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Ryker opened a folder and pulled out a lab report. “Ballistics confirm the same weapon was used in both attacks. An AR-15. The rifle is used for hunting and professional shooting competitions. Half of Fulton County probably owns one. We didn’t collect any fingerprints from the stolen truck. It’d been wiped clean.”
“The killer is going to a lot of trouble to stop us from looking for Stephanie Madden. The real question is why. Why kill two people in cold blood and then try to murder Claire?”
“There are two reasons I can think of.” Lieutenant Rodriquez tucked a lock of mahogany hair behind her ear. “One, Stephanie is alive but knows something someone doesn’t want us to find out. Or two—and I think this is the more likely—she’s been murdered, and the killer doesn’t want us to find her.”
“I don’t think Stephanie is alive,” Claire said softly. “The Houston Police Department did a thorough search and couldn’t find her. We’ve spoken to every member of her extended family. None of them have heard from her since she left town.”
“Sadly, I agree with Claire.” Ryker removed another report from his folder. “A handwriting analysis was done on the postcard Stephanie supposedly sent from Houston after leaving town. She didn’t write it.”
Gavin had suspected it, but actually hearing the words out loud was a gut punch. The entire table was quiet for a long moment. This criminal had killed two people already—three, if Stephanie was included—and was coming after Claire. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Lieutenant Rodriguez straightened her shoulders. “I think we need to operate with the assumption that Stephanie is dead. If we get evidence otherwise, we can reevaluate. Suspects?”
Ryker leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. “Xavier Whitlock could be involved. A symbol used by the Chosen was scrawled under the threatening message written for Claire in the boathouse.”
“Does he have a motive for wanting Stephanie out of the picture?”
“Maybe. There are rumors Xavier is involved in weapons and drug trafficking. Stephanie could’ve uncovered evidence of his crimes and threatened to turn him into the police. They didn’t have a good relationship.” Ryker’s mouth flattened. “Xavier refused to speak to me yesterday. We don’t have any hard evidence linking him to Stephanie’s disappearance, the murders, or the attacks on Claire. But he owns an AR-15. He had it in his hands when I arrived at the property.”
Gavin drummed his fingers on the table. “Claire brought up something the other day, and I think it’s relevant. Faye trusted her killer. She wouldn’t have gotten out of the car for Xavier. His wife, Maribelle, maybe. But even that is questionable. And from what we know about the private investigator, I don’t think Michael would have met with Xavier on his own in a remote location.”
Weston nodded. “I have to agree with Gavin on this one. Michael had been looking into Stephanie’s disappearance. He would’ve vetted both Maribelle and Xavier, would’ve known they were part of the Chosen. I could see him meeting Maribelle in a public location. But at night, in the park? I doubt it.”
“What about Stephanie’s boyfriend?” Luke's brows drew down. “You mentioned him earlier. Alex. He admitted they had an on-again, off-again relationship. Those are typically volatile and can turn ugly.”
“Alex provided an alibi for the night of Faye’s murder,” Gavin said. “He spent the night with a friend because his apartment was being repainted. But we haven’t verified the alibi yet.”
“I’ll take care of it. Send me his friend’s name.”
“Thanks, Luke.”
Claire blew out a breath. “Faye’s funeral service will take place in Fort Worth, since that’s where most of her family is. But there’s a memorial service today at the church. I’m going to pay my respects. It’ll also give me an opportunity to speak to Mary Ellen again. She knew Stephanie well and may provide more insight into Stephanie’s relationship with Alex. Or there may be someone else we’re missing.”
“I’ll go with you.” Gavin was sticking close to Claire because of the threats on her life, yes, but that wasn’t his only reason for accompanying her. Attending the service for her childhood friend would be painful. He wanted to support her.
She shot him a grateful glance. “Thanks. That would be helpful.”
“What happened to Stephanie’s car?” Weston was flipping through Stephanie’s case file. He frowned. “If we assume she’s dead, the killer had to get rid of her body and her car. That’s difficult to do.”
“I’ve been thinking about that same thing.” Claire rose from her chair. On the wall was a map of Fulton County. She stood in front of it. “I think we should get a canine cadaver unit to search the lake.”
Gavin inhaled sharply. Cadaver dogs were specially trained to detect human remains. Some could even locate a body under water. “You think the killer hid Stephanie’s body in the lake?”
“Her body and her car.” She pointed to a section of the map. “This area of Lake Hudson has several boat ramps, but they aren’t used anymore because the entire area is a protected wildlife refuge now. If I was the killer, I’d drive Stephanie’s car into the lake using a ramp. Or I’d get a boat and pull it into the lake.”
“It’s worth a shot,” Lieutenant Rodriguez said. “I’ll arrange for the cadaver canine unit to do a preliminary search—”
A knock on the conference room door interrupted her. Keith popped his head in. “I’m sorry to interrupt, Sheriff, but Mayor Scott is here. He insists on speaking to you immediately. And, a word of warning, he’s mad.”
Claire observed Mayor Scott pacing the length of her office through the glass wall. He wore a designer three-piece suit with a dark red tie. His hair, more gray than brown, was elegantly brushed away from his patrician face. A glower marred his handsome features. Claire had heard the rumors of Patrick Scott’s temper, but she’d never been on the receiving end of it.
Until now.
She wasn’t afraid of him. Patrick couldn’t fire her, but he could make her life more difficult. Claire didn’t believe in creating problems unnecessarily. She leaned closer to Keith, keeping her voice low to prevent any of the deputies working nearby from overhearing their conversation. “Any idea what he’s so mad about?”
“He refused to tell me. Sorry, Sheriff. I explained you were in a meeting, but he insisted on speaking with you immediately.”
The door to the conference room opened. Gavin and the rest of the rangers poured out. A female deputy at a nearby desk stopped what she was doing, her mouth gaping open. Claire couldn’t blame her. Every member of Company A was gorgeous. But Claire’s eyes immediately went straight to Gavin. He stood out. His chiseled features and gorgeous eyes were striking, but it was what was inside that really grabbed hold of her. He was brave and kind. Warm. Caring. Genuine.
