With how quickly the bodies were being dropped, trying to chase that lead by visiting the reporters’ home base would waste time.
Time they didn’t have.
“We need to divide and conquer, and keep it all close to the vest,” Gene admitted. “Ethan and I are going to head to the conference room to work through the victimology, and we need a favor.”
Dannie waited.
“What?”
He gave them busy work to buy them space to work.
ALONE.
“We need to figure out where she was taken. Chances were, seeing her clothes that were dumped in the sack in the bushes, she wasn’t out partying with friends. She was wearing casual things. Can you visit her house, see if she has a husband or a live-in lover, and go from there? Was there a missing person report on her?”
Leah shook her head.
“No.”
Gene knew that likely meant she lived alone. It was the middle of the night. Surely someone would miss her.
“We can do that,” Dannie offered.
Gene continued.
“It was Saturday yesterday,” he offered, looking at his watch. “So, she likely wasn’t taken from the courthouse. I’d start with her home and then go from there. You’ll know where to find us if you locate where she was taken.”
Dannie was making notes.
Gene wasn’t done.
“Get it done as soon as you can because once that name leaks, and I don’t doubt that it will, we have all kinds of issues,” he admitted. “The media will be all over her home, asking uncomfortable questions.”
Oh, for sure.
“Once we figure out what happened to her, what's next?” Leah asked, trying to play well with others.
When she got there, Dannie had already warned her that she wouldn’t get a second chance with the Feds.
Trust and believe she was going to be on her best behavior.
“Meet us at the conference room after you get any information. By then, we’ll know the basics. Then, we’ll regroup.”
Both detectives headed out, and when they were gone, Gene glanced over at his partner.
“It’s going to be a long night.”
Oh, Ethan was aware.
The clock was ticking before the killer took the next victim—if he didn’t already have them.
* * * Blackhawk & Cantrell * * *
Vina Beede’s
Apartment
Sunday
