Latent Danger (On the Line #2)(3)

One of Zach’s first calls after leaving the scene would have been to the Athills. He’d told them before he would call them as soon as he had news on their daughter’s case and he would tell them again, but they wouldn’t listen. Couldn’t.

He got them headed back toward their car, thankfully noting they didn’t stop to speak to the press, despite cameras being shoved in their faces. Zach saw one of the reporters turn his way and wave, trying to get his attention, but he turned away. Screw Ray Lansing. He didn’t have time for him.

Ronan joined him as they walked back toward Dr. Kane, who had just finished securing the body for transport back to her morgue. “That was Cal. Says a missing person call came in late last night on a girl this age. Adrienne Edwards.”

Ronan tilted his phone screen toward Zach where a picture their colleague, Cal, had sent was pulled up. She was a smiling girl posed in a typical senior class picture. She had a bright smile as she leaned against a tree, her arms set at a posed angle, one foot turned just so. Zach had always thought those poses looked silly. Still, the girl was beautiful. And he had little doubt it was the one he’d seen laid out moments before, the life drained from her body.

They stood and watched as the body was taken away and the crime scene technicians began to take pictures of the area where it had lain. Zach knew they’d photograph the space first, then scour it for any evidence that might lead them to their killer.

“Identifying marks?” Zach asked, just to confirm the identification.

“A small round birthmark on the back of her left hand.” Ronan looked at Dr. Kane as he spoke, and she nodded in confirmation.

Both men cursed. Of course, they’d have the family identify her or maybe corroborate the ID with photos of the birthmark if the family had any, but it was looking like they had their victim’s name. Which meant a trip to the family to let them know their world had just changed forever.





Chapter Two





The address listed on the Edwards girl’s missing report had told them the home would scream money before they got to the front steps. The meticulously manicured lawn and pricey cars in the driveway confirmed it.

“Mr. and Mrs. Edwards? May we come in?” Zach had only just gotten the words out when the woman standing before him seemed to crumple.

“No! No, no, no.” Her face pleaded with them to let her have hope a little longer.

Zach knew it wouldn’t help. Straight forward and direct was going to be the best way to break this news. They would be compassionate. They would give the family time to absorb it. But, they wouldn’t drag out the notification. They wouldn’t give hope where there was none.

Two men came forward, one wrapping his arms around the woman, the other letting Zach and Ronan in and shutting the door.

“I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Edwards. We believe we’ve found your daughter’s body.” Being straightforward didn’t make it easier for Zach to get the words out.

The man who held the woman in his arms looked at Zach. “Can you give us a minute, officers? My brother can show you into the living room.”

Zach and Ronan nodded and followed the brother into a room that looked as though it had been professionally designed. The furniture was pure white, setting Zach on edge. How did people live with white furniture? And were those rugs cut for the room? They had to be. The area rugs stretched nearly to the edge of the room, leaving only about a foot between the wall and the carpet edge. That edge traced the exact shape of the mantle in front of the fireplace and each of the columns that framed a large doorway leading into a dining room.

“I’m Geoff Edwards,” the man offered as he sat across from Zach and Ronan on the couch. He looked toward the doorway Mr. and Mrs. Edwards had gone through and shook his head. “They’re going to blame themselves for this. They don’t usually stay out late, but they went to an anniversary party for some old friends of ours last night. Didn’t come home until after midnight.”

“They called in the report on Adrienne last night?” Zach knew the answer to the question. He simply wanted to direct the witness to the start of Adrienne’s disappearance and get him talking.

A nod came with the response. “That’s right. Adrienne’s mom has been blaming herself all night because she didn’t check on Adrienne before they left for the party. The girl’s door was shut and they’ve been trying to give her more privacy lately. When they came home last night, Adrienne wasn’t in her bed.”

“We’ll need to talk to them later, but can you tell us when was the last time anyone saw Adrienne?” Ronan asked.

“As far as I know, it was at school. We’ve contacted all of her friends, we’ve been to the school to check the grounds.” His voice trailed off and he seemed lost for a minute, before looking back to them. “How did she die?”

“The preliminary cause of death is strangulation.” Straight forward, Zach reminded himself. “We don’t have an exact time of death, but it’s possible discovering she was missing earlier wouldn’t have changed things.” He hoped so. Maybe it would bring some small measure of peace to the Edwards.

“Do you know who did this? Is it connected to Carrie’s disappearance?”

Zach and Ronan both sat forward. “Did Adrienne and Carrie know each other?”