Page 9 of The Missing Couple

Billie studied the grass and weeds. It had been cut in recent weeks so it wasn’t that tall, but it was clear to see the vehicle had left going north. He scanned the road in both directions as far as he could see. No CCTV of any sort out in the country like this.

He turned back to Charly. “We should go back and get my SUV. I’d like to follow the road. Maybe someone who lives in one direction or the other has a video doorbell.”

Charly didn’t look optimistic. “There are houses. Not that many. Some likely too far from the road to help even if they have a camera doorbell.”

He nodded an acknowledgment. “All it takes is one.”

“Right,” she admitted.

They started back through the woods. His cell vibrated in his pocket. He withdrew it, recognized the local area code. He answered with “Jagger.”

“Mr. Jagger, this is Deputy Lathan. We met yesterday.”

“Yes, Deputy Lathan.” Billie glanced at Charly. They both stopped as if being still was necessary for hearing whatever the man had to say. Fear raced down Billie’s sternum and lodged in his heart.

“We found your sister’s rental.”

The fear expanded. “Anything inside?” What he wanted to ask was whether she was inside but that terror currently choking him wouldn’t allow it.

“No bodies. Nothing relevant other than a handbag with your sister’s ID and such in it.”

Billie felt some measure of relief at hearing no bodies were found—at least not yet. “Where did you find it?”

“In the water off Sunset Drive,” Lathan said. “Whoever disposed of it here underestimated the tenacity of the local treasure hunters. Ever since that docuseries about finding lost gold coins and treasure, someone’s always poking around with that magnet fishing stuff.”

“I’d like to see the vehicle.”

Lathan gave him the location of the county’s property and evidence compound and said he’d be waiting.

Billie ended the call. “They found the vehicle she and Martin rented. It was in the water.”

“Is it at the evidence shed?”

Billie nodded.

“Come on.” She hurried forward once more. “I know the place. I used to play there as a kid.”

Billie followed. He wanted to be relieved there was no body…but he wasn’t. As much as this was a good thing, it was also a very bad thing.

Someone had taken his sister, and likely her husband as well, by force, but they weren’t reaching out for a ransom or whatever it was they were after.

The options outside a ransom of some sort were not ones he wanted to consider but at this point he had no choice.

His sister’s life depended on him and on the lady keeping pace with his wide strides.

He’d never really liked the idea of a partner. He preferred working alone. But he had a feeling he was going to need this woman.

Chapter Four

Marshall County Evidence Shed

Worth Street, 11:50 a.m.

When her father was sheriff—forever ago—Charly had loved coming here to play. The rules were a little different then. She doubted the current sheriff would bring his kids here. But Charly hadn’t been the usual kid. She’d loved to read—mysteries of course—and she’d loved trailing along after her father. Whether he was hunting or reviewing evidence, he was her idol. Some girls her age had been enthralled with movie stars or whoever was at the top of the music charts, but not Charly.

The white Ford SUV had been towed to the shed, arriving just ten or so minutes before she and Billie. Sheriff Tully Malone was on the way over. He, apparently, had decided to hold the press conference early. Charly suspected the change in timing was about keeping Billie away from the press.

Billie wasn’t happy about it but kept his cool. Even when the sheriff arrived, he made no fuss about being left out. Sheriff Malone had obviously concluded that such an official high-level crime needed his personal involvement and any and all credit should be his—however this ended. Except, she mused, if it didn’t go well then he’d likely find someone else to give credit. Charly chastised herself for thinking such a thing. Tully Malone was a good sheriff. He’d been on the job since her father died—sixteen years.