“He told me more about the case he brought to you,” he says quietly.
“Mariana Reyes?”
His jaw tics. “He came here last night to tell me Mariana also never drank, though her case was deemed reckless drunk driving. He mentioned post-mortem fermentation…”
I remember what that is from my training. “With both women deep in that quarry, it’s possible…”
“And another similarity, too. Mariana came into some unexpected cash just before her accident.”
A chill whispers over my skin. “Really? Shit…we might be able to see other things through a pattern…”
But this should be a positive development.
I squeeze his hand. “Why do you look like you’ve been through a war?”
Anton’s jaw tightens.
“Because Rio asked Enzo and Ava to start hacking last night, doing anything they could to put two and two together. He didn’t come here to ask. He came here to tell.”
My pulse kicks. That’s…illegal.
“Subpoenas take days,” he shakes his head. “Weeks sometimes. He doesn’t want this to slip through his fingers.”
I’m not sure this is a good idea.
“But why not continue following other leads? We have Mace…and finding him…”
“Honey,” he stops me. “Rio and Mariana were together.” He stares at me with such intensity, I know he’s urging me to read into his words so he doesn’t have to say too many. “Rio’s carried this a long time. He blamed himself for her accident. They argued before she died, the report said she was drunk.” He gazes at me earnestly. “He’s carried that for years.”
I can’t imagine what it’s like to argue with someone you love and spend the rest of your life wondering if that fight pushed them over the edge.
But if Mariana was murdered, it would reframe Rio’s entire past. Lift his sense of shame. I want to give it to him, clear him of the weight of that if I can, but…
“We still have new information to follow.”
“You’re right,” he agrees. “But what will move this case along is seeing Zoe’s cell records, money transfer, bank statements.”
I finish his thought. “All require subpoenas.”
“In Rio’s mind, he’s waited long enough. He issued Ava and Enzo to move on this last night.”
Without me? I don’t know how to feel. I know they all trust my instincts, but hell, I’m not a hacker; I don’t have access to the dark web and crazy tools to catch people as if by wizardry.
I get the urgency.
And there’s a long road ahead.
But…the law. Where is its place in this? I know Anton used to chase vigilante justice, but will I?
“The subpoena won’t be too long…” I say half-heartedly.
“I know.” He takes my hand and lifts it, placing a gentle kiss on the back. “And I also know we have only a day maybe two before Ingram hears about our trip to the Marshalls’. Even though you’re not logging notes yet, even though we talked about keeping this all low-key, about letting him think you’re still chasing Tarmigan…news will eventually travel. It’s a small town.”
He’s right. Ingram doesn’t see everything I do, but at some point, the Marshalls will mention our visit to someone, and the gossip chain will take care of the rest.
A tension line forms in his jaw.
“And if he’s covered up, not one but two deaths,” he says softly, “we want to blindside him. Not give him a head start.”
