“An innocent man sat in prison for 15 years. Now, someone is killing the people who put him there. And it's not Darrell.”
"You got any idea who it might be?”
I nodded. "Someone who doesn't want the truth getting out. Wesley was about to come clean and rat everyone out involved. I think the others were starting to get nervous. Some of them may have been considering coming forward and cutting a deal. If Wesley had done it first, it's likely he would have gotten immunity if he agreed to testify against the others.”
"Well, at this point, there are only two people it could be. I suggest you get on top of that ASAP."
"We're on it," I said.
“I’ll see if I can track down that boat. It’s been 15 years, but it’s worth a shot.”
We left his office and talked to Denise at her desk. She pulled background on Holden. He lived on the 26th floor of the Nautilus.
JD and I left the station and zipped across the island to the luxury high-rise. Jack pulled up to the valet, and the kid grabbed his door. JD slid a few bills into his palm, and we hurried to the door. The concierge buzzed us in, and we headed up to the 26th floor. Holden’s trust fund had taken care of him.
I rang the video doorbell and waited for a response.
Holden’s voice crackled through a moment later. “Can I help you?”
“Yes, you can. It’s Deputies Wild and Donovan. We’ve met before.”
“I know who you are. What do you want?”
“We got a lead in the case, and we think you might be able to help.”
Holden was silent for a moment. "Sure. Anything I can do to help law enforcement. I'll be right there."
The line crackled with static as he disconnected. Footsteps shuffled down the foyer a moment later. Holden flipped the deadbolt, then pulled open the door. His cautious eyes flicked between the two of us. "What can I do for you?"
I held a folded copy of Wesley's confession in my hand. I didn't play the card yet. "I know it was a long time ago, but I was wondering if you could walk me through the day that Sarah disappeared."
Holden's jaw tightened, and he swallowed. "I don't see what that matters now. They let that scumbag out of jail. It's not like you can put him back in, right?"
I chuckled. "No. That would be double jeopardy. You can't be tried twice for the same crime.”
Holden took a deep breath. "Well, let me see. I was out with my friends. We went to the marina that day. We took my father's boat out. That's when we saw Sarah aboard Darrell's boat."
"As you were leaving that afternoon?”
"Yeah."
"Do you recall who was with you?”
"Yeah. It was me, Wesley, Ian, Cameron, and Landon.”
"That's it. Nobody else."
"No.”
"What happened when you were out on the water?"
Holden shrugged. "I don't know. We just drank and had a good time."
"Are you sure Sarah wasn't with you?"
His face went stiff, and the color drained. "No. I just told you. The last time I saw Sarah, she was aboard Darrell's boat.”
"That’s interesting. That’s not what Wesley says.”
