Although he had voiced her hope as a possibility, Rhea was certain he didn’t believe it likely. But she’d take it for now.
“What’s the plan?” Rhea asked, impatient to continue their investigation.
“A trip up a mountain.”
Chapter Seven
Rhea had visited Matt’s client’s site barely a week after Selene’s disappearance. She directed Jackson down the highway for several minutes until the turnoff for a narrow gravel-paved road.
Jackson pulled the cruiser off the smooth highway and onto the rougher gravel. The car dipped deeply before beginning the rise to the building site on the ridge.
“This road had gravel when you came up,” Jackson said as he drove, navigating past a rut here and there on their journey up the mountain.
Jackson had given her a link to the digital notebook they had created the day before. She pulled her tablet out of her bag and, in no time, she had opened the notebook and navigated to the pages that held the photos she had taken shortly after Selene’s disappearance. She held the tablet up so Jackson could see it.
He stopped the car to take a better look at the photos. “Definitely gravel, but not as deep as right now. Do you remember how deep it was?”
Rhea shook her head. “I wasn’t thinking about that at the time,” she admitted, wishing she had been more observant.
Jackson ran the back of his hand across her cheek. “Don’t blame yourself. What you’ve put together is amazing.”
She appreciated his words and braved a smile. She scrolled to other photos of what the site looked like before any construction had taken place. “There was a lot of land cleared along the ridge. Plenty of places and time for him to...”
She couldn’t say it and left it at that.
Jackson clearly got it. “Let’s go see what’s up there now.”
They bumped their way up the road to the wide hilltop ridge where Matt was building his client’s custom home. A truck was parked before the home’s double garage doors. One of the garage doors was open, and a large stack of siding sat there, waiting to be installed.
“Looks like they’re almost done with the build,” Jackson said.
The home was a large contemporary structure, situated to provide views of the valley below, the town of Avalon and the mountains in the distance.
As they got out of the car, one of the laborers walked over, a puzzled look on his face. “Can I help you?”
“Detective Whitaker with the Regina PD. We’re just here to take a look at the site. Is that a problem?”
Obviously uneasy, the man held his hands up in a stop gesture. “Above my pay grade, Detective. I’ll have to check with the contractor.” Without waiting, he walked away, whipping out his cell phone as he did so. A short, clearly upsetting conversation ensued, but the man returned and said, “Matt says look away, but don’t bother the workers.”
Jackson dipped his head and touched the brim of his hat. “Thank you. We appreciate your cooperation.”
The man said nothing, only pivoted and returned to work, shouting out instructions to his people who were busy installing the siding.
Rhea brought up the photos again to show Jackson how the ridge had looked before the construction had begun in earnest, since there had already been some digging going on.
Jackson looked around, comparing the site to the photos. With a shake of his head, he said, “The home takes up most of the flat land at this point.”
He walked toward the home and backyard, Rhea following. With a sweep of one hand, he held up the tablet with the other and said, “This was all woods. They cleared a good bit to make this open space for the house, the deck and the grass area beyond that.”
Rhea nodded. “It was. I remember wondering how big a house they could build without taking down some of the aspens.” The thought stormed through her brain again about the aspens being one and feeling the loss.
Jackson tightened his lips and tipped his hat back. “It didn’t take that long to get here. When Matt made this round trip, he had plenty of time at this location, but... I can’t imagine him burying Selene anywhere on this ridge. Most of the land here would be touched during construction. It’s too risky.”
A numbing chill erupted inside Rhea at the thought of her sister buried here or somewhere else, and she wrapped her arms around herself. Rubbed her hands up and down her arms to chase away the chill.
Jackson immediately noticed and hugged her. “I want to check out the ridge,” he said, and they walked, joined together, to the edge of the property where the land dropped off sharply to thick woods at least a hundred feet below.
“It’s more likely he would have dropped her over this edge. The woods down there are dense and probably not well traveled.”
Jackson paused and whipped off his hat. He dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. “I don’t remember anyone searching that area.”
Rhea nodded. “As far as I know, they didn’t. They searched all along the ridge up here, but not below.”
“Well, that’s where we start tomorrow,” he said with a quick nod and urged her in the direction of his cruiser. He paused by the edge of the build site.
Bending, he ran his hands across the gravel. “It’s pretty thick. Enough to keep an SUV from getting too dirty,” he said as he rose and brushed the dirt off his hand.
She was satisfied by that assessment, but not about any possible delay. “Why tomorrow?” she asked, eager to do the search as soon as possible.
Jackson pulled her door open and she sat, but he didn’t join her right away. He leaned his arms across the top of the door and peered away from her as he said, “Today we see Matt again—”
“Why?” she asked, wondering at the reason for another visit.
Jackson met her gaze. “We press on why he spent so much time up here and why he says his car was dirty. Maybe even push him to let us examine his SUV again.”
“They found Selene’s blood in the house. On the sofa in the living room. Matt claimed it was from a nosebleed,” Rhea said and tried not to picture Matt hitting Selene. Hurting her.
“I know it’s hard but try not to think about that. We have to stay objective,” Jackson urged.
