Chapter 15
FIFTEEN
Katie left the sheriff’s department parking lot with eight outdoor cameras she’d checked out.
They’d used a half dozen of them in a previous case, along with some GPS devices, and they were all still stored in property.
She dialed John’s cell phone from her hands-free software.
His phone rang several times and she thought it would go to voicemail, but he finally answered.
“Hey, everything okay?” said John, sounding a bit winded.
“Everything’s fine. I need a favor,” she said.
“Name it.”
“I want to put up several wildlife cameras at the old property and the construction site.”
He chuckled. “And you need backup.”
“I know you’re busy there, but it would take maybe half an hour.”
“It’s good timing. There were some equipment issues here, so we’re waiting on a replacement to be delivered. I can have Eva prepare for lights as we start to lose daylight.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
“See you then.”
The call ended. Hearing John’s voice had made her smile.
Katie made good time and turned onto the Collins property.
There was a trailer with an excavator on it and it was clear there had been mechanical issues.
They had made progress, though, having opened up a large area and pushed the overgrowth to the side—dusty remains left behind.
The driveway had reappeared and it would be easy to drive in and out.
Katie parked away from the crime scene area, which looked almost identical to that at the construction site. She got out of the car and paused, looking around at the stalled area. John saw her and quickly walked over.
“Hi,” he said.
There was an awkward moment because Katie wanted to hug him, but it wasn’t the time. She knew John must’ve felt the same way as he touched her arm lightly.
“You ready?” she said.
“How many cameras do you want to put here?”
“I think three or four would suffice,” she said. Looking in all directions from where the house and buried body were located, she figured the best positions were in the tree-lined areas in three directions. “There… there… and there,” she suggested, pointing.
John nodded.
They split up. Katie took one recording camera and John the other two.
It didn’t take long to install them by strapping them to a tree and aiming the lens in the direction of the crime scene.
If anyone were to enter or sneak into the area, whether it be the killer or anyone else, they would have video coverage—and hopefully be able to identify the person.
Katie and John met back at the car to travel to the construction site.
“Are you sure it’s okay if you leave for half an hour?” she said.
“No problem. Eva is handling things and she’s very knowledgeable about skeletal remains and decomposition. She’ll begin the process before I get back.”
Katie found herself staring at John. He was strong, capable, and knew how to run a crime scene. His jaw was tense, but he still managed to sound and act calm. There was quite a bit of work he needed to do, and Katie realized he was running behind.
“I can go do this so you can stay here,” she said. “McGaven was adamant about me not being alone there due to all of what’s been going on, but I’ll be fine.”
“I don’t blame him. You shouldn’t go there alone, especially since the light is fading,” he said, looking straight into her eyes. “How’s Gav’s injury?”
“He’s fine, just a bit grouchy.”
“I bet.”
“He’s digging into backgrounds, so there’s plenty to do. And it’s definitely his specialty.”
John glanced back at the scene. “C’mon, let’s go. They’re still stalled with the soil removal.”
They got into the car and arrived at the construction location five minutes later, which made Katie think again about whether the parcels of land could be connected in some way. She knew the county had bought their land from a large commercial investment firm that specialized in such transactions.
“What’s on your mind?” said John.
She sighed. “The case.”
“I’ll have some information for you soon.”
Katie smiled. She drove into the main entrance of the new site and parked. It appeared darker than at the old house; there were shadows looming in between the trees. She thought maybe she should wait, just in case there was someone lurking or watching for someone to return.
“You okay?” John said.
“Yes. It’s just hard to forget that trap that Gav and I almost plowed into. If it wasn’t for Cisco, we would have never seen it.”
John didn’t say a word. He leaned toward Katie, stroked her face, and then kissed her. Katie felt his warmth and there was a tenderness about him that made her feel at ease and safe. It was something new to her and something she didn’t want to be without again.
A seriousness came over John, and he stared directly at Katie. “I never want anything to happen to you. I know you’re strong and capable, but…”
“I am fine and I will be fine.”
“Ever since I’ve met you you’ve amazed me, but you’ve got to stay present and not jump into everything… especially not alone.”
Katie nodded. She knew exactly what he meant, but her passion to find killers and to save people was so overwhelming. She hadn’t been able to save her parents, but she would always try to save the next victims. It was her calling.
She smiled at John. “Let’s get these cameras up so you can get back to work.”
They got out of the car and split up—each with two wildlife cameras. Katie watched as John went east and then she went west. It was getting darker, but everything was still visible, just hazy in the dusk.
She searched around to find the right spot to place the cameras where they would pick up movement but not be easily seen by anyone walking around. She placed one and then moved to another vantage point. She remembered she needed to check in with McGaven and after the last camera went up she would.
She was thinking about the case and everything they would be doing tomorrow and didn’t hear someone come up behind her.
Strong arms wrapped around her neck and waist. She couldn’t move or fight.
She tried to call out to John, but instead she felt pressure against the side of her neck at the carotid artery, causing everything to fade in and out of view.
Her last memory was of John walking away… and then everything went dark.