Chapter 4 #2
He planted his feet on the ground, bracing himself.
He’d only ever told this once before. To Kenna.
“Crime was a way of life for my family. Tradition. My father and uncles were career con men. My oldest brother fit right in.” He shook his head, still unable to meet her gaze.
“By fifteen, I’d seen more deals go down than most detectives see in their whole careers.
I wanted out. On my eighteenth birthday, I ran. ”
He glanced at her, expecting to see disgust.
There was none. Only surprise.
“I cut contact,” he continued. “Learned how to survive on the edges of the system. Eventually earned my degree.”
She nodded, thoughtful. “That explains why you tend to go rogue. Follow your gut instead of orders.”
“Sharp eye. Nose for lies. Mistrust,” he said. “Skills you don’t lose once you learn them.”
He was certain he should have changed by now, but how could he? No matter how far he got, the past always had a way of following him.
“Believe it or not,” she said softly, “I understand more than you think.”
He managed a wry smile. “You have a family full of felons, too?”
“No. Just a father who bailed when I was one. And a mother who supported herself as an exotic dancer.” She grimaced. “When I was three, I was taken into foster care. Eventually my mom relinquished her rights to me, and I was adopted. I have great parents now.”
So that was it. An explanation for the walls she’d built around her emotions. “Anything I haven’t asked that I should know?”
Was there? He thought for a moment. “Yeah, I should tell you about Jude. You know he’s a former FBI agent, but you might not know he was a profiler.
He doesn’t talk about it with anyone, but any theory he offers on an investigation comes from that profiler background, and we should pay attention to it. ”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Sounds like you’re skeptical of profiling.”
“Not skeptical. I’ve never worked with a profiler, so wary.”
“Jude was one of the best.”
She tilted her head. “Why did he leave then?”
“That’s his story to tell, but it has nothing to do with not doing the job right, so his skills can help with this investigation.”
“Then I’m glad to have him on board.”
As much as Gabe wanted to disagree with Jude about his first profile of their killer, Gabe was glad to have him, too. “That’s all I have for now, but I doubt I’ll get any sleep and my mind will keep looking for a possible motive. If something comes to me, I’ll tell you when we meet at the beach.”
Her mouth tightened, as if she dreaded the thought. Or maybe she dreaded watching divers search a lake for a missing child.
Heaven knows, he was dreading it far more than anything he’d ever faced.
From the hilltop above Lost Lake, El stared at the water, silent at dawn, the kind of silence that swallowed sound and secrets. Maybe not for long. Divers would arrive soon, and they might reveal the most horrific secret of all.
She shuddered, but not from the cold. Lucy had been missing for twelve hours now, and they hadn’t made any real progress.
Sure, they knew approximately when Kenna was murdered, giving them a timeframe, but they had no idea if Lucy actually was with her mother.
But she had to be the reason for the car seat, so where was she?
You must answer that soon.
Statistics told her so. Seventy-five percent of all abducted and then murdered children were killed within the first three hours.
They’d passed that milestone before they even knew she was gone.
At the three to twenty-four hour mark—where they fell right now—a solid chance of finding them alive still existed, but they needed to ramp up their urgency, because hitting twenty-four hours?
No. No. No way she would go there before it was a problem. She’d just focus and do everything within her power to bring sweet Lucy home alive.
Starting with upping searchers, bringing in the dogs, additional door-to-door canvassing, along with evidence retrieval and processing. All scheduled by eight o’clock this morning. Not to mention, hunting for a boat potentially used to transport Kenna and Lucy from their van to the beach.
Vehicle tires crunched over gravel behind her. Had to be the dive team. Searchers from other jurisdictions and the K-9 team weren’t due for thirty minutes. Plus, Sierra Rice from the Veritas Center forensic unit wouldn’t arrive until eight.
Dread settled in El’s gut as she turned.
Oh. Oh!
Not who she expected this early. Not at all.
All six members of the Lost Lake Locators team climbed from black SUVs. Led by Gabe, they approached with grim purpose as if they were in slow motion in a movie. If only that were true, she’d have time to prepare herself for their arrival, but all too soon they were standing in front of her.
All her fault for being caught off guard. They’d said they were coming at daylight, which it almost was, and they weren’t the kind of people to stand around and wait for the day to get away from them.
