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“She was an art conservationist at a museum, but painting became her life. Her bedroom at home wasn’t that big, and most of it was taken up with her painting gear. She said the light was good in there. And sometimes she’d go to museums and sit in front of famous paintings. She’d study them, copy them….”
“Did she study art at college?” Gary inquired.
“Yeah, but she’d never have done that without the senator. He paid for her tuition.”
“That was very generous of him,” Dan remarked.
“He wanted to help, andwecouldn’t afford it.” A faraway look came into his eyes. “Cheryl and him, they used to talk about art all the time, even when she was a kid. He’d take her to the house and show her all those paintings his family had collected for generations. Maybe that was what got her started.”
“So until her body showed up, she was a missing person?”
Pete gave another nod. “When she first went missing, the senator… I think he put a bit of pressure on the police department to give her case higher priority. They told him they were doing everything possible to find her. So then he hired private detectives, offered a reward. But there was no sign of her.” He studied his clasped hands. “I tried to hold on to the tiniest hope that she was alive, but I think I knew deep down. Because if she’d been alive, she would’ve contacted me. And as more years went by, I accepted she was dead. Then that tunnel collapsed….”
Gary held his pen poised. “We’re going to put together a list of everyone who knew her. Can you think of anyone we should definitely speak to?”
“First name that comes to mind is Lori. Can’t remember her surname. She worked with Cheryl, and she was something to do with art. Maybe she was an art conservationist too. Then there was Rayne… she was a friend from college.”
“We read the report on the assault in 1989. Aiden Reynolds.”
Pete scowled. “That lowlife. But I suppose you need to talk to him too. If I think of anyone else, I’ll let you know.”
Gary removed a card from his wallet. “Here’s my number.”
Pete took it, thanking him. “Will you come back and let me know if you find anything?”
“Of course,” Dan assured him. He glanced at their surroundings. “You live in a beautiful place.”
Pete’s face glowed. “And that’s only because of the senator. If it wasn’t for him, I’d….” He swallowed, then straightened. “Seeing as you’re investigating, you might want to look into those anonymous letters. Maybe someone found her after all. Someone from that guy’s family.”
Gary had had the same idea. “Did she keep any of them?”
“No, not one. I suppose that means there’s no evidence. Can’t really investigate if you’ve got nothing to go on.” He glanced at Dan. “Although I supposeyoumight find other evidence no one has even considered.”
Dan smiled. “That’s the plan.”
Pete stood, walked over to Dan, and grasped his hands. “Then God bless you for being part of this.”
Gary’s chest tightened at the sight of tears sparkling in Dan’s eyes, and he knew it was a reaction to whatever he’d felt during their contact. Gary might not have Dan’s gift, but he felt Pete’s grief as deeply as he felt his own. They had both lost someone precious.
No,lostwas the wrong word. They’d both been robbed of someone they loved.
We’re going to find out what happened to her. We’ll do whatever it takes.
Chapter Eight
AS SOONas they got back to their office, Gary was on his keyboard, tapping away.
“I’ll make coffee,” Dan suggested, amused by Gary’s noncommittal murmured reply. On the way to the precinct, the conversation with Pete Raskin played over and over in Dan’s head. He hadn’t given them much more to go on, and Dan was certain detectives would have interviewed Cheryl’s friends once the identity of the body had been revealed. But that part about anonymous letters and death threats….
There has to besomethingwe can find out about those.Connor Brightmore’s family was an obvious start.
By the time he returned to the office with a pot full of water, Gary was leaning back in his chair and smiling.
Progress.
“What have you discovered?” Dan set up the machine and spooned coffee into the filter.
“I’ve been running checks on Aiden Reynolds, the guy who assaulted Cheryl while on a date.” He peered at the notes he’d made. “Okay. He’s got a background in civil engineering. Worked mostly in construction: roads, bridges, tunnels. What’s interesting is who employed him at the time of his arrest.”
