Chapter 17 Holt
HOLT
It was almost three o'clock in the afternoon when Holt finally looked up from the mountain of files that had been consuming his attention for the past several hours.
The documents spread across his desk contained ten years' worth of suspicious activity reports, arson investigations, vandalism complaints, and accident records that he'd been methodically reviewing in search of patterns that might connect to their current situation.
So far, he hadn't found many clear connections except for the strategic positioning of some of the early fires that had been set around town and the recurring presence of red gasoline containers at multiple scenes.
There had also been a series of seemingly minor incidents over the past few weeks which, when viewed together, suggested a pattern of escalating harassment: collapsing file cabinets, damaged shelves, slashed tires, and anonymous threatening notes.
All of these smaller incidents seemed to tie back to the buildup period before the tragic fire at the Ember Lake campgrounds ten years ago that had claimed five young lives, including Dean's son Shaun.
The similarities were eerily familiar, but there was one crucial difference that made Holt's blood run cold.
The current perpetrator had escalated far beyond property damage and intimidation tactics.
They had now attempted to kill Lacey twice, using increasingly sophisticated and deadly methods.
The car accident could potentially have been explained as road rage or a moment of poor judgment, but the coordinated attack on the veterinary clinic had been nothing short of attempted murder using military-grade chemical weapons.
What puzzled Holt was the apparent inconsistency in how different targets were being treated.
While Lacey had been the victim of two serious assassination attempts, the incidents targeting Margo, Rad, and Willa had been relatively minor by comparison.
Margo had been caught up in the clinic fire, but that might have been accidental if the perpetrator hadn't known she was inside with Lacey.
The warnings and minor threats directed at Rad and Willa seemed almost gentle compared to what had been done to Lacey.
Then there was the Victoria Morrison situation, which continued to nag at him like an infected wound.
The car accident cover-up and the rushed destruction of Clive's vehicle raised so many red flags that Holt couldn't ignore them, but he still hadn't figured out how to approach the subject with the Morrison family, including Tom, without revealing information he wasn't supposed to possess.
Holt ran a hand through his hair in frustration.
He needed to determine whether Victoria Morrison was actually involved in the attacks before he could decide how to proceed.
He knew the make, model, and color of Clive's car from the DMV records, and he had arranged to have paint samples from Lacey's damaged truck analyzed to see if they matched the paint scheme of the Morrison vehicle.
Since Clive's car had been crushed almost immediately after the accident, paint analysis and photographic evidence were all he had to work with.
He had sent detailed photographs of both vehicles to a forensic specialist he knew who might be able to determine whether the damage patterns were consistent with Clive's car having struck Lacey's pickup truck.
He pulled out his phone and checked the surveillance footage from the cameras he had installed in the police station.
Still nothing unusual. No additional evidence had been tampered with since the day before he'd set up the monitoring system, which was almost more frustrating than if he'd caught someone in the act.
At least then he'd know who was behind the evidence manipulation.
The whole investigation felt like trying to solve a puzzle with half the pieces missing, and Holt was beginning to worry that they were running out of time before the perpetrator made another attempt on Lacey's life.
A knock on his office door interrupted his brooding. "Come in," he called, and his heart unexpectedly leaped when June walked through the doorway, balancing a covered plate, a pastry box, and two takeout coffee cups.
"Hi," he said, unable to stop the grin that spread across his face at the sight of her.
The scene reminded him so vividly of their marriage, when June would seek him out in the library during his late-night study sessions, bringing food and coffee when he'd gotten so absorbed in his work that he'd forgotten to eat.
She'd had an uncanny ability to sense when he needed sustenance and companionship, appearing at his side with exactly what he needed before he'd even realized he was hungry.
"Hi yourself," June replied with a warm smile as she set her burden down on the desk in front of him, where she found an open space. She glanced at the paperwork spread everywhere. "You look like you've been wrestling with paperwork for hours."
