Cold Case at Carlton's Canyon

by Rita Herron

  Justin followed her up to the door, where she rang the bell. A few minutes later, a voice sounded and the door opened to reveal Donald in his wheelchair.

  But instead of looking scruffy and angry, as if he was living in the past, he was well dressed in dress slacks and a blue shirt and his hair was groomed.

  “Amanda?”

  “I’m the sheriff now,” she said.

  “That’s right, I heard that,” he said, his mouth quirking to the side.

  “This is Sergeant Thorpe with the Texas Rangers,” she said. “Can we come in?”

  “Sure. What’s this about?”

  “Kelly Lambert’s disappearance.”

  “That was shocking. I don’t know how I can help, but come on in.” He turned and wheeled his way through the two-story foyer to an office equipped with a state-of-the-art computer system.

  Reisling parked his chair behind his desk and indicated a coffee decanter on the sideboard. “Help yourself.”

  Amanda and Justin both declined. Her gaze was drawn to the high school trophies on a bookcase behind him. If his basketball career hadn’t been cut short, he would have most likely added college ones to that collection.

  “Donald, when was the last time you saw Kelly?” Amanda asked.

  Donald rubbed his temple as if he had to think about the question. Because he was fabricating a lie?

  “Honestly, it’s probably been months. She dropped by one day to ask me if I wanted to help with the committee organizing the class reunion.” He grunted. “Imagine that.”

  Justin cleared his throat. “Sheriff Blair told me what happened years ago. Her visit must have angered you.”

  Donald chuckled. “Actually I thought it was funny. I asked her why she thought I’d even want to attend, much less help organize the thing. It’s not like I’ve stayed friends with anyone from back then.”

  Anger hardened his tone. She couldn’t blame him. Hadn’t she thought the same thing when she’d opened her own invitation? And she didn’t have the reason to dislike their classmates that he did.

  “So why didn’t you move away?” Justin asked.

  Donald shrugged. “Takes money to have a place set up for handicap access,” he said matter-of-factly. “I’m not proud that I live at home—then again, my father is rarely here. He has his own office and travels. And I stay in the guesthouse. He also fronted me startup money for my own business. Now, I’m doing pretty well,” he said. “I’ve been looking at buying a condo in the city.”

  Amanda offered him a smile. “It sounds like you’ve made a success of yourself.” Not as if he was stuck in the past.

  He gave a sarcastic laugh. “Business is good. But not a lot of women can handle the chair.”

  Sympathy for him stole through Amanda.

  “Where were you day before yesterday?” Justin interjected.

  Donald’s expression turned to steel. “What? Why? You don’t think I had something to do with Kelly’s disappearance, do you?”

  The strained second that followed answered his question.

  He cut his eyes toward Amanda. “Amanda, why would you think that?”

  “You suffered a terrible tragedy and got the raw end of the deal. Everyone said Lynn was driving the night of your accident.”

  “That must have eaten at you all these years,” Justin said in a dark voice. “Watching her go on with her life, date other guys, have everything you missed out on with no consequences.”

  Any semblance of friendliness faded from Donald’s face. “Even if I did harbor resentment toward Lynn, why the hell would I hurt Kelly?” His voice rose an octave. “Besides, I thought some sicko stalker was kidnapping those women.”

  Justin crossed his arms. “It’s possible that the kidnapper hates all women who remind him of the one who first hurt him.”

  Tension stretched between the two men as Donald realized the implications of Justin’s statement.

  Donald pressed a hand over his chest. “Look, that person is not me. I decided a long time ago that anger was only holding me back.”

  “That’s very mature of you,” Justin said.

  Amanda pursed her lips. “So you forgave Lynn?”

  “Yes.” A mixture of emotions seethed in Donald’s eyes. “You may not believe me, but look at me.” He gestured at his chair. “Even if I wanted revenge or was this sick person you’re talking about, how the hell would I kidnap anyone and get away with it?”

