His sleeve brushed hers when he turned.
Neither of them stepped back.
For a fraction of a second, the noise of the search fell away.
He looked at her like he was about to say something.
He didn’t.
“Maybe,” she said.
Their eyes met—brief, steady—something passing between them that neither of them had time to name.
Then the radio crackled.
“Team Two’s found something off the north slope,” Burke called. “Move.”
Scout grabbed his jacket. “Looks like we’re up.”
Tessa nodded once. “Let’s go.”
They headed for the trucks, engines rising into the fog.
For one fleeting moment, Tessa let the worst thought surface?—
Then shut it down.
Duty first.
Dread later.
13
Jackson Valley University — Late Afternoon
Bare branches scraped the slate sky as Tessa stepped onto campus, wind threading through her coat to find the skin beneath. The Tuckasegee shimmered in the distance. Students hurried past with faces half-hidden in scarves.
Sheriff’s vehicles lined the Humanities Building, barely noticed. Inside, fluorescent lights painted everything too bright.
Tessa’s boots echoed beside Burke. Scout trailed behind, gaze catching every glance, every door that creaked shut a little too fast.
“Let’s keep it clean,” Burke muttered. “No accusations.”
Tessa nodded. “We start with Benton. He had history with Lauren—and Sara thought he’d be the last man she ever trusted.”
Burke’s voice stayed even. “Then we listen.”
Coach Clay Benton — Athletics Office
The small office looked like a locker room shrunk to fit—trophies lining the shelves, game charts pinned under yellow light. Coach Clay Benton stood near the window, arms folded tight over his jacket.
“Lauren Pierce,” Tessa said. “You knew her.”
“She worked here,” Benton said. “Handled department paperwork. Solid.”
“You dated,” Tessa said.
A beat. “For a while. It wasn’t serious.”
