Page 130 of The Deadly Shallows

“I think this will help,” Finn said. He slid another blown-up picture on the board. “Chris Malone and Scott Mirch as Eagle Scouts.”

Yet again, everything circled back to Scott Mirch. It was time to pay him an in-person visit. Noah had a ton of questions for the man. Maybe he really was organizing all this from prison. Scott had plenty of time on his hands, and it certainly wouldn’t be the first time an inmate planned and directed criminal activity on the outside.

Noah stretched his coiled neck muscles. When he interviewed Scott Mirch in person, he’d show him Malone’s picture and the one Logan found. See his reaction when he mentioned Dwayne’s name. But first he’d talk with Scott’s defense attorney tomorrow morning as planned. He wanted all the information he could get before flying to meet with Scott. And the fact Brooke knew Scott from before the arrest meant he was far more likely to talk to him if she was along.

He shifted to face Logan. “Could you share the photograph you found at Lieutenant Caldwell’s place with the group? We’ve discussed various aspects about it, but it would be good to see and review.”

“Of course.” Logan stood and moved to the front. “Finn and I found this at her efficiency.” He clipped a blown-up image to the whiteboard.

“He looks younger than when I knew him,” Brooke said, “but that’s definitely Scott Mirch.”

“The notation on the back of the photograph indicates this third man from the left is Dwayne.”

She hesitated and then nodded. “Yes, that’s him.”

Logan continued, “We know the woman with her arm around Scott Mirch is Lieutenant Amy Caldwell. Do you know if they were dating at the time of his arrest?”

“No, I never heard anything about him having a girlfriend,” Brooke said, “But Scott wasn’t a sharer. Never talked about his family, dating, anything personal.”

“Do you recognize the other two men?” Logan asked.

“No.” She shook her head. “But the guy on the far right looks so much like Scott, he’s got to be related.”

“Based on your previous comment, I’m assuming Scott never mentioned a brother?”

“No.” Brooke shook her head.

“Lots to look into,” Logan said. “But we finally figured out what gator means, or rather, who it refers to.”

Brooke stiffened. Noah gave up all pretense and went to her side. Both Austin and Emmy started to move.

“You stay,” Emmy said to Austin as she sweetly moved into the seat Logan had just vacated.

Noah sat, needing Brooke to feel his support—his love. He reached out and took hold of her hand. She gripped it tightly.

Logan hung up a second blown-up image of the back of the photograph. Names were scrolled across the back: Me, Scotty, Dwayne, John, Gator.

“So based on the picture, we can surmise,” Finn said, “Amy Caldwell and Scott Mirch had some level of a personal relationship. And Caldwell worked in the lab where the plans for the laser had been stolen, which means she could have given them access to the lab.”

“This picture also tells us Scott knew Dwayne close to a decade ago,” Noah said, picking up the thread Finn had begun weaving, “and now Dwayne is involved at a high level—most likely coordinating the mass shooting, where the three men Scott claimed set him up to take the fall were killed.”

He shifted, still holding Brooke’s hand tightly. “Additionally, I am starting to think this group has someone else above Dwayne orchestrating it all.”

“Maybe that’s what Connor Andrews was trying to tell Brooke,” Emmy said. “Maybe this guy Gator is the center of it.”

“I agree. Let’s focus our energy on him and on discovering if the man noted as John is a relative of Scott’s, and if so, where he is.”

Em nodded. “On it.”

Rissi stood and moved to examine the picture Logan found closer. “Gator’s stance is military,” she said, clearly beginning a profile. “His shirt is patriotic but crass,” she continued. “The logo on his baseball cap has an insignia that I’d bet has military origins. For a man who I’m guessing is at least double Scott’s age, he looks just as fit.” She turned to face the group. “They all look military to me.”

“Good eye, Rissi,” Em said. “I did a search on the insignia on his cap just before the meeting, and it’s that of the Marine Raiders.”

“Seriously?” Logan said. “The guy is special ops?”

“Or was,” Finn responded.

“Em, fax his picture to the Marines, provide them with the information we have, and see if they can be of some help,” Noah said.