Chapter 52
Winter Break
Search Warrant — Raines’s Office
The lock clicked open. Lights flickered on.
Books lined the shelves. Papers stacked in careful piles. Controlled chaos.
Scout moved to the shelves. Burke checked the desk drawers. Denton headed for the filing cabinet.
The room had been straightened recently.
Burke lifted a trench coat from the wall hook and reached into the pocket.
He stopped.
“Scout.”
Scout crossed the room.
Burke pulled out a notebook—green cover, worn edges.
Scout’s stomach dropped. “No way.”
Burke opened it.
Sara Parker.
Her name. Her handwriting. Dates aligning with the window she disappeared.
Burke’s voice went low and steady. “He had her green notebook while she was gone.”
Denton was already dialing. “Tucker needs to hear this.”
Scout stared at the journal like it might detonate.
It should’ve felt like a win.
Instead, something tugged at him.
The notebook wasn’t hidden.
It sat in a coat pocket.
Like it had been left there on purpose.
Burke didn’t say that out loud.
The Call
“You’re certain it’s hers?” Tucker asked.
“It has her name. Her handwriting. Dates match,” Burke replied. “Found in his coat pocket.”
A pause.
“That’s possession of a victim’s personal writings during an active disappearance,” Tucker said. “Bring him in.”
Burke ended the call and keyed his radio.
“Baker, do not approach Raines until backup arrives. Hale is en route.”
“Copy.”
Scout sealed the journal in evidence.
Burke nodded once. “We finally have something solid.”
Scout didn’t answer.
Because nothing about this felt solid.
They had probable cause.
They had procedure.
But Tessa was still missing.
Sheriff’s Department — Interview Room 1
The clock read 5:48 PM.
Raines had been inside two hours with SBI. Questions. Silence. Pressure.
Scout stood behind the glass, arms crossed, eyes fixed on him.
Burke joined him. “They’re wrapping. We’ll hit it again in the morning.”
“We don’t have until morning,” Scout said.
“We’ve got him,” Burke replied. “He’s not going anywhere.”
Scout’s gaze never moved. “I want one crack at him.”
“No.”
“I’m not asking.”
Burke held his stare. “You do something stupid, you blow the case.”
“I’m not gonna hit him.”
Burke didn’t look convinced.
Scout stepped toward the door.
“One minute,” Burke said. “And you keep it clean. You’re on camera.”
Scout didn’t answer.
Inside the Room
Raines sat stiff in the chair, tie loosened, face tight.
He looked up as Scout entered. No smile.
“Is this a joke?” Raines said.
Burke stayed near the door.
Scout didn’t sit. He planted both hands on the table.
“You lied.”
Raines exhaled sharply. “I gave you a statement.”
“You lied about the typewriter.”
“I didn’t.”
“We served a warrant. There’s no typewriter at your house.”
Raines blinked once. “You tore through my home over a word.”
“You made it up.”
“I said it because it was easier than explaining my personal life.”
“Your personal life doesn’t explain a typewriter that doesn’t exist.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“You lied about the violet too.”
Raines’s eyes flashed. “What violet?”
“You were on video at the greenhouse buying one. Same day Tessa’s cabin was broken into. Same day a violet appeared inside.”
Raines stared at him. “So now I can’t buy a plant?”
“You put it there.”
“No. I didn’t.”
“Then why lie?”
“Because I knew you’d twist it.”
“So why’d you buy it?”
“It was for someone else.”
“Sure it was.”
Raines leaned forward, offended. “I’ve worked my entire life for my reputation—”
“Where is she?” Scout cut in.
Raines went still.
“I don’t know.”
“Where’s Tessa?”
“I said I don’t know.”
“You’re lying.”
“No,” Raines replied. “You are desperate.”
Scout’s hands tightened on the edge of the table. “Don’t do that.”
“You’re looking at me because I’m convenient.”
“You’re on video. You lied. That’s not convenient.”
Raines sat back.
“I want to speak to my attorney.”
Burke straightened by the door. “Professor—”
“I said I want my attorney,” Raines snapped, louder now. “This is over.”
Scout didn’t move. His eyes stayed on Raines like he couldn’t accept the words.
Raines looked at him with cold satisfaction. “You don’t get to threaten me into a confession.”
“You don’t get to shut this down,” Scout said, voice low.
“Watch me,” Raines shot back, mouth tight.
Scout’s hands came off the table. He kicked the chair behind him so hard it shot backward and slammed into the wall.
Raines jolted.
“Scout—!” Burke barked.
Scout was already moving. He grabbed the front of Raines’s shirt and hauled him out of the chair like he weighed nothing.
Raines sucked in a breath, shocked—then angry. “Get your hands off me—!”
Scout slammed him into the wall.
The impact rattled the framed notice behind him.
Scout’s forearm came up across Raines’s upper chest and pinned him there. Solid. Controlled. Not choking him—just letting him feel it.
Raines’s anger vanished. His eyes went wide. His breath hitched.
Not defiant. Not calculating.
Just afraid.
Scout leaned in close, voice low and dead serious.
“You lawyer up, and she stays out there.”
Raines swallowed. “Deputy—”
“Where is she?” Scout hissed.
Raines’s throat moved against Scout’s arm. “I don’t— I don’t know—”
Burke was on him. “Scout!”
Scout didn’t look away.
Burke grabbed his shoulder and yanked. Scout didn’t budge.
“Scout! Let him go!”
“Sheriff!” Raines’s voice cracked, real fear now.
Burke got both hands on Scout and pulled hard. Scout was locked in. Then Scout’s head turned just enough to register Burke’s voice.
Burke hauled him back. Scout released Raines.
Raines slid down the wall, breathing fast, face pale, one hand shaking as he adjusted his collar.
Burke stepped between them instantly.
“Out,” Burke said to Scout. “Now.”
Scout’s chest rose and fell hard.
Scout walked out.
Hallway
Scout spun fast enough Burke nearly collided with him.
He dragged both hands over his face, rough, like he could scrape the rage off. Then he shook them out once—sharp, fast.
“Son of a—” he muttered, voice wrecked.
Burke grabbed his jacket and shoved him back a step. Not violent. Just stopping him.
“Stop. Right now.”
“He knows,” Scout said.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But you can’t do that.”
“He was talking like she’s nothing.”
“I know,” Burke said, low. “But this has to hold.”
Scout’s shoulders dropped a fraction.
“I lost it,” he said.
“Yeah,” Burke replied. “And it can’t happen again.”
“I can’t lose her.”
“You’re not going to,” Burke said. “We start first thing in the morning. We find her.”
A long beat.
Scout nodded once.
“Yeah,” he said quietly. “We find her.”
Burke kept his hand on Scout’s shoulder as they walked down the hall.