AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Kaj checked his phone, surprised to see that he had a signal. “I’m going to call Val and check on Elijah.” Because he couldn’t just stand there doing nothing. He was tired and jittery from nerves and caffeine. He stepped away from Burke and André and dialed Val’s number.
“Yeah?” she asked cautiously.
“It’s Kaj.”
“I know,” she said dryly.
“Elijah’s with you? He’s okay?”
“Affirmative to both.”
“We found the camp, but it’s gone. Blown up.”
“What the hell? Are you serious?” she asked, sounding stunned.
“Oh yeah. And... I think we’ve found part of Dewey. André’s sent divers in.” One of the divers emerged, waving at André. “I think they found something. I need to go.”
“Call me when you know more. Bye.”
The final word was said with affection and concern, and it warmed him as he walked to the edge of the dock. The diver swam up and deposited a large evidence bag near André’s feet.
In it was another arm. Kaj swallowed back bile. Most of one, anyway. The hand was gone. The stump had been gnawed on. Alligators. The arm appeared to be male as well, but not the same skin tone as the arm stuck on the tree root. The arm with the tattoo was heavily tanned. The one in the bag was fair-skinned and sticking out of a green sleeve.
“Two victims,” Kaj murmured.
“There’s one more pale arm down there,” the diver said.
“Three arms?” André said.
“Well, mostly,” the diver said. “There isn’t much left of the third arm. It’s going to take us a while to bring it all up. We’ll work for as long as our air lasts.” With that, he disappeared under the water again.
“Shit,” André muttered. “Two victims. Jace only mentioned one.”
Kaj thought of the three vehicles hidden in the woods. “Could be one of the people Corey brought out here, blindfolded. One left, taking their vehicle, but one was dead, so Corey had to hide the man’s car. Maybe this happened after Jace escaped.” Because he still wanted to believe the boy.
“Probably.” André sighed. “I was hoping Jace was telling the truth, and so far, everything he’s said has been right.”
“And we now know that Corey has access to explosives,” Burke said.
“He was army,” Kaj said. “He worked munitions. I went through his background when I was investigating Aaron, but I didn’t go any deeper than that because at the time there wasn’t any indication that Aaron was dealing drugs in addition to using them and even less indication that Corey was involved.”
“I think we can safely assume that Corey is involved,” André said dryly.
“What about Bobby Landry?” Kaj asked. “He’s the ex-cop who’s partnered with Corey in their construction business. Did either of you know him?”
“I knew him,” Burke said. “He had a reputation for being a really cruel bastard. There were rumors that he was told he had to resign the NOPD or else.”
“I knew him, too,” André said, “and heard those same rumors. He was the definition of a loose cannon and his division was glad to be rid of him. I think everyone was relieved when he went into construction, thinking he was staying out of trouble. Guess that was wishful thinking. I’ll check with IA to see what they have on him.”
“Captain Holmes?” Detective Drysdale approached. “Clancy has something you need to see. I’ll stay here with these guys.”
Burke took out his phone and angled it so that Kaj could see but the detective could not. Burke was typing a text to Antoine.
Need a search on Bobby Landry, former NOPD. Find out why he was forced to resign.
Already on it. came Antoine’s instant reply. Val asked me last night.
“Val’s on top of things,” Kaj murmured, feeling a settling in his chest. She was capable and smart. Also very pretty and sweet. He trusted her—with his son’s safety and possibly his own heart. That she was interested in him, too, was a relief. He wasn’t sure how he’d have handled it if the only woman who’d gotten his attention since Heather hadn’t wanted him back.