“We’re here to help with the search,” Gabe said.
“You should’ve called first.” She held his firm gaze and tried not to sound irritated when they knew better than to be there.
“I could’ve saved you the trip. Nothing has changed.
If you came to join in on the immediate area search and not the same place you searched last night, I can’t let you do that.
Not with your personal connection to the investigation. ”
“So what if we know Kenna and Lucy? Doesn’t compromise our search abilities.”
“Agreed, but until we have official details about Kenna’s death, I can’t rule any of you out as suspects.”
Hayden settled his hands on his waist. “You’re not seriously suggesting we had anything to do with Kenna’s murder and Lucy’s disappearance.”
“It’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” El pulled her shoulders back. “I’m not saying I believe it, but until I prove otherwise, I have to follow protocol. Besides, if you find evidence, defense attorneys will question whether you planted it.”
“What?” Gabe’s voice shot up. “You know we’d never—”
“I know that, but juries wouldn’t. They don’t know your ethics would stop you from tampering with evidence.”
Gabe broke eye contact and paced like a caged tiger. He stopped in front of her again and plunged a hand into his hair. “I’m the one with the real connection to Kenna. What if I stay here and the others search?”
“What do you think?” she asked.
Jude moved forward, resting a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “We could be accused of having our teammate’s back and planting evidence for him.”
“Fine,” Nolan said. “We might not be able to access the cordoned off area, but you can’t stop us from taking a better look where we searched last night. We can also use a drone to expand our search area.”
She nodded, but before she could say anything, Gabe flashed his focus back to her. “That’s not enough. I want to do more.”
“Again, I’m sorry.” She felt like a broken record.
“Come on, Gabe,” Abby said. “It’s better than walking away to do nothing while we wait for others to complete their work.”
“I can’t tell you what to do outside our perimeter, but I caution you. The same issue about planted evidence could arise. If you all do decide to search again,” she paused to lock her gaze on Gabe, “it might be better if you don’t join the team.”
The storm brewing in his body erupted. His breath came in quick bursts, eyes shifting from dark and stormy to helplessly lost. He opened his mouth, then closed it.
“I’m sorry, Gabe,” she said. “I wish things were different, but we have to solidify your alibi first.”
“I told you where I was.”
“And I believe you, but you were alone in your vehicle and no one can corroborate your alibi.”
“I was on the phone with my team.”
Hayden moved closer to her. “You need to get the GPS data for his phone for Kenna’s time of death. That’ll prove his phone wasn’t here. Since he was talking to us most of the time, we can confirm he was with it.”
She was way ahead of them. “I’ve already requested phone records, but providers are notoriously slow responding.”
“Then I’ll get Mina to expedite it,” Nolan said. “Or are you threatened by me going to your supervisor?”
“Not as long as I know about it.”
“Fair enough.” Nolan pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her right now.”
He stepped away just as a dive team vehicle pulled into the lot.
“It’s about to get busy,” El said, letting her gaze drift over the team members. “I suggest you leave before that happens.”
Gabe looked at his teammates. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait here until you’re done.”
Drat! Not what she wanted him to do. At least he wasn’t compromising her crime scene, but he’d be front and center if divers found something. If they pulled Lucy’s tiny body from the lake, she’d be at the beach and not by his side. She didn’t want that for him. Didn’t want it at all.
“I wouldn’t recommend staying. The search could take hours.” She was thinking of him, though guilt lingered for trying to get him to leave.
“I’ll stay with Gabe,” Jude said.
Better than Gabe being alone, though she would’ve chosen Abby or Reece for the job. They both had stronger interpersonal skills. Jude could border on being a smart aleck, but from what his teammates said, he had a deeper, more sensitive side she’d never seen.
“Thanks, man,” Gabe said. “But your time would be better spent searching.”
Jude planted his feet. “Feels like I should stay.”
“I think he should stay, too,” Abby said. “He’s your backup. You might need his help.”
Gabe watched her carefully, perhaps deciding if Jude was staying because of his role or because he thought something terrible was about to happen and Gabe would need him.
Gabe’s focus drifted to the van where the diver had flung open the back door and was unloading equipment.
He took a sharp breath. “Fine. Hang back with me.”
The diver hefted up his oxygen tank and fins and started across the lot. He gave Gabe’s departing team a curious look, but continued ahead until he stopped in front of El. “Lead diver, Vance Porter.”
