Page 25 of Bring Them Home

Liam set the tablet down on his bag and got to work.

“When will the autopsy be?” Amanda asked.

“He’ll move up to the front of the line,” Rideout said. “Decomposition is already working against us. Not to say any more about the birds’ picnic.”

“Text me a time?” Amanda requested from Liam, who managed Rideout’s schedule.

Liam paused from unfolding a body bag. “It will be later today, as an estimate.”

“Thank you,” Amanda told him. “Well, Trent and I are headed out. Emma, Isabelle, please text if there’s anything that comes to your attention after we leave. Also whatever Wildlife Resources might have to say.”

“You got it,” Emma told her.

Amanda and Trent began the trek back to the car. While the distance might not be far, her steps were weighed down with thoughts about what to do next. It was never easy telling people their loved ones had been murdered.

“Multiple stab wounds shows some intent. Whoever did this wanted him dead,” Trent said.

She slowed her steps and spoke over her shoulder. “They also wanted him to suffer. The question is why.”

FOURTEEN

Amanda and Trent talked about notifying Landon, but it didn’t seem right to go to him with this news. Not when he was a long-term patient and quite ill. And it might be best for his health if they left him out of the loop until they had more answers. Also, since he had been a patient of the hospital for months, it was unlikely he’d know what made the rest of his family a target. But if their strongest suspect, Phillip Daily, didn’t pan out, they might have no choice but to speak with Landon.

Trent pulled up the background on Paul Archer on the onboard computer of the department car. “His parents are still alive, residing in Bethesda, Maryland. A forty-five-minute drive from here.”

“Let’s go then. We can find out more about the boy’s condition too.” They could request that an officer from the local police service deliver the news, but with such a short drive, Amanda felt the responsibility to handle this. After all, she and Trent had been there with their son’s body, and they were the ones committed to finding the daughter-in-law and granddaughter. “Get us on the road.”

“Ah, Amanda, there’s someone else on the file you need to know.” Trent glanced over at her. “Paul had a sister. Abigail McGee.” He stressed the surname, letting it land with the impact of a gavel at the hand of a decisive judge.

“McGee? Any relation to Detective Lloyd McGee from Missing Persons?”

Trent pressed his lips and nodded. “Abigail is his wife.”

“More accurately his missing wife, right? McGee told us she disappeared eight years ago. That was the driving force behind him joining the Missing Persons Unit.”

“Yeah. So where to first? Talk to the parents or McGee? Or do you want to question Daily? He’s probably back at Central by now.”

In her mind, she could cross off McGee. They hadn’t found his wife, and time wasn’t in abundant supply. Talking to Daily could get them to Valerie and Brooke if he was behind this. They could delegate the notification. It was a tough call. She could only go from what her heart would want in this situation. And that was to know the truth. They could also learn something from speaking with the parents they could use in interviewing Daily. “We’ll let the parents know. I’ll update Malone on our plans.”

As Trent got them on the road, they passed a truck from Wildlife Resources. Was it too much to hope they could offer some answers?

Bruce and Deborah Archer lived in a newly constructed home set on a mature property. Trees towered over the roofline on both the east and west sides of the home. It was a beige vinyl-sided house with a few small windows facing the road. Despite that and a double-car garage eating up most of the frontage, it was an attractive structure. Not that Amanda was surprised. Most people who lived in Bethesda had money and worked in high-skill sectors. With Washington being only a thirty-minute drive away, many commuted there for work. Given the Archers’ ages, it was likely both had retired though, but it made Amanda curious what their careers had been.

Amanda followed flagstone steps to a wide front door with a grilled windowpane that offered no privacy to the residents. The sidelights put the interior on display even more. She rang the doorbell while Trent stood next to her.

A man came toward them, turned the deadbolt, and opened the door. Air-conditioned air spilled out onto the step. He looked them over with piercing gray eyes that saw right through them. Amanda sized him up as someone used to having the authority in any room. He just had an aura about him that demanded attention and respect. His black hair was threaded with silver, and he was dressed in pressed shorts and a collared shirt.

“Bruce Archer?” Amanda said while raising her badge.

“I am, but…” He lifted his eyeglasses from his nose to the top of his head. “That badge isn’t local. Prince William County PD?” As he said this, he pulled back and met her eyes. “Have you found our daughter?”

His question drew a woman toward the door, who stepped up to his side. She was petite and dressed in lightweight slacks and a short-sleeved blouse.

Amanda expected that might be their first question and was prepared. “I’m sorry, we have not. We need to speak with you about your son, Paul.”

“What happened?” The woman gripped the neckline of her blouse.

Before Amanda or Trent could respond, Bruce took his wife’s hand and backed up. “Come inside.”