, you’re with Evie Tobin, correct?”
“Yes, but we’ll come to you.” He wasn’t about to reveal their location. “What’s this about?”
“I’ll fill you in when you get here. The police department lobby is closed, you’ll have to buzz to get in,” Rueger explained. “See you soon, then.”
“Yeah. Soon.” He lowered the phone, feeling dazed.
“Rueger wants us to come in now?” Evie asked incredulously. “It’s nine thirty.”
“Yeah, well, maybe it took them that long to make a positive ID.” He raked his hand through his hair. “Let’s go, but bring Bruno too. I want to see how he reacts at the police station.”
Evie gaped at him. “You don’t suspect Rueger?”
“I don’t suspect anyone in particular, but the guy has been on the police force all this time.” He stepped to the door. “Let’s go in your car, if that’s okay. I don’t want to take the time to put the rag top on.”
“Must be fun to drive without it,” Evie said, following him back out to the parking lot. Bruno trotted between them.
“It is, but I wouldn’t want to risk Bruno falling out.” He forced a smile, despite the thick cloak of dread weighing him down. The main reason he’d asked Evie to drive was because he was afraid Rueger planned to arrest him on the spot.
Keeping his thoughts to himself, he slid into the passenger seat. Five minutes later, Evie pulled into the parking lot outside the Grand Haven police station. The building looked the same. A bit smaller than he remembered, but otherwise it remained unchanged.
He waited for Evie to let Bruno out of the crate area, then walked up to the door. The buzzer was on the right. He pressed it. The door instantly unlocked. Glancing up, he saw the camera and knew Detective Rueger was watching.
Rueger approached as they went through the second set of glass doors. “Cameron, Evie.” He gestured to the open door leading into an interrogation room. “Have a seat.”
Cam waited for Evie to go in first, then followed. He sat beside her, then met the detective’s gaze. “You found Skye Gray, didn’t you?”
“Yes, we have confirmed via a dental match that the skeleton remains Evie Tobin found are that of Skye Gray.” Rueger stared at him. “It’s time to revisit the events that led to Skye’s disappearance fourteen years ago.”
Cam swallowed hard, not looking at Evie. The detective’s grim gaze was easy to read. Rueger now believed Cameron had killed his girlfriend after all.
And Cam was very much afraid he would spend the rest of his life in jail now that Bruno had unearthed Skye’s grave.