The words carried weight over the phone, heavy with unspoken history. Theo shifted his position, the springs in the mattress beneath him protesting with a groan.
“You think I don't know that?” Brook's response came sharp enough to make Theo wince. The pause that followed was long. “I'm sorry. I shouldn't snap at you.”
“Look, I get it. I do. I understand why you're going, but I just?—”
“The man seen at the cemetery could be anyone,” Brook interrupted, her tone softening. “A family member who didn't hear Scotty's mother calling out. An old friend paying his respects. You said it yourself—it’s not like Morton is Harrowick. Morton is a thriving town with resources, including a camera-based surveillance system through Flock Safety. They’ve got twenty-six cameras set up around town, primarily for vehicle and license-plate detection.”
What Brook didn’t include in her spiel was that Bit had access, albeit backdoor access, to the system. There was no doubt he was currently sifting through data from video feeds over the past month. The fact that his facial recognition hadn’t picked up anything in the state of Illinois meant the odds of the gravesite visitor being Jacob were extremely low.
“I still don’t like it, Brook.”
“I know. I’m also aware this trip is probably going to be a waste of time, but I need to make it anyway.” Brook paused, and he could picture her taking a sip of some convenience store cappuccino crap. The amount of sugar in those drinks made his teeth ache. “I’ll be back later tonight. In the meantime, I need you to focus on the case. Tyler Quinn’s lawyer called me about twenty minutes ago. Henry has agreed to speak with us.”
“Against his brother's wishes?”
“Yes, which in and of itself is interesting. We know that he and Loretta were close. Loretta’s death came one year before Heather Moore’s murder. Tyler doesn’t fit the profile, though Henry would if he weren’t paralyzed from the waist down. His wheelchair alone would have caused someone to recall him being in the area of those murders.”
“We’ll attack the interview from the angle that Henry might remember more than he realizes about Loretta's interactions with other students.” Theo rested his elbows on his knees. “We’ll call you after we speak with him.”
“I should arrive in Morton around noon. And Theo, I’m not entirely alone out here. I spoke with Chief Conway about an hour ago. He knows I’m coming into town for a brief visit.”
“Conway is what, mid to late sixties now?” Theo couldn't keep the skepticism from his voice. “He retired years ago, Brook.”
“He's going to observe from a distance. Take in my surroundings when I might be unable to do so,” Brook explained, seemingly content with that arrangement. “I'll be careful, Theo. I always am.”
Theo sighed, knowing further argument would only create distance between them. Brook had decided to take this trip solo. His role now was to support, not dissuade.
“Jacob or not,” Theo said finally, “Morton still has ghosts for you.”
“I know.” Two simple words that contained volumes. “I’ll touch base with you soon.”
The call ended, and he sat motionless for a moment. He thought about calling Mia, but she mentioned on the phone last night that she had an early patient. He had left the engagement ring that he’d purchased last weekend in the top drawer of his office desk. He hadn’t wanted to take the chance that she woulddiscover it in his condo. She loved wearing his sweatshirts, and she had free rein of his place.
He reached over the comforter and retrieved his phone. He stood and then walked over to the hook on the wall next to the door. He slid his cell phone into the right-side pocket of his jeans before collecting his scarf. He looped the ends, layered his jacket over the Burberry accessory he’d received as a gift from his mother, and then pulled a matching brown cap over his head.
When he finally opened the cabin door, a wall of frigid air hit him. His left eye watered immediately. The snow crunching beneath his boots sounded like Styrofoam being crushed, and he kept his head down against the wind.
Eugene had done a stellar job clearing most of the area with the snowplow attached to the front of his pickup truck. Theo managed to make the short trek to Bit's cabin in record time. Before he could reach for the doorknob, the sound of an engine caught his attention.
A deputy's cruiser pulled up along the narrow access road. The same officer who had been stationed there yesterday. Theo lifted a hand in acknowledgment, the deputy returning the gesture with a nod. The cruiser came to a complete stop, engine still running to keep the heater functioning in the brutal cold.
Right as Theo turned back to the door, it swung open, revealing Sylvie. She was bundled in a cream jacket, a rust-colored scarf, and matching earmuffs.
“Bit, your babysitter is here,” Sylvie called over her shoulder into the cabin once she’d gotten a glimpse of the police cruiser.
A small, red Skittle flew past her head from inside, narrowly missing her as she ducked and pulled the door shut with a laugh. Her forced smile immediately dropped from her face, and in its place was the genuine concern she'd been hiding from Bit all morning.
“How was she?” Sylvie asked quietly as she fell into step next to Theo.
“Determined,” Theo replied, the single word conveying volumes. “How about Bit?”
Sylvie shook her head.
“He keeps insisting that Brook is wasting a trip. His facial recognition program didn’t pick up a single hit in Illinois. He’s been tweaking the algorithm for the past hour.”
The team functioned like a well-oiled machinebecausethey trusted Brook's leadership, her judgment. Her sudden departure had thrown them off balance in a way they rarely experienced, and it was understandable that Bit would take it the hardest.
Right as Theo went to open the driver’s side door of the van, the deputy's window rolled down with a mechanical whir, drawing their attention.
