Page 41 of Forever Gone

Kelly waited.

“This is a temporary assignment. You report through me while you’re here. Case decisions come through this office, and anything involving the sheriff’s department is coordinated with Connor Chase.”

“Understood.”

“We document everything. No informal evidence transfers, no private arrangements with local agencies, and no assumptions that knowing the county means you can bypass procedure.”

“Understood.”

Selena returned to her chair and opened the Karen Sloane file.

Kelly remained standing for another moment. “I just want to help you, Selena.”

“Then help with the case.”

A small nod followed.

Selena drew in a measured breath and allowed the silence to settle. Anger had sharpened every detail in the room, from the lamp’s metal shade to the weak buzz of the ceiling fixture. Karen’s file gave her somewhere useful to direct that energy.

“Have you reviewed the initial report I sent to Washington and to the sheriff here?”

“Yes. Calloway sent me the preliminary packet last night. I read it on the flight and again this morning.”

“What do you know?”

“Karen Sloane, forty-one, recently divorced from Gerry Tomes. She rented Hannah Montgomery’s cabin for three months after moving from Loyall. A mail carrier found the front door open yesterday morning. Karen had multiple stab wounds and defensive injuries. Her tongue had been removed and left beside a word processor the killer deliberately smashed.”

Selena said nothing.

Kelly continued, “Gerry claims he was home drinking with his roommate, Mel Hinkel. Karen accused Gerry of breaking into her storage unit several days before the murder. Hannah Montgomery says Karen wanted somewhere quiet to write.”

“You did read it.”

“I said I did.”

Selena ignored the defensive edge.

“The local team is verifying Gerry’s alibi and processing the storage-unit report. We’re going to the sheriff’s department now. You’ll meet Connor, Deputy Arnold Shaw, and Cheryl at the front desk. Matt Price handles scene processing with Dr. Alistair Blethan supporting the medical work.”

Kelly reached for her jacket. “All right.”

“Blethan will test you.”

“I’ve worked with difficult medical examiners.”

“He’ll still test you.”

Kelly pulled the jacket on and lifted her laptop bag. “It’ll be funny seeing Connor. I guess it’s like a big reunion.”

Selena closed Karen’s file, stood, and walked out of the office without answering.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Kelly followed Selena’s sedan west toward Elmsview, keeping two car lengths between them.

The road left Eagleton through a line of small houses and auto-repair yards before bending between wooded slopes. Morning sunlight moved across the windshield as the trees opened and closed around the highway. Kelly recognized the turns even when the businesses beside them had changed. A feed store had become a discount furniture outlet. The old gas station near the county line stood abandoned, its pumps gone and its canopy rusting at the edges.

Elmsview appeared beyond the next rise.