Cold Case Reopened

by Caridad Piñeiro

  When they found Selene, Rhea would do her utmost to make sure Selene was able to follow those dreams and escape her abusive husband. In a way, Rhea was a lot like the goddess after whom she’d been named. She’d always been a mother figure for Selene and others and would do anything to protect her, much like the goddess Rhea had hidden away Zeus to keep him safe.

  She’d been so lost in her musings, she didn’t realize they were already close to Aspen Ridge Road until Jackson pulled over just past the turnoff for that street. Parked ahead of them on the shoulder was a pickup with a dog box in the bed. As they stopped, the pickup door popped open and a man in hunting gear stepped out. A second later, two dogs also leaped from the vehicle and followed him to Jackson’s door.

  The two men shook hands, and Jackson’s friend leaned down to peer through the window. He was a handsome Latino with a dimpled smile and eyes the color of hot cocoa. “Good morning, Miss Reilly.”

  Jackson said, “Rhea, this is Diego. We served together in Afghanistan.”

  “Good morning, Diego. Please call me Rhea,” she said.

  “Rhea,” he said with a deferential dip of his head. He glanced toward the woods by the turnoff. “Am I in the right place?”

  Jackson nodded. “Our suspect claims he went up to a building site at the top of the ridge. Too easy to find a buried body with all the construction, so we think he did the next easiest thing.”

  “Tossed her over the edge,” Diego said and straightened to scrutinize the area. After he did so, he said, “Let’s get going. It may take some time to hike to the spot beneath that ridge.”

  “I agree,” Jackson said and looked at her, his gaze sympathetic. “You ready, Rhea?”

  Am I ready for what might lie ahead?

  “I’m ready.”

  THEY HIKED BENEATH the rising wall of the ridge for close to an hour, Jackson ahead of her, hacking through vines and thick underbrush. Yards behind her, his friend Diego gave the dogs free rein to check the area for signs of any decomposition. For signs of Selene. They didn’t hit on anything, which was both a disappointment and a relief.

  Sweat dripped down the middle of her back and her temples from the heat and humidity in the forest. Sweat lines were visible down Jackson’s back and armpits as he cut their way through the forest. In another half an hour, they finally reached a spot directly beneath the building location.

  Jackson stopped, sucked in a deep breath and wiped away sweat with a muscled forearm. He shot a quick look at her. “You okay?”

  Her legs were trembling, she was a little out of breath and a lot hot, but she shook her head and said, “I’m okay.”

  Jackson peered over her shoulder at Diego. “How about you, amigo?”

  Diego smiled. “A walk in the park,” he teased. With a hand signal, he set the dogs into action. They scurried into the nearby woods, sniffing here and there, jumping over fallen logs and beneath tangled vines. As time passed, it was clear they weren’t hitting on anything.

  With a low whistle, Diego summoned the dogs back. “Nada here. Maybe we should press on a little more.”

  Jackson sighed and looked at her. “You okay with that?”

  “I’m ready to do anything we need to do.” She was determined not to waste this opportunity.

  They pushed on, and then in an even wider circle in the area closest to the custom home’s location up on the ridge.

  But despite all their hard work in clearing the underbrush and hiking through the rough terrain, the dogs failed to locate anything.

  It was impossible for Jackson not to see the mixed emotions spiraling through Rhea. Despair. Relief. Disappointment. Hope.

  He laid an arm around her shoulders and drew her near. Brushing a kiss on her temple and ignoring Diego’s surprised look, he said, “Don’t let this get you down. We’ll find her.”

  She turned into him and murmured, “It’s just... I don’t know. I’m upset, but also relieved, you know.”

  He knew, boy, did he know. “Let’s go grab a bite and regroup. Decide what else we have to do in Avalon before heading home.”

  Home. His cabin had always felt like home, but with Rhea there now it felt more...complete, worrying him.

  It was too much, too soon and, as Diego shot him another questioning look, he realized his friend was likewise wondering what was up.