  “Donald, we’re just trying to get to the truth,” Amanda said calmly. “One of the missing women was found in Camden Creek. She’d been strangled and was holding one of our class rings.”

  “So you think someone in our class murdered her?”

  Justin spoke up. “Someone who had a beef with the females. After your accident, we heard that the girls turned you down for dates.”

  Pain wrenched Donald’s eyes. “I admit it was a rough time, but that doesn’t make me a killer.”

  “We’re talking to everyone still in town and everyone coming in for the reunion,” Amanda said.

  “What about your father?” Justin asked.

  A muscle ticked in Justin’s jaw. “What about him?”

  “You may have forgiven Lynn and accepted your situation, but did he?” Justin asked. “He probably enjoyed watching you play basketball. He had big dreams for you. Then those dreams were crushed because some teenager caused your paralysis. That would be enough to set off any parent.”

  Donald gripped the wheels of his chair and flew around his desk. “I think you need to leave now.”

  “Please, Donald,” Amanda said. “If you know anything about Tina’s death or Kelly’s disappearance, tell me. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt.”

  Donald gestured toward the door. “I told you what I know. Now, if you want to talk to me again, go through my attorney.”

  * * *

  “I WANT TO talk to Reisling’s father,” Justin said as they left the estate.

  Amanda fastened her seat belt. “He has an office in town.”

  “You feel sorry for the guy, don’t you?” Justin asked.

  Amanda twisted sideways to look at him. “I don’t know what to think. If he’s truly forgiven Lynn, then maybe he’s found some peace and happiness and he’s not our perp.”

  “But his father might be,” Justin pointed out. “A parent’s love is the strongest bond there is. I’ve seen fathers, especially fathers of athletes, do outrageous things to help their kids succeed.”

  “I know there are stories of fistfights at little league games, and dopers at the Olympics—”

  “And parents who sought revenge against another person for hurting their child.”

  Amanda bit her lip as they lapsed into silence.

  Ten minutes later, they arrived at Reisling’s office on the corner of town. Justin faintly wondered why the man hadn’t kept his office at home as his son had, but figured Reisling had other employees working for him and needed a professional space.

  He was worried about Amanda, too. Knowing the people in town made it more difficult for her to treat them as suspects.

  She obviously hadn’t seen the harsh realities he had on the job. Teenagers killing their parents. Husbands and wives taking out hits on one another.

  Babies abused and children mistreated in heinous ways.

  “Were you and Donald friends growing up?”

  Amanda shook her head. “I told you before, I wasn’t in the popular crowd. He was.”

  “Until the accident,” Justin clarified. “Coupled with the loss of his scholarship, losing his social status and the extra burden of helping him start his business, his father could have broken.”

  Amanda sighed wearily. “I know logically you’re right. But it’s hard for me to believe that a serial killer has been living in Sunset Mesa all this time and no one caught on.”

  Justin wanted to cut her some slack. “Sometimes people are blinded because they’re too close to the situation.”

  “To see the fores
ts for the trees,” Amanda finished. “But surely a friend or family member would have noticed something suspicious.”

  Justin parked, noting as they walked up the sidewalk that the office space was the nicest building on the street. Reisling must have spent some major bucks on renovations. “It’s possible that the killer lives alone. Or that if a family member noticed something suspicious, he or she is in denial.”

  Amanda sighed. “Or they feel indebted enough to the unsub not to turn him in.”

  He reached for the door to the office. “That would fit Donald. He has to feel indebted to his father.”

  “I don’t like this,” Amanda said. “But I like even less the fact that a killer might have been hiding in town right under my nose.”

  Justin squeezed her arm. A dangerous move because heat blazed through him instantly. Amanda glanced down at his arm, then licked her lips, drawing his gaze to her mouth.

  Damn. She had luscious full lips. Lips he wanted to taste.

  “Don’t beat yourself up, Amanda,” he said softly. “This string of disappearances started long before you took office. You were only a teenager back then.”

