Her Last Word(87)

“That’s my best guess.”



CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Friday, March 23, 2018; 10:00 a.m.

Adler had the excavation crew on standby, and as soon as he gave the go-ahead, a technician equipped with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) moved into position. The technician began his search several feet away from the target area now designated with orange flags. Working slowly in a grid pattern, the technician swept the device in straight lines.

The machine transmitted a gray image to a computer screen. During the first few passes, the picture produced was smooth with no signs of any discovery. But as the passes grew closer to the orange flag, small ripples appeared. No telling what was in the ground, but there was something there. Closer to the flags, the waves grew in size and frequency. The technician marked the spot where excavation could begin.

Hayward’s expression grew somber as two technicians approached with shovels. “I’m going to miss her.”

“Get him out of here,” Adler said to a uniformed officer.

“I want to stay,” Hayward countered. “I want to see Kaitlin’s face when she sees Gina again.”

Adler motioned to the officer, and he escorted Hayward back to the cruiser. Adler continued, “Blackstone, you can leave, too.”

“I’m staying. I have to look out for my client’s best interest.”

“Your client is leaving, and so are you,” Adler ordered. “I will have you arrested.”

Blackstone studied Adler’s face and seemed to sense now was not the time to push. “I want notification the instant you identify what’s in the ground.”

“I’ll let Ricker decide what he wants you to know.”

Blackstone looked as if he’d say more but turned and left.

Kaitlin moved toward Adler. She had been silent and kept her distance from Hayward. Her skin was pale and her lips drawn into a thin line. He reminded himself she was only six days out from a brutal attack. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m doing fine. Did the GPR tell them what’s in the ground?”

“We won’t know until they clear some dirt.”

“How long will it take?” she asked.

“Not long. The technicians estimate they need to dig down about two feet.”

“Okay.” She stood rigid with her arms crossed, and her gaze rarely wavered from the dig. She was upset and nervous, and this time didn’t care who saw it.

“Did Hayward ever talk about this place?” Adler asked.

“He talked about how much he enjoyed hunting in the country. I assume now this was the place. He used to talk about sitting in his tree stand hunting deer and enjoying the view.”

“He mentioned that stand. Where is it exactly?”

She scanned the tree line and pointed. “Over there. I remember because he wanted me to climb the ladder, but I got spooked and wouldn’t do it.”

Dr. McGowan, who’d arrived with the medical examiner’s team two hours ago, watched as the technicians dug. Suddenly she asked them to stop. She knelt and brushed away the top layer of soil with her gloved hand. Finally she leaned back on her heels and rubbed the back of her wrist under her chin. She rose and approached Adler.

“Is it human bones?” he asked.

“I think so,” Dr. McGowan said. She turned to Kaitlin. “What was Gina Mason wearing when you last saw her?”

“A green sundress,” Kaitlin said.

“You’re sure?” Dr. McGowan asked.

“I’ve had fourteen years to replay that night. Yes, I’m sure.”

A grim acceptance swept over the doctor. “Okay.”

“Does this mean you found her?” Kaitlin asked.

Dr. McGowan shook her head. “It means I have to talk to the detectives first.”

“You can’t just shut me out,” Kaitlin said. “Can you at least tell me what you found?”

Ricker approached. “I can shut you out.” His tone wasn’t cruel, but it was firm. “I don’t want anything or anyone compromising this case.”

“I don’t see how my being here impacts the case.”

Adler’s tone was softer. “I know you want to be here, but this is not the place for you, Kaitlin. This is what we do best, and you need to let us do our jobs.”

Kaitlin usually came out swinging with him, but this time her shoulders slumped slightly. “Sure. Of course,” she said. “Thank you, Detectives, Dr. McGowan.”

As Dr. McGowan returned to the gravesite, Adler motioned for a city police officer, and when he approached Adler instructed him to take Kaitlin home. Kaitlin’s gaze was still full of questions and emotions, but she left without a word.

When the officer and Kaitlin drove off, Dr. McGowan said, “It’s going to take some time to excavate the bones. I can tell you we unearthed remnants of green cloth.”

Anger mingled with relief. Finding Gina would be considered a win, but there was no victory in bringing home a kid in a body bag.

“Do you know if the body is male or female?” Ricker asked.

“A young female,” she said. “I’ll report back to you both when I know more.”

As the doctor moved toward the back of the excavation site, Adler turned toward the tree stand. Instinct and restless energy had him moving through the grass toward the stand.