Chapter 18 #2
“This is different, and you know it.”
“Before we go down that road, I have one question. Do you think Langley’s death has anything to do with the Claymont case?”
Hadley tamped down her anger as she turned and faced the scene.
Nick was speaking with the two troopers, and the fire crew was almost done packing up their gear.
Donovan was settling in behind his steering wheel to presumably take Nora home.
Hadley wasn’t sure whether it was the upstairs apartment above the police station or some other residence.
She’d never asked Reed if they lived together.
“Send Ramos. He can take over.”
“Answer the question, Hadley.”
“Yes. Alright? From my understanding, Reed was reading over Sarah Cox’s journals when his fiancée left for the store.
When she got back, he wasn’t there.” Hadley now wished she hadn’t taken the time to stop by the station.
She’d located the floral box with Sarah’s journals inside, only the eight important ones were missing.
“I think his death connects directly to Missy Claymont’s disappearance and possibly seven other missing women from this area. I’ll fill you in tomorrow.”
Hadley had been keeping up with her paperwork, so Brosmer was aware of her theory regarding the abductions.
“Then you know what my response is going to be, Hadley. Lieutenant Holden agrees with me on the dynamics of this situation. You’re the one who made these connections, and sending in a stranger will only complicate matters. No one is going to talk to Ramos.”
“No one is going to talk to me, either.”
“You seem to be doing just fine so far. And if you're right about there being a pattern of abductions over the years, then whoever is responsible just escalated to murder. They're getting desperate, which means you're getting close. I will, however, send Ramos out to help you.”
Hadley leaned against her vehicle, the cool metal a stark contrast to the heat still radiating from the direction of Reed's burnt truck.
Her headache that had been threatening since she first spotted the incinerated vehicle now blossomed into a pounding pressure behind her right eye.
She removed her hair clip, and the release of pressure offered momentary relief as she attached the clip to her blazer lapel.
“No,” Hadley responded in defeat. While Julian Ramos was thorough, experienced, and utterly without connection to Whistlerun, Brosmer was right.
An outsider would face resistance at every turn, especially with emotions running high after Reed's death. She had no choice but to accept her fate. “I’ll let you know if I need him, but right now, Sheriff Turner knows the residents and area enough to be of assistance.”
The line went quiet, save for the sound of Brosmer's breathing and his wife's muffled voice. Considering it was the middle of the night, it was no wonder she was asking him if everything was okay.
“I should go, Sarge. I’ll talk to you first thing in the morning.”
“Hadley?” Brosmer’s tone was uncharacteristically gentle. “I'm truly sorry about Langley. I know you two had history.”
“That was a long time ago, Sarge,” Hadley replied, proud of herself when she was able to continue without having her voice break. “Goodnight.”
Hadley ended the call just as a red Cadillac pulled up behind Nick's cruiser.
Its headlights remained bright even as the driver turned off the engine.
Mayor Warren Caldwell emerged from the driver's side. He glanced her way, but neither of them granted the other an acknowledgment. She’d never been a fan of his, and the feeling appeared mutual.
Caldwell approached Nick, whose body immediately tensed at the confrontation. The mayor's gestures became increasingly animated while Nick maintained a rigid posture, only occasionally shifting his weight or shaking his head. Whatever Caldwell was saying, Nick clearly disagreed.
Movement to her right signaled that Donovan was turning the truck around to head back to town.
Nora was visible through the window, her head bowed with both hands covering her face.
Donovan gave a single wave to Hadley as he slowly passed her location.
Even though Nick had already taken Donovan’s statement, she would make time to speak to the man herself. She had her own list of questions.
Had he passed any vehicles on his way out of town?
When was the last time he spoke to Reed?
Did he call 911 first or someone else?
Those were just a few of many.
Nick mentioned the fire crew was confident the blaze had been deliberate. Had Reed already been killed beforehand? Had he crashed into something and been unconscious?
Her throat closed at the thought, but she quickly cleared it to focus on the reason behind the arson.
It had clearly been meant to destroy evidence.
But fires, like secrets, rarely consume everything.
There would be remains, fragments, or pieces left behind that would give her a place to start.
A remnant of evidence that could provide some type of justice in the face of such a travesty.
The locals couldn’t blame the Threshing Man for the death of Police Chief Reed Langley. Once she could press home that someone he trusted had taken his life, then maybe…just maybe…she’d finally get some answers.