Gone by Dawn: A totally gripping crime thriller with heart-pounding suspense by H.K. Christie

Author:H.K. Christie [Christie, H.K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2024-08-27T00:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-SIX

VAL

Since my release from the hospital, I had watched half the Harry Potter movies, been contacted by a serial killer, and found a missing girl. Talk about a week. Despite the craziness of it all, I felt pretty good, mentally and physically. The challenge of understanding the circumstances behind Scarlett’s death propelled me forward. It was the fuel I needed to keep myself from obsessing about the Bear. There was nothing quite like solving such a dark puzzle. But my instinct and experience were telling me that Jack Douglas could be in trouble. If the fear was deep enough for May to confess to murdering her daughter, there was no telling what they’d do to Jack if they started to get nervous.

Brady and I agreed it was imperative we reach Jack before anything happened to him. But I couldn’t help wondering what Brady and the sheriff’s department had in store for May. On the drive through the pitch-black, two-lane highway toward Jack’s motel, I said, “Do you plan to drop all charges against May?”

“I don’t see why not. After we talk to Jack I’ll call the district attorney and see how quickly we can get her released.”

“Good. I don’t think any jury is going to prosecute her for the desecration of a corpse, considering she didn’t really… she just buried her under her favorite tree. She’s sympathetic and a victim, if what she says is true. I mean, it’s so outlandish I don’t think she’s making it up.”

“No, and whoever she is dealing with has her scared—scared enough to make a false confession.”

It was good to know we were on the same page.

“This whole situation is nuts and it’s strange it happened right when you returned home… You’re either bad luck or good luck. I’m still trying to decide which.”

I couldn’t blame him. Was I bad luck? I didn’t think so, but I replied, “I’ll call the organized task force on Monday to get some help figuring out where the kidney came from and how we should handle it.”

“Have you worked with them before?”

“Not much, but from what I understand about organized crime, they deal in just about anything that will turn a profit, including selling organs to the highest bidder. Preying on the desperate, it’s sickening.”

“Yeah, and what about the donors? How desperate were they to sell their kidneys to make some money?”

“Anyone selling their body or body parts likely doesn’t have many other choices for survival.”

I had driven past the motel so many times in my younger years. I admired the charming, two-story wood cabin aesthetic that featured a tree-lined backdrop.

Brady parked in front of the reception office and I followed him inside. Jack hadn’t answered his cell phone on the drive over, so we had to find him the old-fashioned way. Behind the desk was a man I’d never met before; he was about sixty, with a terrible comb-over.

“Good evening, Dennis,” Brady said.

“Deputy Tanner, what can I help you with?”

“We’re looking for Jack Douglas.”

At this, the clerk scrunched up his face.

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