Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Laurel rifled through a stack of unpaid bills on the counter between the small living room and the dingy-looking kitchen. “Based on the jewelry and clothing Melissa prefers, I’d say she has plenty of disposable income. She should have helped her niece more.”
“I don’t know,” Officer Tso called from the bedroom where he rifled through drawers. “Haylee seemed pretty stuck on a serial killer. Melissa Cutting probably didn’t like that about her niece.”
Officer Jordan looked through a stack of magazines on the table.
Laurel didn’t know any of these people well besides Monty, and she barely knew him. Her team was gone. She was the sole FBI agent in the search. It had been a long time since she’d felt this isolated and alone.
Monty moved to the fridge and opened the freezer. “Got them.” He pulled out three frozen-looking plastic bags and gingerly extracted a journal from one.
“Good job.” Laurel peered closer, disappointment clouding through her. She’d have to wait until they defrosted to read. “They’re frozen, so let’s deliver them to the lab.”
Monty slid the journal back into the bag. “Officer Tso?”
“Coming, boss,” Tso said, lumbering over to plunk an aluminum evidence locker on the counter. “This thing’s heavy.” He opened the lid.
Monty gingerly placed the three journals into the locker and then shut it, twisting the lock. “We’ll keep looking for evidence that Abbott has been here, but you take this to the state crime lab now.”
Laurel straightened her back. They’d need at least another hour to go through the rest of Haylee’s apartment before they’d be finished. “Ask the techs to send me scanned copies as soon as possible without damaging the journals.” She calculated how long it would take for them to thaw out. “They should be able to have something for me by tomorrow.”
“They’re behind at the lab,” Monty reminded her.
“I don’t care. We need these now. Abbott’s on the loose, and we have to consider the possibility that he is not the killer of the three drowning victims.” If not, she had no idea how the news of Haylee’s death would affect him. While the media hadn’t learned of the woman’s death yet, too many people knew the truth. It wouldn’t be long before the public was made aware.
She shrugged off the unease she felt at missing her team as well as Huck.
Monty opened the fridge and started scouting through the contents, his movements slow and his face pale. “I don’t like that Haylee physically accosted you in front of the news media and now she’s dead. Rachel’s going to be a problem.”
“Rachel is always a problem.” Laurel moved toward a bookshelf in the living room.
Officer Tso patted the evidence box. “I should get going with this. Do you need me for the rest of the search?”
“No,” Laurel said. They’d found what they needed. She doubted seriously that Jason Abbott had set foot in this apartment.
Monty nodded. “Take Officer Jordan with you. She’s working on serious overtime.”
The brunette rubbed a spot of dust off her chin. “I could use a break. Thanks.”
Laurel looked around. “Let’s make sure that Abbott hasn’t been here.” She was finding it difficult to read him and follow his path or trace his movements. Hopefully, the journals would illuminate her.
“I’ll put a rush on these pages,” Officer Tso said, following Officer Jordan out the door.
Laurel wished she could have opened one to read a passage or two, but since they were frozen, she couldn’t risk it. Finally, she was a step closer to finding Jason Abbott.
Soon.
Chapter 26
Qaletega turned down the seat warmer in Jill’s SUV as she drove competently along the country road with trees flying by on either side. The clouds had parted to let the moon shine down, and the night could be considered romantic. In profile, she looked both strong and delicate at the same time. Her dark lashes were impossibly long, framing her pretty brown eyes.
“Stop staring at me,” she said, her lips twitching. “We just met.”
“I can’t help it. You’re beautiful.” They’d met a week ago, and he’d instantly been smitten. He searched for a safe topic of conversation. “I have to tell you, I am sick of winter.”
She looked out at the drilling rain. “Then you’re in the wrong place. Winter could last for months yet.”
“I read it’s going to be an early spring. It’s April. I imagine we’ll have sun soon.” He took vitamin D supplements as suggested by his doctor, but it wasn’t the same as warm sunshine. He was fumbling this conversation, but he’d never been that smooth with the ladies. “We might have a long summer, too. Tons and tons of sun for us both.” Now he was just babbling.
She chuckled, having taken off her Fish and Wildlife jacket. He tried not to notice the way she filled out her uniform.
“Why did you become a Fish and Wildlife officer?” he asked.