Rhea expelled a sigh. “Objective. She’s my sister. A part of me I still feel in here.” She laid a hand over her heart.
“I get it. When my sister finally told me about what was happening to her, I wanted to rip the guy apart, but that wouldn’t have helped her,” Jackson said. “We can help Selene by keeping calm and following all our leads.”
He was right, but it didn’t make it any easier. However, she would do as Jackson said. Well, for now. She wasn’t about to roll over if she didn’t agree with what he planned.
“So Matt first. Then Avalon PD. And tomorrow?”
“I arrange for my friend with the dogs to help us scope out the base of the ridge.”
He shut the door, walked around and slipped into the driver’s seat. Executing a K-turn, he started the drive back down the road. They had only gone about halfway when a shot rang out and pinged against the metal of the cruiser.
“Get down!” Jackson shouted and pushed her down with his hand.
Rhea’s heart thumped loudly as she struggled with her seat belt. Another shot and ping rang out. She finally got her belt free and sank even lower, burrowing against the dash and hoping it would provide cover.
Jackson had thrown his door open and knelt behind it for protection as he scoured the area for signs of the shooter. Another shot rang out, coming straight at them. Jackson grabbed his cellphone and called 911.
“Shots fired! Shots Fired! Aspen Ridge Road.”
“Say again,” the dispatcher responded.
“Shots fired. Aspen Ridge Road.”
Another bullet pinged against the door by Rhea.
“Identify yours
elf,” the dispatcher asked.
“Detective Whitaker. Regina PD. I’m on Aspen Ridge Road. We’re pinned down. Shots fired.”
“Sending backup,” the dispatcher said.
Jackson reached for his own weapon and shouted out to their assailant. “Police! Backup’s on the way!”
The response was the roar of a car engine starting up and the squeal of tires as they took off.
Jackson peered at her. “You okay?”
She nodded, unable to say a word, throat tight with fear. Heart pounding so loudly it was almost all she could hear.
Jackson rose, and she screamed out, “Jax, no! He could still be there.”
“He’s gone, Rhea. It’s okay.” He held his hand out to help her up.
Jackson swallowed up her delicate hand with his, and it was impossible to miss the violent trembling of her body. She was shaking so hard her teeth were chattering and he yanked off his jacket, leaned in and covered her with it. “It’s okay, Rhea,” he said again and tucked the jacket around her.
“Thank you,” she said, teeth knocking together.
The screeching sound of a siren approached, followed by the crunch of gravel as a cruiser shot up the road until they were in sight of his car.
He held his hands up in the air and walked into plain sight. “Detective Whitaker. I think the shooter took off down the highway.”
One of the Avalon police officers exited the car and called out, “Did you see what they were driving?”
Jackson shook his head. He’d been too busy making sure Rhea was safe and taking cover himself to see the vehicle. “Sorry. I didn’t.”
The officer said something to his partner, who also got out of the car. The duo approached and Jackson greeted them. “Detective Whitaker. Regina PD.”
“Officers Watson and Hughes,” Officer Watson said, and the other officer added, “You’re a long way from home, Detective.”
Cops could be territorial, and he got it. No one liked someone else stepping on their toes. “I am. I’m meeting with your chief later about the Davis case. I’ve got her sister with me,” he said and gestured to his cruiser.
The two officers shared a look, and then Watson took a small notebook from his jacket pocket. “How many shots fired?”
“Four. They all hit the cruiser. I was just going to check it out,” he said with a toss of his hand toward the vehicle.
They walked to Rhea’s side of the car where two shots had hit the passenger door. The road angled at that point, exposing Rhea’s section of the vehicle.
“He had a clear shot at your passenger,” Officer Hughes said as he knelt by the bullet dings in the door. “Low caliber, as well,” he added.
Jackson examined the damage and couldn’t disagree. He glanced at the impressions on the door and imagined where the bullets may have ricocheted. He walked to his side of the car and noticed a mark along the dirt wall on his side of the road. He went there as the two officers examined the opposite area and a stand of trees.
He smiled at the glint of metal in the dirt wall. “I’ve got a bullet here,” he called out to the officers.
“We have some damage to the bark but finding anything will be tough. Lots of duff in this area,” Officer Hughes said while Watson came over. He took a small evidence bag from his pocket, and Jackson gestured to the bullet.
Watson dug out the slug with a pen knife. Deposited it into the evidence bag. He held it up for Jackson to see. “Definitely a .22. Small caliber, but it could have gone through the doors.”
Jackson nodded. “He would have hit Rhea if that had happened. I wonder why he didn’t go through the window or the windshield.”
“You think she was the target?” Watson asked, one eyebrow raised in emphasis.
Jackson had no doubt about it. Between the intruder at the inn and now this, someone clearly wanted to scare Rhea off the investigation. Or worse.
He nodded. “She is, but they’re going to be sorely surprised. Rhea isn’t going to give up until we figure out what happened to her sister.”
“We cleared Davis,” the officer said, but there was something in the other man’s tone that hinted at more.
“Seems like you’re not buying the official story,” Jackson said.
The officer looked toward his partner, who gave him a “Go ahead” jerk of his head.