"Something like that," Holt admitted, gesturing at the organized chaos of files covering his desk. "How are things going at the new clinic? I heard from Dean that the clinic renovations were going at top speed to get the clinic operating as soon as possible.”
"It's been incredible to watch," June said, settling into the chair across from his desk. "Lacey is absolutely overwhelmed by everyone's generosity. The building is going to be perfect for what she needs, especially with all the space for wildlife rehabilitation in the back."
"How did the interview with Dr. Vernon go?" Holt asked, remembering the background check request June had made.
"Dr. Judy Vernon seems very nice and definitely qualified for the position. I sat in on the interview after what could only be described as the Sandpiper Inquisition on the way to the interview,” June said, blowing out a breath and shaking her head.
"The Sandpiper Inquisition?" Holt repeated with amusement.
"Lacey was so nervous about trusting a stranger that she basically interrogated the poor woman about her entire life history during the car ride from the new clinic to Teacups," June explained with a laugh.
"I had to intervene before she started demanding to see Dr. Vernon's college transcripts and personal references. "
"I suppose that's understandable given what Lacey has been through," Holt said sympathetically. "Being attacked twice in less than a week would make anyone suspicious of new people."
"Exactly. But once we got to the actual interview and started discussing Dr. Vernon’s veterinary experience, Lacey relaxed considerably. Dr. Vernon has impressive credentials, especially in marine wildlife rehabilitation, which is exactly what the practice needs."
"And you said she seems trustworthy?" Holt asked suspiciously.
"She does, but I know we still need to be careful," June replied. "That's actually one of the reasons I came by. Do you have any information about Dr. Vernon's background yet?"
"Not yet, but I should have a complete report by tomorrow morning," Holt assured her. "My contact is being thorough, which takes time but gives us better information."
"We did find out quite a bit during Lacey's interrogation," June said with a smile.
"Dr. Vernon is originally from New York and moved to Florida about fifteen years ago to join a veterinary practice in Miami.
Her husband was an investment banker who died recently, and she had a brother who passed away about ten years ago.
She didn't talk much about her brother, though she seemed genuinely sad when she mentioned him. "
Holt snorted despite his concerns. "It sounds like you and Lacey did such a thorough job of vetting her that maybe we don't need an official background check after all."
"Oh, that was all Lacey," June said quickly, shaking her head. "This whole business of having a faceless enemy is really getting to her. She's second-guessing everyone and everything now."
"I can definitely understand that reaction," Holt said with genuine sympathy. "Being stalked and attacked would make anyone paranoid about potential threats. So, what was the final verdict about Dr. Vernon?"
"Lacey hired her, and she started working today already," June told him.
"She's at the clinic with Lacey right now, helping with the setup and equipment installation.
" She held up her hand as she saw Holt's expression tighten with concern.
"Dean is there too, so Lacey isn't alone with someone we don't know well yet. "
"Good," Holt said, relaxing slightly. "While Dr. Vernon may seem perfectly nice, we still need to stick to our agreement about not leaving anyone alone until we solve this mystery."
"I know," June agreed with a smile. "That's exactly why I stayed with Lacey at the clinic until Dean arrived to take over the protective detail duties."
Holt's eyes fell on the food June had brought, and his stomach responded with an embarrassing growl that reminded him he'd been surviving on coffee and determination for most of the day. The aroma emanating from the covered plate smelled like heaven.
"Is that your late lunch?" he asked hopefully.
"Actually, this is for you," June said, her smile widening as she pushed the plate toward him. "Margo sent it over specifically for you, along with some of her signature desserts and coffee for both of us."
"Bless Margo's heart," Holt said with a grateful groan as he lifted the cover to reveal what appeared to be a perfectly prepared meal.
"I've been so focused on trying to figure out whether there were any formal complaints filed against Lacey or anything that might connect her to the incidents from ten years ago that I completely lost track of time. "
"You skipped lunch," June observed with a knowing laugh. "I had a feeling you might be so absorbed in the investigation that you'd forgotten to eat. Some things never change."