The Buried Girls (A Thomas Shepherd Mystery Book 5) by Dan Padavona

Author:Dan Padavona [Padavona, Dan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

29

Full dark enveloped Wolf Lake as Thomas returned to the office in his truck. Aguilar drove behind him in her own vehicle, the headlights of the Rav4 reflecting in his mirrors.

He wanted to apologize for the way he’d acted but wasn’t sure how to begin the conversation. She’d stopped calling him Thomas yesterday, and he worried their work relationship would never be the same. Heads lowered against the chill, they rushed into the office. She set her keys on the desk without a word.

“Find anything you can on Kaleb and Mia O’Sullivan,” he said. “Family members, friends. Maybe they’re in hiding.”

“That doesn’t explain the running car.”

“I know, but I’m out of ideas.”

She typed on her computer, and he staggered into his office, feeling as if he hadn’t slept in weeks. While she worked, he called up a digital map of the forest. He tapped his pen on the desk, feeling like he was missing something obvious.

Aguilar’s chair groaned as she rose.

“I found something,” she said in the doorway.

“Relatives?”

“Not yet. The trailer the O’Sullivans lived in? I looked up records, and it doesn’t belong to anyone. No one has owned the property in seven years.”

“What in the hell? Were they squatters?”

“It seems that way. How did they live there all this time with no one noticing?”

“Who would think to look up land records for a trailer in the middle of nowhere?” he asked. “We need to go back there and poke around some more.”

“Tonight? We just returned.”

“Tomorrow when it’s light out. This is an important finding, Aguilar. I’m not sure why, but we’ll figure it out.”

“I’ll get back to work.”

Before she turned away, he said, “Aguilar, can I talk to you for a second?”

She didn’t look like she was in the mood for a conversation, but he didn’t give her a choice.

“Anytime. You’re the sheriff.”

“I’m not the . . . well, yeah, I am the sheriff, but that’s not important. Please close the door.”

She did as he asked before taking a seat across from his desk.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“It’s me who did something wrong. I’ve been short with you, Aguilar. This investigation has me at my wit’s end, and I’m taking it out on everyone I care about. I just wanted to say I’m sorry for being a pain.”

“Lambert and I offered to run the investigation.”

“That’s unnecessary. I can handle the case, but I need to do a better job of managing my emotions. All you’ve done is offer to help, and I’ve acted like a control freak. That’s wrong. I need your expertise. You’re my lead deputy.” He waited for a few beats to compose his thoughts. “And you’re my friend.”

The hint of a smile quirked her mouth. It was the first time she’d seemed happy in days.

“You have been rather difficult.”

“No argument there. And Aguilar?”

“Yes?”

“Would you do me a favor and call me Thomas again?”

“As you command, Sheriff.” She chuckled. “I mean Thomas.”

“That’s more like it.”

“You’re dragging,” she said. “Shall I make smoothies? It might be a long night.

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