Chapter 12 #2
“Yeah. I guess you’re right. I’m not sure I can open my arms just like that with Brad. I’ll need to see some evidence that he’s changed before I can welcome him that warmly.”
“I get it. It’s that whole trust thing that we both need to change. Even more difficult because of our time in law enforcement.” She let out a long breath. “But maybe that’s just an excuse. An excuse not to be like Jesus.”
Gabe stared at Lucy’s backpack. “Could be, but I don’t think it is in a missing-child investigation. We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t suspect everyone connected to her. And in this case, that would include my brother. Maybe my whole family.”
In her cubicle, El sat behind her desk and relaxed her shoulders.
She’d been trying to hold them up since before dawn to look like she knew what in the world she was doing.
She’d been surrounded by people all day.
People asking questions. People wanting answers.
People looking to her to find this missing child and a killer loose in their community.
And now, after dropping Gabe off at his vehicle, she was blessedly alone in the detective bullpen. Sure, other areas of the office weren’t closed for the night, but staff in her department had gone home to grab some sleep or were working in the field.
But was it a good thing to be alone? Or would she let difficult memories come back and raise doubts about her abilities?
Bring back the guilt that had barely stayed at bay?
Or would she trust God? Trust He knew what was best for her, and that no matter what happened in this investigation, His will would be done.
“Oh, man. So much easier said than done,” she whispered to the dark and empty place.
She couldn’t waste any more time thinking about what that might mean.
She signed into their department’s system.
Her first task. Check the electronic murder book to see if anyone on the team had logged any developments.
Several calls had come in from the public claiming they’d seen something Friday night, but Ulrich had already investigated and ruled them out.
Also listed were the names and addresses of people deputies had talked to, but nothing indicating a lead.
The only other item noted was the boat cushion belonging to Howard Mason, and she needed to update the log on that.
Took her a couple of hours to record the day’s incidents, but she finally finished and pushed her chair back to slide across the aisle. She entered the cubicle dedicated to their ViCAP terminal. Trying to summon positive thoughts, she entered her password.
The screen unfolded in front of her, and she typed in search parameters, starting with a wide base. She would move to more specific factors if needed. She entered location details, starting with the state of Oregon. Next, she added female strangulation using the same two methods used to kill Kenna.
She sat back while the computer churned, looking for any matches.
The search returned four investigations in the past three years. More than she’d expected to locate. She printed a list, then added restraints, like specifically textured zip ties with a serrated or ribbed inner surface.
A circle churned on the screen as the system thought again, this time returning one investigation from seven years prior. Not in their area but in Bend, a city in central Oregon, more than a six-hour drive from Lost Lake, which made it less likely to be their suspect. But not impossible.
The telltale lobby door squeak sounded and footsteps approached. El swiveled to see Mina headed her way. She was still dressed in uniform minus her cap. Weariness clung to her like a wet blanket. She rested an arm on the corner of the cubicle. “Any luck?”
“Maybe. Four strangulation cases in our state matching some of our criteria and occurring in the past three years. I figured if I went back further than that, it might not be related to our investigation. But if none of these pan out, I can go back further.”
“Did they use zip ties?”
“Not the ones I mentioned, but a Bend investigation, seven years ago, involves unusual zip ties for restraints. Problem is, the murder was so long ago, and it occurred in Bend. I’ll dig into it, but I don’t know how related it’ll turn out to be.”
“But it’s a start.”
El nodded. “I was about to print out the information to review at home tonight.”
Mina’s big brown eyes narrowed. “I appreciate you working all hours of the day, but go home and get at least a couple hours’ sleep. You won’t be any good to others if you don’t take care of yourself.”
El nodded but didn’t commit to anything even though Mina was right.
But how could she sleep when a child was counting on her to bring her home?
They’d passed the critical twenty-four-hour period.
If she didn’t do her job, and they hit forty-eight hours, they would have to begin preparing for worst-case outcomes.
Memories of reaching that timeframe with Victoria swamped her mind. The change in attitude among the investigators and team. The parents. The news media. Sorrow. Disappointment. Gut-wrenching.
El curled her fingers into a tight fist. She wouldn’t let that happen again. She just couldn’t.
Mina pushed off the cubicle. “I’d like to schedule a team update at ten a.m. I’ll contact everyone on the investigation.”
“Could we push it a couple of hours? We should have forensic results from Sierra, and maybe I could get her to come to the meeting to update us.”
“Let’s say noon then. It’s probably better anyway. It’ll let anyone who wants to attend a worship service have time to go. I’ll arrange box lunches for everyone.”
Right, tomorrow was Sunday. El had lost track of days and didn’t want to take time from the search to go to church, but starting the day with God would be the most important thing she could do. She’d make up the time by working all night.
“I’ll text Sierra,” she said. “See if she has time to meet with us. I’d also like Gabe to attend.”
“Sierra giving us results is great, but Gabe attending a department meeting is highly irregular.”
“Nothing regular about this situation. Not when a child is counting on every one of us.” El took a breath, allowing her boss time to think this through. If she said no, El would be forced to remind her of the many ways she’d let the Lost Lake Locators help them in the past.
“If things go south here, my relationship with Nolan will have people calling my actions into question. But you’re right. We need Gabe. He can be there.”
“Great. I’ll tell him. Can Jude attend, too?”
“Fine.” Mina shifted her duty belt. “Home now. Sleep.”
“You should do the same thing.”
“Oh, don’t worry. I just stopped in to check a few things.” She squeezed El’s shoulder. “Don’t let me find you out here when I’m ready to leave.”
El started texting Sierra to avoid making a promise she might not keep. Despite the time of day, Sierra responded promptly.
We’ll have results by then. Glad to join you.
Excellent. We’ll provide lunch.
See you then.
El’s phone rang. Gabe’s name flashed on the screen. He said he would call if the team wanted to meet with her tonight. She answered quickly.
“Any luck with ViCAP?” he asked.
“Maybe.” She explained what she’d located. “I’m printing the files now to review when I get home.”
“Want some help?”
Did she? She’d already spent way too much time with him today, and if he came to her place, the setting would be far more intimate. She would meet with him at the office, but Mina wouldn’t be happy about El not taking her advice to go home.
“Please,” he said, the desperation in his tone cutting into her. “I won’t be able to sleep tonight anyway, and two heads are better than one.”
She still wasn’t ready to say yes.
“Besides,” he continued, “won’t you want to see Hayden’s report on Mason?”
No fair. He knew she did. “Can’t you email it to me?”
“I could, but I think it would be better if we reviewed it together.” His words were a suggestion, but his tone was firm as concrete.
No way she’d convince him that working together wasn’t a good idea, and there was no point in arguing. “Give me an hour then come over.”
She ended the call, instantly regretting giving in. She would have to be more on guard than ever, because finding Lucy was far more important than thinking about a potential relationship with Gabe.