  Rhea nodded, and he released her so they could trudge back through the path they had blazed earlier. By the time they reached their cars, his entire body was bathed in sweat, and his arm was beginning to ache from swinging the machete to cut through the underbrush.

  At his cruiser, Rhea stopped and offered a smile to Diego. “Thank you so much for doing this. We really appreciate your help.”

  “Anything for an old friend,” Diego said and clapped Jackson on the back. Maybe a little too hard, Jackson thought and grimaced as pain swept across his lower back.

  “We do appreciate it, amigo,” Jackson said, but sensed his friend wanted a private moment. Especially when Diego jerked his head in the direction of his pickup.

  He got Rhea settled in the cruiser. “I’ll be back in a second.”

  She nodded, and he joined his friend as Diego rewarded his dogs and then loaded them into their boxes.

  With a quick glance in Rhea’s direction, Diego said in a low whisper, “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  Jackson didn’t dare look toward Rhea, afraid he’d reveal too much. He also wasn’t sure what to tell his friend. “I know we’re trying to investigate her sister’s disappearance.”

  “But that’s not all, Jax. It’s obvious you have feelings for her,” Diego said and finished securing the latches on the dog boxes. He leaned on the tailgate. “Is that going to compromise your investigation?”

  “No. I won’t let whatever is happening between us change what I have to do.”

  Diego arched a brow. “Which is?”

  “Find out what really happened to Selene Davis.”

  Chapter Ten

  After grabbing a quick bite at an outdoor café, they decided it was worth a go at the building location. They also wanted to look around Matt’s home, but Matt refused to allow any inspection without a warrant.

  Matt’s client was not as reluctant. In fact, he welcomed it.

  “I want this all behind me, and would feel better knowing there’s nothing going on at my home,” he said on the phone.

  With that approval, Jackson, Rhea and Diego went to the ridge and allowed the cadaver dogs to roam the property. They were just about finished when Matt pulled up in his SUV and jerked to an angry stop in front of the home.

  He jumped from the SUV and came at them, jabbing his finger in their direction. “You have no right. No right,” he shouted.

  Jackson tucked Rhea behind him protectively and braced for Matt’s attack, but at his glare, Matt stopped dead in his tracks. But apparently Rhea wasn’t about to hide behind him.

  With the spunk he’d come to love, she shifted from behind him and said, “We have every right. We have the owner’s permission, because he has nothing to hide.”

  “I have nothing to hide,” Matt said and jabbed his chest angrily.

  “Seems to me that if you had nothing to hide you’d let us search your yard,” Jackson said and gestured to the dogs who had returned to Diego’s side.

  “You’re six months too late. I’m done with this. I’m done with being harassed. You can bet I’m going to file a formal complaint.”

  Without waiting for a response, Matt whirled and stomped back to his SUV. Gravel spewed from beneath the tires as he whipped around and raced away.

  “Someone’s got anger issues,” Diego said as he watched the SUV bounce down the road.

  “It hurts to think of Selene suffering from that anger,” Rhea said, the sheen of tears brightening her gaze. “What do we do if he files a complain
t?”

  While Jackson liked that it was a “we,” he didn’t want Rhea to worry. “Let him file a complaint. It won’t go far. We’ll put together all our evidence for the Avalon PD and see if they can’t get a warrant to search the property with the dogs. Especially the bonfire area.”

  Rhea peered at the animals. “They can identify remains if there’s been a fire?”

  Diego nodded. “Their sense of smell is strong enough to detect human remains in ashes. Especially if they have a scent to pick up on. Do you have anything with Selene’s smell on it?”

  With a quick nod, she said, “I do, but back in Denver. Do you want me to get it?”

  It was nearly a two-hour trip to Denver, but totally worth the time if Diego’s dogs could rely on the scent. “Are you sure about the ashes?” he asked his friend.

  Diego nodded. “It’s possible, Jax. I can come back once you get the warrant.”

