She Hides Forever by Georgia Wagner

Author:Georgia Wagner [Wagner, Georgia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

An air of defeat lingered in the break room.

Artemis and Forester were both frowning at Wade. The laconic agent was shaking his head, and repeating, “I double checked. It’s him.” His eyes were glued to his screen, studying video footage. “This morning... like he said, at that post office.” Wade looked up in disgust. “No way he was at the lake in our time frame.”

Forester slapped a hand against the back of a wooden chair by the break room table. He was leaning on a lumpy couch, nursing a Styrofoam cup of coffee, and having partaken in a Tupperware he’d snatched from the fridge with a note that read, Mavis—don’t eat. The note fluttered past the red, plastic lid as he pillaged the cold enchilada.

Despite his food pilfering ways, Artemis couldn’t help but share his sentiment. Instead of slapping chairs, though, she returned her attention to her phone, cycling through the screenshots of the postcards.

The words just didn’t make sense. She had been taught to recognize patterns, but there were none. If Joseph Baker wasn’t their killer, then what was he communicating with her father for? She lowered her phone with a frustrated sigh.

“Yuck, refried beans,” Forester muttered, wrinkling his nose and poking at his stolen food.

Artemis shot him a glance. “I’ll be sure to tell Mavis to avoid those next time.”

Wade was pacing now by the door. “Kayak wasn’t rented. Checked everywhere. All kayaks accounted for... He must’ve brought it with.”

“Wire,” Forester said, “a damn coat hanger. Sharpened on the end. So no go on that.” He sighed. “So what now? What are we missing?” His eyes darted from Artemis to Wade and back. “A sheriff’s granddaughter is dead. And we’ve got nothing. Everything that might have gone wrong for Robin did.”

“No witnesses?” Wade asked.

“None.”

“What about that pepper spray?”

Artemis frowned. “What pepper spray? Robin had pepper spray?”

Forester shook his head, though. Wade scowled. “In her car—she didn’t bring it with her.” This was the most agitated she’d seen Desmond Wade. Forester had once quipped that the field office had nicknamed Wade “Ox,” and she didn’t fault them. The man was built for hauling things.

“Might have to speak with the sergeant,” Forester said glumly. “At least, see if he’ll talk.”

Artemis winced at this suggestion. “You think that’s a good idea?”

“I don’t have any better. Your father is the one who said this is a serial case... Right now, that’s the first thing I’m thinking.” Forester lowered his stolen enchilada, frowning as he did. “The longer it takes us, the greater chance we’re going to find another body.”

“What about the jogging trail?” Artemis said. “Has anyone gone back over it?”

Forester nodded. “Yeah. Locals. Gonna be hard to see what they’ve found though, unless they’re in a sharing mood.”

Wade was still pacing, scowling as he did.

Forester shot a look at his partner. “What’s got you all twisted?”

Wade paused, frowning. “Don’t like water,” he said simply.

Forester snorted. “Good thing we’re in a lake town, then, huh?”

Desmond returned to muttering. Forester waved a hand in Artemis’ direction.

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