Page 44 of Forever Gone

Conversation stopped.

Selena set down her drink. “This is my number two for now, Special Agent Kelly Voss.”

The wording made the temporary nature of the arrangement clear.

Arnold stepped forward first. “Deputy Arnold Shaw. Welcome.”

He shook her hand with easy warmth.

The older deputy rose next. “Chuck Danner.”

Kelly recognized him from the preliminary personnel notes Meg had sent about the case and the personnel she would be working with. Fifty-something, solid through the middle, experienced, and trusted by Connor.

“Good to meet you,” Kelly said.

Connor came around the table.

“Sheriff Connor Chase.”

Their hands met.

“Welcome back to Elmsview.”

His voice remained professional, but his gaze held recognition. The memory attached to it was not pleasant.

“Thank you, Sheriff.”

Connor released her hand and indicated a desk near the wall. “We’ve got a place for you to work whenever you’re here. Dana handles archives and IT. She’s setting up a computer and access credentials for you. Might be later today.”

“I appreciate it.”

Arnold lifted his coffee. “Dana works to her own schedule.”

Connor gave him a warning glance. “She works better without commentary.”

Chuck shifted a folder away from the empty desk. “You can use this terminal in the meantime if you need it.”

“Thanks.”

Selena moved toward the board. “All right. Let’s get Kelly up to speed.”

A county map, a timeline, and photographs from the Montgomery cabin covered the white surface. Karen Sloane’s driver’s-license picture had been placed near the top. Beside it was a scene photograph showing her across the desk, blood dark across her clothing and lower jaw. The damage to her mouth was partly visible.

Kelly had read the description. Seeing the image gave it weight the report could not.

Selena spoke without referring to notes.

“Karen Sloane was forty-one, recently divorced, and living in Loyall until she rented Hannah Montgomery’s cabin for three months.

“The mail carrier discovered her yesterday morning. The killer attacked her with a bladed weapon, stabbed her several times in the chest, and removed her tongue. It was left on the floor beside a word processor the killer deliberately smashed.”

Kelly moved closer to the board.

“Karen went to the cabin to write a novel,” Selena continued. “We believe both acts may have been intended to silence her. Her storage unit in Loyall was broken into shortly before she moved, and some personal property and papers were taken.”

Connor picked up the next part. “Her former husband, Gerry Tomes, says he was at home drinking with his roommate all night. He claims Karen accused him of the storage break-in and then told him not to contact her.”

“Matt Price finished his initial fingerprint sweep this morning,” Selena said. “No unidentified prints at the scene.”