Save Your Breath (Morgan Dane #6)(80)

Morgan went to her desk, opened her laptop, and pulled up Kim’s social media profile. “I don’t see a Stephen Holgersen in Kim’s social media friend or follow lists.”

“They have to be related. Look him up directly.” Lance walked behind the desk and read the screen over her shoulder.

“He has his own social media accounts,” Jenny said. “As well as separate pages for the survival school. Kim’s social media accounts aren’t connected to any of Stephen’s. But Kim owns half of Stephen’s business.”

Morgan typed in the search bar. “There he is.”

Lance leaned closer. “Oh yeah. He’s definitely a relative. He looks like Kim.”

In his profile picture, a tall and red-haired Stephen Holgersen was dressed in camouflage from head to toe and held an AR-15. Morgan scrolled down the page, full of blog posts on survivalist tips. “He has a YouTube channel too.” She opened a new tab. “More of the same.”

“What’s the address of the property?” Sharp moved around the desk to watch over Morgan’s other shoulder.

Jenny gave them a rural route number in Redhaven. “The survival school uses that address as well. One more thing before I go. Stephen Holgersen drives a white Chevrolet Express Cargo Van.”

Was that the white van that had sat in front of Olivia’s house?

Jenny said goodbye and signed off.

Morgan plugged Stephen’s address into the app. Most of the property was solid green with a blue horseshoe-shaped blotch roughly in the center. “Looks like nothing but woods and a lake.” She switched to the survival school’s website. “The school offers weeklong classes on wilderness survival. There’s a photo gallery.”

She clicked through a series of pictures of people fishing with homemade spears and nets, building shelters from natural materials, and setting snares to catch small game.

Sharp stared at the screen. “That would be an excellent place to hide a kidnapping victim.”

Morgan tapped a finger on her desk. “But why would Olivia’s agent want to kidnap her own client?” Her tired brain whirled. “Could there be a financial motivation?”

“She and her husband were separated. So Kim probably needs money,” Sharp said.

“Right,” Morgan agreed. “But doesn’t she lose money if Olivia doesn’t produce more books?”

“It doesn’t make sense. She needs Olivia to finish her proposal.” Sharp reached for Morgan’s computer, still showing the company’s website. “We don’t know they are working together. There could be a conflict between Kim and Stephen. We have no information about their relationship, and we’ve all seen enough family disputes to know that being blood relatives doesn’t always translate to a close bond. We know Kim is Olivia’s agent. We are hypothesizing Stephen took Olivia. The rest is conjecture.” He clicked on a tab marked VIDEOS and read the first two titles out loud: “Setting Booby Traps to Keep Your Family Safe; How to Make an Explosive Trip Wire Alarm.”

Morgan read several more video headlines: “Know Your Rights on Property Searches and Seizure; How to Stay off the Government’s Radar.”

“This sounds like the guy who blew up our front porch.” Lance stood.

“We should call Stella,” Morgan suggested.

Sharp shook his head. “Why? She’s tied up with Joe Franklin, and we don’t have any evidence that directly links Stephen Holgersen to Olivia—at least nothing that isn’t purely circumstantial. The ability to have done something is not probable cause; neither is bankruptcy. Stella wouldn’t even be able to get a search warrant.”

“She could interview him.” Morgan shifted back in her chair.

“This guy is anti-government.” Sharp pointed to the computer screen. “He’ll know his rights. He’ll never agree to an interview. He won’t let her onto the property. Requesting an interview will give him advance warning and allow him to get rid of any real evidence on his property. If Olivia is there, he’ll move her.”

If she’s still alive.

Sharp rose to his feet. He glanced at Morgan, and then Lance. “I think I should go alone. I will be breaking a long list of laws tonight—”

Lance stopped him. “You are not going anywhere alone. I’m in.”

“In that case, you’ll need to have your lawyer on hand,” Morgan added.

Sharp could not be allowed to go off on his own. He had already nearly been arrested that night. Who knew what else he might do?





Chapter Thirty-Six

Lying on her side under the blanket, Olivia heard the sound of the doors being unlocked. When had he said she only had two days left?

What day is it?

She lay in the corner, the blanket pulled up over her shoulders. Her breath rattled in her chest. Her body ached from her previous beating. He might not have to kill her. How much longer could she survive down here anyway?

The hinges squeaked as the doors opened, and his boots clomped down the stairs.

“What the fuck?” He walked closer, his footsteps crunching in the dirt until he stopped a foot from her head. His shadow fell over her. A few seconds passed. “Ah, shit.”

The flashlight beam looked red behind her closed eyes.

“Get up.” He nudged her with his foot.