Cole looked closer too, and Rick moved to stand over Jo’s shoulder.
“Where are they?” Rick asked.
“And who are the other people with them?” Knowing could get them somewhere.
“I think I recognize one of the men, though I can’t be sure,” Rick said. “This could be a much younger version of Mason Hyde.”
“I think you’re right,” Jo said. “Mason worked at Gemini Aerospace, and we don’t know where Pop worked, but they are all three in this picture, along with two other people I don’t recognize. This could be a personal picture or a work-related picture, in which case Mom also worked with them.”
Cole shared a look with Jo and Detective Wilson. “This is just more confirmation that it’s all connected.”
“To their past,” Jo said. “I still don’t know how any of it has to do with me.”
Cole was certain now if he hadn’t been before. Jo was kryptonite. She was leverage. Her father was still the key, and they needed to find him. If Naomi was able to answer questions, they could possibly find out more from her.
Rick shook his head. “I hate to tell you, but since we spoke via the videoconference, I’ve had another case take priority, and I can’t give this as much time as I wanted.”
“We’re just now getting somewhere with this. How could this not be a priority?” Cole asked.
“I figured I’d tell you when you got here that we tracked down Hyde’s vehicle. Pulled it from a lake ten miles north of Lansing. After the case was reopened, I dug through the original report that concluded your mother had lost control of her vehicle and it overturned in a flooded ditch. I located the vehicle at a salvage yard and took another look and found what someone missed before. Red paint on a black vehicle. We pulled OnStar records from three years ago and were able to locate Hyde’s vehicle in the lake. The damage to his vehicle confirms the collision with your mother’s.” His voice grew tense, his features tight.
“So, you believe Mason Hyde reallyisto blame?” Jo asked. “His sister believes he was set up. He knew my mother before, and this picture shows us that too. Something happened before. We have to find out what it was.”
Rick sighed. Removed his glasses and cleaned them with a tissue. “I’m inclined to agree with you, but since we have evidence that points to the suspected murderer and that man is now dead, my boss told me to consider the case closed. Again.”
“What?” Jo gasped.
“There’s a lot more going on here,” Cole said. “You know that.”
“This is my nightmare all over again. The police didn’t listen to me right after she was killed, and then I was in danger and had to run and hide. I’m still in danger because of whatever happened. The threats are still coming, even after Mason has died. What about the fact that he was murdered?”
“I hear you. But he was murdered in Washington, and authorities there have taken the lead. You no longer live in Michigan. So there’s that. His case is connected to yours. Again, Washington.” He put his glasses back on and lifted his palms. “I’m not saying that it’s not still on my radar,but I can’t put much time into it. If you learn something new, something that can move the blame from Mason Hyde—the suspected murderer who, by the way, also had motivation—then I can try to convince my boss we need to reactivate it. But for now, as far as the Lansing PD Cold Case Unit, we’re at the proverbial dead end.”
29
Adead end.
Jo was feeling like that herself as the plane touched down at the airport in Seattle. Could a person suffer jet lag when they hadn’t left the country? Just flying across the contiguous US of A had done her in. Fortunately, last night they’d stayed in a hotel near the airport in Detroit. Their flight had arrived at SeaTac just after lunch. Even though she’d gotten a good night’s sleep, she was still dragging.
Honestly, she thought Cole had been considering a flight from Michigan to Nevada, to Gemini Aerospace, where Mason Hyde had worked, but he didn’t change their tickets. Just as well since her head was spinning like the worst kind of amusement park ride.
Mom and Pop and Mason Hyde in the same photo.
Cole led the way out of the airport, and she could barely keep up with him as they walked across the skywalk to the parking garage. “How do you have so much energy? You’re like that Energizer Bunny.”
“Don’t call me a bunny. Ever. Especially a pink bunny.”He slowed and grinned down at her as he opened the back of Hawk’s F-150, which Cole had driven to the airport.
Once they were settled inside the truck, he drove out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and then around the Olympic Peninsula until he finally steered up the drive to the safe house. At least they’d gained some hours on the flight west, but then lost them on the drive to the safe house.
The garage door hung open, and Cole’s Yukon was parked inside, along with Jo’s Land Rover. Hawk emerged from the garage and waited.
She yawned as Cole parked behind her vehicle. “So, your brother is going to stay with us again? I don’t want to take up so much of his life. He and Remi need time together. And, I mean, how long is this going to go on? We can’t live like this forever. Besides, I can’t afford to pay you for protection forever.”
Cole turned off the vehicle and released a sigh. “Relax, Jo. A lot has happened over a short period of time. It hasn’t even been a week. Okay, we’re one day short of a week. But we’re making progress. Michigan was a good call. We have new information that could lead us to finding out what happened decades ago.”
“And why my life is in danger.”
He grabbed her hand. The look he gave her reassured her that he was in this until it was over, just like he’d told her. “I’m not doing this for the money. So get that out of your thoughts.”