  “Yes, but when I think about my classmates, I can’t imagine any one of them committing these crimes.”

  He dropped his hand and opened the door. “Let’s talk to Reisling.”

  The inside of the office was plush and modern, nothing like the Western feel of the town. Steel gray and chrome furniture, a high-tech computer where a receptionist sat and expensive artwork.

  He didn’t feel as if he was in Texas anymore.

  Amanda led the way to the receptionist’s desk. “We need to talk to Mr. Reisling.”

  The middle-aged woman with platinum hair frowned up at Amanda, giving her a jolt of surprise.

  “Mrs. Kane, I didn’t realized you worked here.” Or that she worked at all. She had been the country-club type.

  “Yes,” the woman said with a sheepish look. “I’ve been here a couple of years now. Mr. Reisling’s good to me.”

  Amanda glanced sideways at Justin. “Is he in, ma’am? It’s important we talk to him.”

  Confusion marred the woman’s face, which obviously had had some touch-up work. “Can I tell him what this is about?”

  Justin flashed his badge. “Tell him it’s urgent police business.”

  She rose, diamonds and jewels glittering, then disappeared through a doorway that probably led to more offices in the back.

  “You seemed surprised to see her here,” Justin said.

  Amanda jammed her hands in the pockets of her jacket. “I am. She was one of those tennis moms who had maids and martini lunches.”

  Justin started to say something more, but the door opened, and Mrs. Kane waved them through, then led them into a hallway and to an office space that was even plusher than the entry and waiting area. The computer system outdid the sheriff’s office’s ancient one by thousands of dollars.

  Mr. Reisling greeted them with shakes of their hands and indicated for them to seat themselves in the area in the corner. A sparkling water decanter sat by crystal glasses, along with a fancy espresso machine, and a fully loaded bar ran along the back wall. Reisling offered them a drink, but Amanda shook her head and Justin cut straight to the chase.

  “Mr. Reisling, we’re investigating the disappearance of several young women from this area over the past ten years, the most recent being Kelly Lambert. We also recently recovered the body of Tina Grimes.”

  Mr. Reisling smoothed a hand over his red tie. “I don’t understand what that has to do with me.” He glanced pointedly at Amanda. “What’s going on, Sheriff?”

  “A class ring from Canyon High was found in Tina’s hand, Mr. Reisling. Added to the fact that all the girls lived in the town at one time and that the majority of the victims attended the local high school, we believe the abductor/killer is from this area. That he has some personal beef with these young women.”

  Reisling shook his head, his right eye twitching. “I still don’t get why you’re here.”

  “Because we know what happened to your son,” Justin said flatly. “How unfair it was that he was permanently paralyzed and persecuted for driving under the influence when the girl that was with him escaped and then dropped him.”

  “Good God, that happened ages ago,” Mr. Reisling said, his face reddening with anger. “And yes, I was bitter, sometimes still am bitter, because that little tramp lied and hurt my son. But—” he stepped closer to Amanda, eyes flaring “—my son forgave her and managed to make something of himself. So I’m incredibly proud of him.”

  “That doesn’t mean you didn’t harbor hatred for all the girls who turned him down for dates after the accident.” Justin matched the man’s intimidating stance.

  If the guy laid a finger on Amanda, he’d deck him.

  “Maybe I did hate them,” Reisling said, his lips curled into a snarl. “But that doesn’t mean I’ve been kidnapping or killing them! I’m a businessman and well respected in this town.” He jerked his thumb toward the door. “Now, unless you’re here to arrest me, get the hell out of here. And leave my son alone. He’s suffered enough.”

  Amanda’s phone buzzed, cutting into the tension, and she snatched it up and headed to the door.

  Justin clenched his jaw. Reisling was the kind of man who used his power and money to get what he wanted. The man might not be guilty, but Justin didn’t like him. Reisling was smart, calculating and, he suspected, vindictive.

