Page 117 of The Advocate’s Ultimatum

“It’s more than that now.”

Nelson slid the evidence bag closer to Sabre. “Do you recognize it?”

She leaned in, careful not to touch.

Her eyes moved over the tiny scratches in the enamel, the worn clasp ring, the chipped edge near one wing.

“It’s the one I gave Hannah,” she said quietly.

Nelson folded his arms. “Or one just like it.”

“Yes. That’s possible.”

But none of them believed in coincidences that neat.

JP sat back. “So, Bay had the missing charm from Hannah’s bracelet.”

Nelson corrected him. “Allegedly.”

JP ignored that. “Then somebody wanted us to know.”

Sabre’s gaze stayed on the charm. “No,” she said quietly. “Somebody wanted me to know.”

The fluorescent light hummed above them. Nelson looked from the bracelet to the charm, then back to Sabre.

“Has Bay told you anything about her background yet?”

“No.”

“Do you think she is Hannah?”

“Maybe. I just don’t see it when I look at her. But either she is Hannah or she knows Hannah.”

“Or she knows Hannah’s abductor,” Nelson said. “You need to tell me everything you know.”

Sabre met his eyes. “That’s the problem, Detective.” She glanced once more at the ladybug. “I don’t think I know anything yet except that these two cases are somehow connected.”

As Sabre and JP walked out, he said, “I think it’s time to see Rourke again. Maybe he can give us some insight.”

Chapter 45

Thursday morning

Sabre spotted Daniel Rourke outside a small coffee shop in Vista with a paper cup in one hand, relaxed against the railing like he had nowhere pressing to be. Time had silvered his temples and put lines at the corners of his eyes, but it had also given him the kind of confidence that didn’t need polishing.

When he saw her, his face brightened. “Sabre.”

He crossed to her and pulled her into a hug. It was warm, familiar, and just a little longer than she expected.

Sabre stepped back first. “Hello, Daniel.”

He smiled at her openly. “You somehow look exactly the same and nothing like you used to.”

“That sounds like nonsense.”

“It sounded better in my head.”

JP came up beside her, relaxed posture, expression calm.