“A system,” he said.
“Yes.” Her voice sharpened. “That’s what it felt like. Like something built into the place. Not random.”
“Sara,” he said, low, “that matters.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I just—Scout, I know I’m not crazy. I know it was real.”
“You’re not,” he said. “You’re right.”
Then Sara’s voice softened. “Find her Scout”
He swallowed once. “We will.”
The line went dead.
Scout drove faster.
54
Deputy Scout Wilson
Scout stopped at the whiteboard.
Raines — IN CUSTODY
Keller — PRIMARY
Benton — MOTIVE / ACCESS
Sinclair — CLEARED (FOR NOW)
Scout stared at Keller’s photo.
Everything ugly in the case kept circling back to Keller—manipulation dressed up as concern, the way he slid into women’s lives when they were already cracked open. The way he knew how to sound safe while he did damage.
Emily Wade. Lauren Pierce.
And now Tessa.
Scout looked at Keller’s smiling faculty portrait—pleasant, harmless, polished.
“Yeah,” Scout muttered. “You’d do this.”
Except—
Keller’s house had been a wreck. His office, too—papers everywhere,books piled in uneven stacks, clutter like he couldn’t stop moving long enough to finish anything.
Nothing in Keller’s life looked controlled. But whoever took Tessa did.
Someone who planned. Someone who needed everything just so.
Calder’s words surfaced,comfort as control.
Scout looked back at Keller anyway, forcing himself to stay locked on what they knew.
Keller had history. Keller had patterns. Keller had victims.
And Keller had lied.