“Detective Elaina Lyons.” She shook hands with him. “Thanks for coming.”
He released her hand and peered over the lake. “We put our boat in at the nearby access ramp. My partner will be here soon, and we’ll get started.”
She nodded, trying to control emotions sitting right on the surface like a cyst waiting to erupt.
Please, please. Please don’t let them find little Lucy in the water.
Gabe’s mind swirled with the activity buzzing around the crime scene. The dive boat motored up to the dock, and divers were shimmying into their wetsuits. Multiple vehicles, carrying search personnel from nearby jurisdictions, rolled into the lot behind him.
A sturdy-looking handler with two dogs, a German shepherd named Scout and a Labrador retriever called Diesel, met El and Ulrich near the water. Scout was on a leash, patiently waiting for his assignment but Diesel was hooked to a metal stake as if he was a backup dog.
Everyone shared somber expressions. Somber like a funeral, and Gabe didn’t like it. Sure, they shouldn’t be joking and laughing, but their attitudes said they’d already reached a conclusion.
They didn’t expect to find Lucy alive.
Jude dropped his hand from shading his eyes as he stared at the water. “Looks like El’s doing a great job organizing everything.”
Gabe nodded. “I’m impressed. Even keeping me from participating is the right thing to do.” She might not have let him help, but he had to give her credit for successfully coordinating a major investigation.
“You think anything more of my theory I tossed out?”
“Unfortunately, yes. Finding indications of a boat at the ravine suggests premeditation, and Lucy didn’t just wander off, but the killer took her.”
“Kenna’s voicemail said she was scared. Say this was the guy she was afraid of. Why would she meet him when she had Lucy with her?”
Gabe couldn’t imagine the pressure she must’ve been under to bring Lucy to such a meeting. “She must not have thought he would harm her, but obviously, she was wrong. It cost her life and maybe Lucy’s too.”
“So that clock’s ticking down even more on you, then.”
“Yeah, standing here while everything’s going on around me is infuriating. If El doesn’t give me an opportunity to get involved soon, I’ll find a way.” Gabe’s focus zoned in on Ulrich.
He spoke to the canine handler, who turned his attention to the large German shepherd. The guy gave a sharp nod and opened the evidence bag containing Lucy’s sweatshirt to hold it to Scout’s nose.
“Let’s hope we get results soon,” Gabe said.
Scout perked up, his whole body vibrating as he danced in place.
“Search!” The handler freed the dog from his leash.
Scout transformed from obedient partner to driven hunter, every sense locked onto his task.
Nose to the ground, he moved with purpose and each step was silent but charged with energy.
His ears swiveled to catch the faintest sound, nose working in quick, sharp sniffs.
When he picked up a trace, his body changed.
Muscles tightened, tail stiffened into a steady line.
He surged ahead, weaving in a focused pattern as he followed an invisible trail to the woods on the beach’s south side. At the dirt path entrance, he barked.
Once. Twice. Sharp and urgent.
He glanced back at his handler, who’d followed him.
“Looks like he found something,” Jude said.
Not taking his eyes off the dog, Gabe nodded. Scout’s tail wagged in severe alert movements as his body quivered with restrained excitement.
The handler squatted down, and Ulrich crouched beside him. Together they pawed through fallen pine needles with gloved hands.
Ulrich came up holding something sparkly. El carefully made her way across the sand, looking as if she was avoiding stepping in other footprints that would be cast by Sierra.
Ulrich said something to her and then held out the object. She took it in her gloved hand and stared.
Gabe held his breath.
She stilled, then slowly looked up at him, eyes narrow and tortured.
His heart stuttered.
“That could only mean one thing,” he said. “They found something belonging to Lucy. You could be right and someone took her. Maybe she struggled and it fell off as they walked away. This could either confirm that or confirm she wandered away, but at least we won’t find her in the water.”
“Could be,” Jude said, sounding like he didn’t believe the last two options were probable.
Gabe still wasn’t ready to admit that someone had taken Lucy, because if they had, she could be in terrible danger right now, and he had no way of finding her.
His sweet little princess in the hands of some crazed abductor.
Frightened. Terrified. Alone.
And not only couldn’t he find her, here he stood, doing nothing to save her.