  With a nod, he looked at Rhea. “I guess we’re going to Denver.”

  IT WAS DARK by the time they started the trip back to Regina from Denver. Rhea had picked a number of items that Selene had left behind in her apartment, and then they stopped for dinner since it was getting late.

  It has been an emotional day, Rhea thought as she sat in silence beside Jackson. She’d been filled with dread as they’d hiked through the woods. Not finding Selene’s body had been a mixed blessing.

  When they were almost on the outskirts of Regina, Rhea said, “Thank you for arranging for Diego to help us today.”

  Jackson shot her a quick look, then immediately glanced in the rearview mirror. “He’s a stand-up guy. I knew he’d come if I asked him.”

  “He served with you?” she asked and, as Jackson again checked the rearview mirror, Rhea likewise looked over her shoulder and saw something way behind them. The lights on the vehicle were off, making it difficult to see it on the dark roadway.

  “What is that?” she asked, eyes narrowed as she examined Jackson’s face to gauge just how worried he was.

  “Nothing good,” he said and swept his arm out to press her back against the seat. “Hold on.”

  He increased his speed, trying to put distance between them and the vehicle that was racing toward them. In front of them, a slow-moving lumber truck blocked the road, and they were on a section of highway that made it difficult to pass.

  Jackson muttered a curse beneath his breath and slowed. He shot another look in the rearview mirror, and she did the same. The unknown vehicle was advancing on them. Too quickly.

  Inching into the lane for opposing traffic, Jackson whipped back behind the truck at the sight of lights coming toward them.

  He splayed his hand across her upper chest and said, “Brace yourself.”

  The first hit against the back of the car sent her reeling forward and back, while Jackson battled to maintain control, working the steering wheel to stay on the road. Hitting the brakes to stay away from the back of the lumber truck and the logs that would break through the windshield and kill them.

  A second jolt had the cruiser swerving, fighting against the momentum sending them toward the truck and a fatal collision.

  Jackson swung the wheel into opposing traffic, searching for an escape, but the threat of lights coming toward them drove him back behind the truck again.

  He shifted to the open shoulder and hit the gas. Gravel pinged against the underside of the cruiser. Another ram almost sent them off the shoulder and into the woods beside the road.

  As soon as Jackson cleared the truck, he swung in front of it, earning a loud blare of the truck’s horn as he cut if off. He used the truck as a shield for their rear, but the vehicle that had been chasing them switched tactics.

  While riding on the shoulder, the vehicle smashed into the side of their car, sending them into the opposing traffic. It swung into the lane, blocking their way back onto the right side of the road, leaving Jackson little choice but to race onto the far shoulder. It was much narrower and, as he did so, the cruiser sideswiped a number of trees until he jerked to a rough stop.

  Their attacker sped away, any view of them blocked by the slow-moving lumber truck.

  “You okay?”

  Am I? she wondered, finally taking a deep breath. Her heart pounded so powerfully in her chest it echoed in her ears.

  “I’m okay,” she said, forcing calm into her voice even though she was anything but.

  The lumber truck had stopped, and the driver exited the cab and came racing over. Jackson lowered the windows on the cruiser to speak to him.

  “You folks okay?” he asked, leaning in through Rhea’s window.

  “We’re okay. Did you get a plate number on the vehicle that hit us?” Jackson asked.

  The trucker shook his head. “No, sorry. I was too busy trying to control the truck. All I can tell you is that it was a Jeep Wrangler. Red, I think.”

  Jackson and Rhea shared a look. “How about the driver?” Rhea asked.

  The trucker tossed his hands up in apology. “No, sorry. Didn’t see him.”

  “Mind if I get your contact info before you go?” Jackson asked and, without hesitation, the trucker pulled out his wallet and handed Jackson his license. Jackson snapped a photo and handed it back to the man, who ambled to his truck and took off.

  Jackson grabbed his radio to call in the incident, but they were in a dead zone. Same for their cell phones.

