The Silence (Columbia River #2)(55)

“You can go back to the task force. Kaden’s father won’t be here for several hours,” said Mason. “The scene investigators still have a lot to do, but I know they’re done with the body. It will be transported as soon as Dr. Trask is done.”

“You’re coming with me.”

“I’m not part of the task force,” he reminded her.

“That’s ridiculous,” Nora stated. “I’ll have a word with the sheriff. You know more about this case than almost anyone.”

“I’m only handling the Reuben Braswell part—and now Kaden Schroeder.”

“I’m getting you on the task force. I’ll get our boss’s approval. Leave it to me. Let’s go.”

Mason had no doubts she could do it. She was right. Him working parallel to the courthouse investigation didn’t make sense.

She started toward the house, determination in her step. “What’s the latest on Ray?”

“No problems. Jill called me this morning.” Mason checked the time as they passed through the house. “She said Ray wants to see me. I was going to head up there after I talked with Gillian.” He grimaced. “Got a little sidetracked.” He nodded at a crime scene tech working the front door.

“Ray’s talking?”

“Yes, they aren’t keeping him sedated anymore.”

“A good sign.”

“Very.” Out in front of the house, he glanced across the road to Gillian’s home. A vehicle still sat in her driveway. “I told her to leave.”

“Maybe she’s still packing.”

Why hasn’t she left?

Dread overwhelmed him, and he strode toward Gillian’s house. Nora caught up to him, walking rapidly, scanning his face. “I’m sure she’s fine,” Nora told him.

“I don’t want another surprise like the one I found at Kaden’s,” he muttered. He’d just stepped onto her driveway when Gillian came out the front door with a large suitcase.

Thank God.

Worry lit Gillian’s face as she saw him and Nora approach.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, tugging the suitcase. She looked from one of them to the other.

“Yes,” said Nora before Mason could speak. “We were checking to see if you’d left.”

“I’ll be gone in a minute—wait—did you think something had happened to me?” Her face went white.

“We’re only checking on you.” Mason reiterated Nora’s words. “Did you find a place to go?”

“I’ll be at my sister’s in Seattle,” she answered, still looking rattled. She popped the trunk of her car, and Mason stepped forward. He grabbed her suitcase—it was insanely heavy—and heaved it into the trunk.

“Thank you.”

“We’ll be in touch,” Mason told her. She nodded, an unhappy expression in her eyes.

He didn’t blame her. Anyone would want to distance themselves from what had happened in the last few days.

“What do you think of her?” asked Nora as they watched Gillian drive down the street.

“Two of her neighbors have been murdered. I think she’s justifiably shaken.”

“I thought you were going to throw your back out when you lifted her suitcase.”

“I think she packed rocks.”

Nora snorted. “Ready to go?”

Mason thought about Kaden Schroeder sitting in his gaming chair.

Too young.

“More than ready.”





21

“This place is packed,” Zander said to Ava.

“That’s an understatement.”

A city park had been offered for the officers’ memorial. Weekly concerts were held there during the summer, so a stage was already set up at one end, and there was plenty of parking. Everywhere she looked, Ava saw different uniforms. It appeared as if every department in the state had sent representatives. And dozens more from out of state.

She and Zander stood near the park’s edge under a tree as she kept an eye out for Mason. It was after 9:00 p.m., and the park was still warm even though the sun had gone down. Heat radiated from the parking lot and the hundreds of vehicles. Several food trucks were nearby, clearly popular with the crowd, but the shave ice cart had the longest line.

Ava wasn’t hungry. She hadn’t been since she’d learned that her twin was pregnant. Her thoughts vacillated between worry for the baby and worry for her sister.

Why hasn’t she contacted me?

She was surprised Jayne hadn’t shown up to brag about being pregnant.

“Do you think Brady Shurr knows about the pregnancy?” Zander asked, revealing she wasn’t the only one pondering the puzzle that was Jayne.

“I think he would have told me,” Ava said. “He seems like an open type of guy. He was really worried about Jayne, and I know he would be worried for a baby.”

“Maybe it’s not his.”

The words sent a jolt through Ava’s nerves.

Why am I surprised? When has Jayne ever stayed with one man in her life?

“Are you going to mention it when you tell him she was at the motel?”

“Heck no. I won’t mention the pregnancy or the guy she was with. I’ll tell Brady we saw her at the registration desk. That’s all.”