Chapter 54
FIFTY-FOUR
“Good thing you drove the Jeep,” said McGaven, holding to the door and dash. “This is definitely the ghost town part of Rockview.”
The car bobbed and weaved. It was clear no one had visited in more than a decade.
Cisco went to the window and barked—not once, but several times.
“I agree, Cisco. This place is terrible,” joked McGaven.
“I think we should park here,” Katie said. It was the only place where the ground was almost flat.
“Do you really think we need to even look at this place?” he said.
She turned to McGaven. “We’re here. Why not?”
He unhooked his seatbelt. “I knew you were going to say that.”
“Bleib,” she said to Cisco. She knew the dog was getting antsy, but she didn’t know what they would encounter on the property. He had to stay in the Jeep for now.
The detectives got out and were mindful of what might be around the house.
“I wonder why Sills didn’t sell this property or do something with it?” she said.
“Not sure. Let’s do a quick search and head back.”
They split up and walked the property from opposite ends.
Katie saw nothing to suggest anyone had been there recently. The tall weeds were bent down in circular areas, which meant that animals had likely flattened them—like a deer bedding down. There were no pieces of garbage or anything else lying about.
She glanced to where McGaven was; he didn’t seem interested in anything he was seeing either.
It wasn’t a smoking gun, but she still wanted to be thorough and not miss something that could prove important or turn out to be one of the missing puzzle pieces.
She walked around to where McGaven stood.
He was motionless and didn’t look up at her.
She had never seen him like this before.
“Gav, what’s up?”
“Look around, there’s nothing here and it doesn’t look like anyone has been here for years, but…”
Katie looked to where he was staring alongside the ground. There was a note that had been wrapped around a rock, fastened by a large rubber band. The outside areas of the note flapped in the slight breeze. It was clear it had been placed there very recently. It read:
Katie, you’re getting warmer…
Immediately, Katie looked up and did a three-hundred-sixty-degree turn. There was nothing, no one, and no vehicle anywhere in sight except for her Jeep. The wind seemed to cause the weeds to bow back and forth, and there was a slight sputter of something on the house.
Both detectives drew their weapon instinctively—prepared for anything and everything. Neither said a word to the other, but it was clear they both felt a strong sense of energy around them.
Katie wasn’t sure if they should leave immediately and return with backup, or check the area and recover the note intact to be analyzed. Technically, it would be Rockview’s evidence, but it referred to her by name in regard to their case.
“What do you want to do?” said McGaven.
“You feel like we should search the house?”
“I’m in if you are.”
“We could leave and come back with Rockview PD,” she said.
“At this point, let’s go for it and get out of here. Then we can contact Detective Stern at RPD.”
“Okay,” she said and continued to keep her gun drawn but not aimed. “I’ll check out the inside. You keep watch and cover me.”
“You got it, partner. Be watchful for traps,” he said, keeping careful observation with his gun fixed.
Katie found it interesting that Cisco was quiet and not whining or barking to remind her that he was with them. She knew the dog was in tune with her and could probably sense the situation. No doubt he would be ready for anything as well.
Katie stepped through what had been the front door, which was long gone. McGaven reminding her of traps made her even more cautious than usual. They had encountered more than their fair share of them in the past.
She stepped on the uneven wooden floor. Like the exterior, everything in the interior had been deteriorating for quite some time and there was nothing worth investigating. Furniture, appliances, and fixtures were gone. Nevertheless, she made her rounds in the small house.
“Everything good?” said McGaven through the speaker on the cell phone.
“Affirmative.”
Katie took another few minutes to make sure, but nothing came to light, so she exited and returned to McGaven.
“Do you have gloves?” she said.
“No.”
Katie ran back to the Jeep and grabbed some gloves, a plastic bag, and a small box. She returned and took several photos of the rock with the message with her phone. Then prudently, she put the evidence into the bag and then the box to keep it secure.
“Done?” said McGaven.
“Just about.” She took some overall shots of the property and house. “Done now.” She grabbed the box and headed back to her Jeep.
Once the evidence was safe, they left the property. Katie felt a weird chill down her spine as she sped out of the area and back to civilization. It was like they’d taken a side road leading to nowhere. She was relieved when they saw familiar places again.
“A nice Sunday drive,” said McGaven. “And one thing is for sure.”
“What’s that?”
“The killer is now playing with you personally.”
Katie didn’t want to think about it. It was clear the killer had everything planned out. And that’s what scared her the most.