“We both always thought the story stunk, but we just couldn’t get enough evidence. If you’ve got it, we’re all for you putting that bastard behind bars,” Watson said.
Jackson tipped his hat in thanks. “Appreciate it. Right now I think we’re going to see that bastard, ask where’s he’s been the last hour and if he owns a rifle.”
“We’ll meet you there for backup,” Watson said.
Chapter Eight
It had been well over an hour since they’d gone up to the site and returned. Davis wasn’t at home when they first arrived but got there within a few minutes.
He appeared confused at the sight of the two police cruisers, but then immediately grew defensive as Officer Watson called out, “Hands on the wheel, Davis.”
“I haven’t done—”
“Hands on the wheel!” Officer Watson repeated and laid his hand on his holstered weapon.
Matt’s gaze skipped across all their faces quickly and then he complied. He looked straight ahead as he said, “What is this about?”
“Do you have a firearm in the car?” Officer Hughes asked.
“No. I’m coming from one of my job sites,” Matt explained, his jaw tight and mottled spots of color on his cheeks. His hands clenched and unclenched on the wheel.
“But you own a rifle,” Rhea jumped in, and Matt whipped his head around to nail her with a cold stare. Filled with hate, it sent a shiver down her spine.
“Owned. I had to sell it to pay off some bills.”
“I’m sure you did all the appropriate paperwork,” Jackson said, and at that, the color on Matt’s cheeks deepened and a nervous tic erupted along his jaw. He turned away from Jackson and faced forward again.
“Davis? You got the paperwork?” Officer Watson pressed.
Jaw muscles jumping nervously, Matt said, “No. It was a client, and I didn’t want to hassle them.”
“I guess you won’t mind us checking with him,” Jackson said.
Matt’s head whipped around again and said, “Her. I’d rather you not bother her. I can’t afford to lose a good client.”
“Where were you the last hour?” Officer Watson said.
“Like I said before. At one of my job sites. You can ask any of the guys there,” Matt advised.
“Trust us, we will. How about you give us the info so we can confirm your story,” Officer Watson said, while Hughes jerked his head toward their cruiser to indicate he wanted to talk to them alone.
Rhea walked beside Jax to the car, where the three huddled together as Hughes asked, “Is there anything else you need right now?”
Jackson glanced at Rhea, who said, “If we can, a look in his trunk would be great.”
“You want to look for the rifle?” Hughes asked, but Jackson quickly said, “Blood. I know your office checked earlier, but I’d like to see the trunk for myself.”
Hughes shot a look toward his partner and gestured to the back of the Jeep. “Ask him if he minds opening up the trunk.”
Watson leaned in toward Matt, who shook his head, but a second later the glass went up and the hatch unlocked with a kerthunk. Watson stepped away to let Davis exit the SUV and open the back so they could inspect it.
“I’m going to lodge a complaint. This is harassment,” Matt said as Rhea, Jackson and Officer Watson approached.
“This is an ongoing investigation, Davis, and you are the prime suspect,” Jackson explained.
Rhea was so thankful for the presence of the officers. She could neve
r have accomplished any of what had happened so far without them.
Matt shot her another withering look, but she refused to let him cow her. She met his stare head-on and raised her chin a defiant inch. Seeing that they weren’t going to back down even with his threat, he swept his hand across his open trunk.
“Look away,” he said.
Matt and Rhea walked over, and Rhea immediately noticed the difference. “You used to have a liner in here.”
A belligerent shrug was his answer until Jackson said, “Where’s the liner?”
“Tossed it about a month ago. It got damaged at a job site,” Matt said.
Jackson shook his head. “Convenient. Mind if we take a look anyway?”
“Look away,” Matt said facetiously.
Rhea watched as Jackson did, using a blue light to check for blood, she assumed. He did it thoroughly, examining every inch of the trunk area and then the ceiling, as well. But nothing showed up.
As Jackson stepped away from the trunk, Matt smiled smugly and crossed his arms. “Satisfied, Detective?”
Jackson tipped his hat back in a relaxed way, but Rhea couldn’t fail to notice the tightness along his jaw and the way he clenched his other fist, as if he was barely restraining himself.
“I wouldn’t be so smug, Davis. I’m like a dog with a bone and, right now, you’re that bone. I’m going to chew you up and spit you out in pieces to get to the truth about Selene’s disappearance,” Jackson said, voice calm. Maybe too calm.
Matt clearly understood. “I didn’t do anything to Selene. She ran away to her,” he said and flipped his hand toward Rhea, but didn’t stop there. Spittle flew off his lips as he said, “You were always in the way. Always putting foolish ideas in her head. Making her think she was something special. That she was too good for me.”
The heat of anger burst into flame in her gut. She stepped toward Matt and eyeballed him, barely inches away. She sensed Jackson and the two officers behind her, ready to move if Matt did, but if anything, she suspected it was Matt they’d have to protect if she lost her control.
In a deceptively neutral tone, she said, “Selene is something special. Something way too good for the likes of you. You never appreciated just how unique and wonderful she is, and I’m glad she finally realized that. And if you think Jax is determined—”
Cold Case Reopened Page 6
