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“Human remains were found in the trunk of a car pulled from Sufford Lake last night.The identification number was filed off, but the make and model match the vehicle that was registered to Callie Sloane.”
“And the remains?”
“Forensics pulled DNA from the bones.It matched the DNA on file for Callie.”
“So it’s her.”
He nods subtly.“Or what’s left of her after being submerged in over a hundred feet of water for the past ten years.Luckily, Sufford Lake is notoriously chilly, so it helped to preserve quite a bit of evidence.”
“Were they able to determine the cause of death?”
“Their investigation is still in the preliminary stages, but based on striations found in the bones of her rib cage, it’s believed she was stabbed in the lower abdomen.”
“Just like Gianna Vale.”I give him a knowing look.
“When the Chief of Royal Police informed me of the discovery, I thought the same thing.But he said Callie wasn’t stabbed to death, as was the case with Gianna.”
I tilt my head.“Then how was she killed?”
“The hyoid, the U-shaped bone in the neck, was fractured, which leads them to believe she died as a result of strangulation.”
“Strangulation?Do they know who’s responsible?”
“They have a lead.Strangulation is often attributed to domestic violence cases.”
“Jameson Gates?”
“Jameson Gates?”he repeats, clearly taken aback by my suggestion, brows knitting together in confusion.“Why would you suggest that?”
“Because he secretly dated her.Plus, Hayes Barlow once accused him of this very thing.”
Years ago, I never would have considered Jameson capable of something like this.Would have thought it just as absurd as my father does.Probably even more so.
Lately, I’m no longer sure.
Every time I see him, I can’t shake this strange feeling in my gut that he’s not who he claims to be.That he’s hiding something.That he has a dark side.
And maybe Callie was the unfortunate victim of that dark side.
“I assure you, Jameson Gates is not involved in Callie Sloane’s death.”
“You just said it yourself.Death by strangulation usually implies a domestic relationship.”
“Regardless of the ridiculousness of the suggestion, there’s not a single shred of other evidence tying Mr.Gates to Callie’s disappearance.But thereisa connection to Hayes Barlow.”
“Hayes Barlow?”I shoot back incredulously.
He nods gravely.“At the time of Callie’s disappearance, he owned a house on Sufford Lake.”
“Sufford Lake is quite large,” I argue.“Not to mention, if he was involved in her death, why would he bring attention to her disappearance?”
“All I can tell you is what the people trained in this sort of thing relayed to me.Based on witness statements from those familiar with both parties, there’s evidence that Hayes Barlow was infatuated with Callie Sloane.The reason she’d wanted to keep her relationship with Jameson Gates a secret wasn’t because of who he was, but because she feared how Hayes would react.Unfortunately, he found out, so Callie broke things off with Jameson to protect him from Hayes.Maybe even protect herself from him, too.As you may recall, Hayes Barlow was notorious for being a bit of a hothead, especially on the track.”
“But that still doesn’t explain why he’d go to the extremes he did to get the police to investigate her disappearance.Why would he do that if he killed her?”
He holds up his hands defensively.“All I know is what the investigators told me.It’s possible he reported her disappearance to cover his tracks.When no one took it seriously, he was upset he wasn’t getting the attention he thought he deserved.It’s not too much of a stretch to think he could have killed Callie, especially after what he did to Adam.”His eyes gloss over.“What he almost did to you.”
Anyone else would bask in the obvious affection and worry in their father’s voice.
