He thought about callin’ Lawrence. The man had enough pull in this city to move mountains if he wanted to.
But then Deck pictured Nell’s face. The look she got whenever anyone tried to step in and fight her battles for her.
No.
He’d handle this quietly. He’d be the ghost in the machine before Lila Grant ever knew he was back in her city.
Outside, Charleston traffic hummed along Meeting Street.
Inside the police station, Declan O’Rourke realized this had never been about a case.
It was about Eleanor.
37
Jackson County Sheriff’s Department — Late Afternoon
Deputy Luke Hale leaned back in the chair along the wall, arms folded loosely across his chest, while Deputy Scout Wilson sat across the table from the woman who had changed the direction of their entire investigation.
She looked younger than Scout expected. Early thirties, maybe. Dark hair pulled into a careless ponytail. Expensive boots crossed at the ankle under the chair.
Not frightened. Defensive. Angry enough to mistake that for strength.
Her name was Katie Martin.
And according to the voicemail she’d left the sheriff’s office yesterday morning, she had information about David Mercer and the disappearance of Caroline Simms.
Scout slid a legal pad across the table.
“You said on the phone you dated David Mercer.”
Katie nodded.
“About a year after Caroline Simms disappeared.”
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
Her tone made it clear she considered those eight months a mistake.
Luke spoke from the wall.
“You ended things?”
Katie gave a small laugh.
“Not exactly.”
Scout watched her carefully.
“How exactly did it end?”
Her eyes hardened a fraction.
“He left me.”
There it was.