  If he was methodical in his business, he was probably also meticulous, organized and patient—patient enough to wait ten years to build toward his endgame.

  * * *

  AMANDA GLANCED AT the caller ID on the phone, surprised to see the number for Canyon High. Was this call about the reunion? Maybe the staff had heard about the discovery of Tina’s body and decided they should postpone it.

  “Who is it?” Justin asked.

  “The school.” She punched Connect. “Sheriff Blair.”

  “Sheriff, it’s Principal Blakely at the high school. You need to get out here.”

  Amanda gripped the phone tighter. “What’s wrong?” Not a school shooting. God, there were too many of those....

  “This morning when our track team met at the track, they found a body on the bleachers in the stadium.”

  Amanda’s legs threatened to buckle. “Who is it?”

  “Kelly Lambert. She was murdered, Sheriff. Murdered and left here for the kids to find.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Amanda staggered toward the car. “Lock the school down, Principal Blakely.”

  “It’s on lockdown and we’ve confiscated cell phones, but I can’t say for sure that one of the students hasn’t already texted or sent this out. There may be photos already on the internet.”

  Oh, God...

  “We have to contain the situation,” Amanda said. “Keep everyone away from the field. I’m on my way.”

  Her vision blurred with the mind-boggling implications of the phone call. “We need a CSI team at the school along with extra officers,” she told Justin as he met her at the car.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Kelly Lambert’s body was found on the high school bleachers in the football stadium.”

  Which meant everyone in the entire school needed to be questioned. And that whoever had killed her was ready to make a bolder statement... and to make that statement in a public way.

  * * *

  AMANDA’S FACE PALED as she disconnected, and Justin couldn’t help himself. He reached out and steadied her with his hands.

  “Amanda?”

  “I have to see her family before word gets out about this. If it hasn’t already.”

  “With teens and their cell phones, it probably is out,” Justin said in disgust. “People have no respect for privacy anymore. The more morbid or shocking the better.”

  Amanda visibly shook herself as if to pull herself together. “We need to go.”

  “I’ll cal
l for backup and for a crime scene team,” Justin said. “Hell, we’ll need a whole crew to question all the students.”

  Her phone was beeping again and she checked it. “Dammit, it’s Mr. Lambert.”

  “He knows.” They jumped into the car, and Justin started the engine and headed toward the school.

  “Sheriff Blair, Mr. Lambert—” A pause and Amanda massaged her temple with her fingertips. “I just heard, Mr. Lambert. I’m so sorry that you found out through a text.”

  Justin punched in his chief and explained the situation, and he agreed to send teams to help canvass the students. Phones would have to be kept, photographs of the victim and crime scene analyzed.

  Had someone touched the body? Changed anything?

  All details that would affect the investigation.

  They could only hope a witness had seen the killer leaving the body...

  No, the drop-off had probably been done during the night when the place was empty.

  But...if the perp was getting daring enough to leave a dead victim at a public place, maybe he’d gotten sloppy and they’d find some evidence this time.

  He glanced back at Reisling’s business and wondered if the rich cocky jerk had been at the high school last night dumping Kelly’s body.

  Was Reisling cool enough to fake his calm when they’d arrived at his office?

  “No, sir, you cannot come to the school,” Amanda said. “The school is being locked down, Mr. Lambert. Police and Texas Rangers will be all over the place. I promise you I’ll let you know as soon as we move her body so you can see her.”

  Justin heard the man’s sobs as he ended the call. Traffic was picking up with morning commuters, but Justin flipped on his siren and careened around cars and trucks, knowing every minute counted.

  This case was about to blow up in their faces. The crime scene was probably already contaminated six ways till Sunday. And now the suspect pool would only mount.

  Not to mention the press...

  He saw the first media van roll up just as he and Amanda did. He wished he’d had that coffee Donald Reisling had offered.

  It was going to be a helluva long day.