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“We’ll never know because we had fathers who knew their priorities. We had great dads. It’s unfortunate that people become parents who really shouldn’t be parents,” I tell him.
Zeke appears at my door grinning from ear to ear. “Guess what I found?”
I don’t even have time to open my mouth before he’s spewing all kinds of computer jargon about cross searches and algorithms and shit before getting to the words I needed to hear. “I got a list of all the employees. This manufacturing plant has a second-chance program to help ex-cons. They train and hire them to help them readjust to society. The owner was a troublesome kid, and some guy gave him a break. He made something of himself and wanted to do the same for others.”
“Not all ex-convicts can be rehabilitated,” I say. I think I get where he’s going with this. I sit straighter and lean forward. Damian does the same.
“So what have you got?” Damian asks.
“Here’s the list of employees who have been incarcerated in the last five years. He’s hired thirty. Some moved out of state after their parole was up. Some stayed and continue working there, and about ten are fairly new.” He hands me the list of names. “I thought you could check through the list and see if you recognize any of them. I’m working on their arrest histories but thought one of these guys might stand out.”
I peruse the names. Some look familiar, but nothing pops. I shake my head. “No one in particular.”
“Right, well, I’m digging deeper. That’s your copy.” Zeke disappears back into his office. He’s a man on a mission.
“I need to get that guy a sandwich. He won’t come out of there until he finds something,” I kid.
“Or until Jasmine calls for him to come home,” Damian says with a laugh, because it’s true. A couple of nights, we’ve had to resort to calling Jasmine to get Zeke to come home when he got wrapped up in a case. The guy is a dog with a bone when he gets working.
“I’m glad he’s on our side.” I chuckle.
When my phone pings, I see a text from Mason. Two words: All good. He’s been sending them every couple of hours to ease my mind.
I type back: Thanks. Can you drop Gwendolyn off and stick around until I get back?
No problem.A man of few words.
Alex’s annoyed tone catches my attention. “I need to go home and shower…for an hour. The guy has not one clue of how fucked up he is.” He looks toward the room holding the guy he walked in earlier. “At least in prison, they force them to shower.”
“Does he understand what he’s being charged with?” I ask.
“He thinks his wife is going to come to her senses and drop the charges,” Alex tells us, rolling his eyes.
“Even if she does, the kid is a minor and the DA is going to go after him anyway. The child has rights, and it’s the DA’s job to see to it that he’s protected,” Damian adds. “And it doesn’t matter anyway. The wife’s had enough. She’s done.”
“Good.” I nod.
I glance out at the floor filled with cops doing paperwork and see Zeke rushing toward us. He pokes his head in the door, his arm braced on the doorframe. “You’re not going to believe this.” Without waiting for a reply, he blurts out, “Dead body found.”
“What?” I rise to my feet, leaning forward, my hand on the desk.
“A patrol car spotted a car near Bear Lake. They approached. When they didn’t see anyone in the driver’s seat, they looked into the back seat and found blood. They pried open the truck and found a body stuffed inside,” Zeke says.
“We’d better get out there,” Damian says.
Alex nods. “Shit. Never a dull moment.”
“We’ve got to get to the scene.” I grab my jacket and head out. Damian and Alex are with me. I look over my shoulder and call out to Zeke. “Stay on that list. There’s a link, but we haven’t connected the pieces.”
It’s not far to the crime scene. The officers who found the car are standing off to the side and have secured the site. A small crowd has gathered, but police have kept them at a distance. I’m recognized as soon as I get close.
“This way, sir.” I walk alongside the officer, and he conveys how they came about finding the car. Details are important in our reports. “We’ve called the coroner. They should be here any minute. I’m not an expert, but based on the marks around her neck, I think the cause of death is asphyxiation.”
Alex stays with me, while Damian goes with the other officer. It’s procedure to make sure that when each officer recounts their story that they match. One may have more detail than the other and we can pick up a lead from what may seem insignificant.
When we come to the car, the trunk lid is down but not closed. I look to the cop and quirk my brow. He immediately answers, “I didn’t want her on display for someone to snap photos. I didn’t want anything leaking out on the web until we were done.”
“Good thinking, Officer Doran,” I say. Colby Doran has been on the force about five years and is studying for his detective exam. He’s bright and quick and will make an excellent addition to the team.