  Grumbling, Jackson said, “We’ll have to drive closer to town to get a signal. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  Rhea blew out a rough laugh. “As okay as you can be when someone tries to kill you.”

  Jackson brushed the back of his hand across her cheek. “Davis is obviously angry that you’re not letting this alone.”

  “I won’t let it alone until we know what happened to my sister,” Rhea said, no doubt in her voice despite the fear that had filled her barely moments earlier.

  Jackson smiled. “That’s my girl.”

  She wanted to say she wasn’t his girl or anyone else’s, but in truth, it felt good. She felt good. Protected despite all that had happened in the last few days. Jackson would keep her safe, but she was no damsel in distress. She’d keep him safe, as well.

  The cruiser, damaged and worse for wear, could be driven, and Jackson pulled back onto the road.

  In less than fifteen minutes they had arrived at the Regina Police Station where Jackson had to file various reports regarding the attack. While he did so, Rhea sat beside his desk, sipping on a coffee someone had been nice enough to bring over. Despite the heat of the liquid, a chill had settled into her center as she considered that someone had tried to kill them.

  Matt? she wondered again, despite the call to the Avalon police who had confirmed that Matt’s Jeep was sitting in his driveway with a cold engine and nary a scratch on the vehicle.

  A gentle hand on her knee pulled her from her thoughts. “I’ll only be a little longer,” Jackson said.

  She nodded. “It’s not a problem. Take whatever time you need.” She didn’t think she could sleep anyway once they got home. Cradling the coffee mug in her hands, she let it warm her cold fingers and still the slight tremble.

  Less than five minutes later, Jackson shuffled all the papers he’d been working on into a neat stack, shot to his feet and held his hand out to her.

  Without hesitation, she slipped her hand into his and rose unsteadily from the chair. He grabbed hold of the coffee mug from her other hand and set it on his desktop.

  A gentle tug on her hand urged her close, and he wrapped an arm around her. Hips bumping as they walked, they left the station and walked to a different cruiser. The first one was now evidence.

  Once she was seated, she wrapped her arms around herself, shock still filling her center with cold. “We’re going to find out who did this,” Jackson said and rubbed a hand across her shoulders.


  “I know,” she said, confident that Jackson would keep his promise.

  Jackson started the cruiser, turning up the heat and, little by little, the cold left her thanks to a combination of the warmth blasting from the vents and Jackson’s presence.

  Another police cruiser sat in the driveway of his home.

  Jackson waved at the young officer behind the wheel and the officer waved back, confirming he had their attention.

  “He’ll be there all night,” Jackson advised, and it offered some comfort.

  “Thank you for all that you’re doing. I know it wasn’t easy for you to buck your chief.”

  Jackson cupped her cheek. “It wasn’t easy, but everything that’s happened just confirms there’s more to Selene’s disappearance.”

  Rhea wouldn’t read more into his use of disappearance instead of murder or suicide. There still wasn’t enough to substantiate her belief that Selene was alive. But there was certainly enough to prove that whatever both police departments had believed might be wrong.

  “Do you think Matt had anything to do with what happened tonight?” she asked, certain that her sister’s husband had to have been the one who’d driven them off the road.

  Jackson blew out a breath and swiped his thumb across her cheek. “He’s my prime suspect, but if he did it, it was with another SUV. If he does own another one, we’ll find it.”

  With another gentle caress, he said, “Let’s get some rest.”

  She nodded and met Jackson at the front bumper. She tucked herself against him, wanting to not only draw comfort from his presence, but to offer it, as well.

  When they entered, she had no doubt where she’d be sleeping that night.

  Beside Jackson.

  Upstairs they separated only long enough to change, but she went straight to his room and slipped into bed beside him. Turning, she laid a hand on his chest. His skin was hot beneath her palm, and she cuddled close, laying her head against him. But despite that, she felt restless with too many thoughts racing through her brain.

  He eased his arm around her and splayed a hand across her back to hold her close. He soothed it up and down and said, “You need to shut it down and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”