No Escape by A.J. Rivers

Author:A.J. Rivers [Rivers, A.J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dean Steele FBI Mystery Thriller
Published: 2023-08-30T16:00:00+00:00

The next hour is a blur. The EMTs quickly realized there was nothing they were going to be able to do for the man and bowed out of the situation. While the officers got statements from each of the three of us separately, the crime scene unit showed up and started going through the steps of managing a homicide scene. They photographed everything and collected what evidence they were able to, including fishing his wallet out of his back pocket to identify the man.

“Connor Morgan,” the detective reads, and Hannah lets out a gasp, falling back a step into Xavier.

He grabs her to help her stand up, and I go to her side.

“Do you know him?” I ask.

She stammers for a second like she hasn’t fully processed her reaction. “Yes. I mean, kind of. I knew him in high school. We haven’t really interacted much recently. Not since…”

Her voice trails off.

“Not since your brother died,” Xavier says.

Xavier has an incredible ability to confront words no one else wants to without hesitation. He can say things when no one else can or no one else is willing to. Whether he understands the feelings and thoughts behind them or not, he’s able to give people a voice in the moments when they don’t have one.

“Yes,” she says. “Connor actually worked at the haunt. He was there that night. I talked to him right before I went into the maze.”

“And you haven’t seen him since?” the responding officer asks.

“No, I have. But just briefly. When we drive by each other we’ll wave, and sometimes when I’m walking around the neighborhood he’ll be outside his house, and we’ll chat for a second. Nothing really personal, just small talk about the weather or whatever,” she says.

“He lives in the neighborhood?” I ask.

Hannah nods, wiping a tear from under her eye. “His parents bought the house next door to theirs before he was even born to use as a rental property. He lives there.” She pauses. “Lived there.”

“Someone is going to have to give notification to them,” the officer says.

No law enforcement agent relishes the thought of being the one who has to go to someone and tell them that their family member is dead, and this officer sounds like he is just as resistant as any other.

“Let me do it,” I say.

He looks at me strangely. “You? Why would you want to do it? You’re not a cop. You’re not even from here.”

“No, I’m not,” I tell him. “I’m a private investigator. And you’re right; I’m not from here. But that’s why I think I should do it. I am a neutral source. And because I’m not in law enforcement, they’re not going to expect details about the investigation immediately. They’ll be able to focus just on processing the news. Besides, if I do it, you can stay here and continue working the scene.”

He thinks about this for a second, then nods, gesturing with one hand like he’s brushing me toward the house. “All right. Go ahead.

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