28 Days(15)

Coulter cleared his throat. “I recognize the bangle…or I remember a woman wearing an identical one. The charms I remember are the cowboy boot, the cupid’s arrow, the diamond, and the skull and cross bone. I’m thinking it’s too coincidental for someone to have those exact charms, don’t you think?”

“Hmm. It’s possible, unless it’s a pre-set design?” She shrugged. “But I’d love a place to start with identifying her. Save me time if you’re right.”

He nodded and looked back at the bangle. “Pull whatever records you can find for Jocelyn Peterson.”

Because he watched her closely, he didn’t miss the surprise that crossed her face. “Quinten Peterson’s ex-wife?” She shook her head. “There was an extended news report late last night about the trial, that it’s coming to an end.”

“Hmm.” Coulter straightened to his full height and stretched out the kinks forming in his back.

“What does, ‘Hmm’, mean?” Amber straightened next to him, a bit too close for comfort.

He moved away to give himself space to think because having Amber so damn close caused a lack of concentration. He shook his head and met her beautiful green eyes. “If that is Jocelyn Peterson, then I have no idea where to start. Her ex, who hated her and yes, the feeling was mutual, was already in his new home.”

He ran his hand over his head and down his weary face. “She was certainly alive for a while after the trial ended because she divorced Quinten shortly after it.”

“You really think that’s her?” Amber questioned, and stared at the remains neatly uncovered in the earth.

“It’s a guess at this point.” Coulter glanced at the evidence bag. “I know she wore one of those because I felt like snatching it off her wrist once or twice.”

Amber snickered. “Only once or twice?”

He shook his head. “You have no idea.”

“Okay, then.” Amber cleared her throat. “Let me and Claire finish off here and if we find anything else, I’ll call you.”

“Why would the killer leave her jewelry on her?” he queried to himself, but smiled when Amber took him up on the question.

“Perhaps he wanted her to be found. I also think that he wanted her to be found now, as opposed to years ago or even last week.”

His brows furrowed, and then his eyes widened and his gaze sharpened on the burial site.

He knew the answer but he was still going to ask the question. “She’d been partially unburied when the teenagers found her?”

“Yes. I asked them if they’d moved anything and they were adamant that they hadn’t. They called 911 as soon as they realized what they’d stumbled upon…but, look here.” Amber crouched to where the bones of the victim’s feet were visible and Coulter followed her. “See this? Neither my crew nor I dug around the feet. The boys swore they didn’t touch anything, so maybe the killer came back and decided to unveil her. Either he planned on digging her up and moving her or he wanted her to be found, now.”

Coulter straightened, continuing to stare at Amber. “You think the timing has everything to do with Quinten Peterson. That’s where you’re going, right?”

“If she’s Jocelyn Peterson, then yes, I do.”

“Shit,” he cursed under his breath.

“My thoughts exactly, Detective.”



* * *



11:00am



* * *



Well, this meeting was going well.

Whatever high hopes Alex had for the meeting with Daniel Sterling had crumbled within ten minutes of them arriving. Daniel had an excellent court record and even with all the evidence toward Quinten, Daniel hadn’t stopped appealing. He fought every step with Quinten and that was why it was so confusing, and annoying, that his brother’s only line of defense was being a total dick toward Saige.

Quinten hadn’t been the only victim in all of this, which was something Alex had begun to realize last night after he walked Saige back to her building.

If she genuinely didn’t remember anything, then he wanted to know more about her statement and, subsequently, the lineup of photographs she’d been given.

Up until now, Alex hadn’t had a problem with Daniel. He’d paid the man enough money over the years to file all the appeals, because Daniel sure as hell hadn’t done it out of the goodness of his heart.

But now, Daniel was acting out of character and was being extremely evasive.

“Enough,” Alex finally shouted, slamming his fist down onto the desk. “We are here to try and save my brother. You”—he pointed to Daniel—“have been paid by me to do just that…save Quinten. After talking to Saige, I want her to read the statement she gave. I also want her to look at the signature on it to see if it’s hers. A lot of things have never added up, and that is one of them. So, instead of wasting time, I suggest you dig into your boxes of files and let her read the damn statement.”

Once he finished, Alex moved away to the window to calm his temper, which constantly ate at him. It was always there…whispering to him about how unfair every damn thing in his life was. But he needed action and he needed it now.

Saige cleared her throat. “I’m, um, ready when you are.”