Page 85 of Dead Man's Alibi

Because this report, as it was, looked like absolutelynothing.Just noting what Jules Hyatt had claimed and not suggesting any kind of follow-up or belief that a real crime had been committed.

So why had he lied?

“Cal.He met her.Hetalkedto her.Don’t you think this means…”

Cal tried to work through all the ramifications.Yeah, it made Jake look suspicious, but what didn’t?It was still just circumstantial, more or less.

“It isn’t proof.Not proof enough.We need more.”

“But it’s good.It’s positive.It’s a step,” Jill insisted.

She wasn’t wrong.He just wished it wasmore.“I’m not saying it’s not.I just…” He didn’t want to admit out loud that he didn’t know where to go from here.

That, sure, itwasa step, but to what?

Maybe Sam had found something.If she hadn’t gotten herself arrested, anyway.“I’m just… I’m worried about Sam.”And if he was changing the subject to avoid admitting he didn’t know how to proceed, so be it.“She hasn’t checked in this morning like she should have.Luckily, I had her turn on her location tracking last night, but I’m going to have to use it and find her and hope she didn’t do something stupid.So, that has to be my focus right now.”

“Of course,” Jill said, wringing her hands together.“What was she doing?”

“Following Hayes.”

Jill’s hands fell at her sides, worry in her expression intensifying.“Cal, I saw him at the station.I didn’t see Sam’s car anywhere.It’s pretty noticeable.”

“She’s in a rental car,” Cal replied, but he still didn’t like this.It wasn’t like the parking lot at the police station was vast.If Sam was watching for Jake, she should have been noticeable.Of course, Jill wasn’t looking for her.

Still.“I’m going to get my phone and see where she is.”

Before he could even make a move for the stairs, a hard set of knocks sounded at the back door.

Frustrated with the interruption, Cal jerked the door open.Then scowled.Before he could even demand to know what Hayes wanted, the man was making demands.

“I need to get a hold of Sam,” Jake said.

Cal studied Jake.He looked rattled, which was really odd to see on Jake Hayes.And was aconcern, considering he was asking about someone Cal was struggling to get in touch with.

“Yeah, join the club.”

“You don’t know where she is?”Jake demanded, like he was Sam’s fucking keeper.

Which he assured himself he wasnot, even as worry gripped him.“No.”

Jake swore.And seemed a lot more than just frustrated.He seemed… concerned.

“What the hell is going on, Hayes?”

“I… I need to find her.I found something that concerns me, and I can’t get in touch with her or… someone else with a connection to it.”

“Details, Hayes.”

Jake inhaled, some of his usual calm cloaking him as he looked Cal in the eye and spoke seriously.“I still think your brother is a murderer.”

But there was something about the way he was dealing with this that made Cal wonder, because why did he need to qualify the situation?

“I… I had cause to review the security footage from the station the day Jules came in to report harassment.There’s footage of Jules and Officer Brian Mathews having a conversation on her way out of the station after talking to me.”

“That piece of shit?”Cal had no love lost for Brian Mathews, considering both he and Jake had fucked with Cal when Aly was dealing with her mom’s stuff last summer.“Does he have something to do with this?”

“Their interaction appeared… friendly in nature.They both get out their phones and appear to exchange numbers, but…” Jake shook his head.“There’s no evidence in Jules’s phone of this, which I find suspicious.”Jake inhaled deeply.“I have reason to believe that she then went out on a date with him the night she was murdered.It’s possible he saw something.I’ve tried to get in touch with him, but he’s… on vacation.”