“What?” She looked at him. “I have to.”
John took a breath. “He’s family and you can’t be involved in the case—Katie, you can’t work this case.”
She stood up. “I will do whatever is necessary to find him. I won’t apologize for that and if it means I’m put on administrative leave without pay or even fired, I won’t stop until he’s found.”
John didn’t respond. He held her tight, showing his support. He wasn’t going to argue with her.
Katie tried to stay focused. She pointed to the front door. “We need those dog tags dusted for prints, as well as my bedroom.”
FIFTY-ONE
Wednesday 1830 hours
Katie paced and searched and ran dozens of scenarios through her mind as to whytheywould want the sheriff—but she kept coming up empty. She knew John was worried about her, so she tried to appease him and to show she was fine and believed there would be a logical explanation where her uncle was. She ended up on her back porch swing. It was truly the only place where she felt safe and could allow her thoughts to run freely. Katie respected John for allowing her to sit alone without hovering over her and asking her every five minutes if she was okay. He knew she had her own way of dealing with stressful situations and if she needed his help, she would ask. He gave her space and peace, but it also gave her security that he understood her.
Cisco padded around the yard with a ball in his mouth. He checked out various brush and trees as if making sure that no one had come into the yard recently. Her security had been turned off before anyone entered and there weren’t any clear angles of the person or persons who had approached the house.There was no car in view, but that didn’t mean a car wasn’t used.
The evening was now dark and there weren’t any shining stars or moon to light up the night. She heard the sliding door open. John stepped out.
“It’s a nice night,” he said. “McGaven just arrived.”
She nodded and got up, walking into the house.
“How are you holding up?” said McGaven.
“It’s not me you need to worry about; it’s my uncle. You know, the top cop who runs this county.” Katie stopped herself. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. We need to work together.”
Katie didn’t want to comment on that. She had been singled out for obvious reasons—but still singled out.
Eva came from Katie’s bedroom carrying the fingerprint kit. “Anywhere else?”
“Let me show you,” said John, leaving Katie and McGaven alone.
“Look, I completely understand how you feel,” Gav said.
“Do you?”
“Yes. I’ve known you and worked with you for quite a while now. I know how passionate you are about cases, right and wrong, and the amazing integrity you have.” He sat down.
Katie joined him somewhat reluctantly. “What’s the update?”
“We know approximately when he left here, which was earlier in the day, according to his phone. But it’s now nowhere to be found. So the signal has been lost and we can’t track him. But he checked in with Lieutenant Bates shortly before his phone shut off.”
“That’s it?”
“We’re mobilizing units and coordinating with SWAT. Patrol officers are stationed at every place youand I worked during the investigation,” he said, “as well as his condo and a few places he likes to frequent.”
His voice was calm, but Katie sensed that her partner was disappointed that there wasn’t anything else happening.
“That’s it?”
“For now, at least until someone contacts us or he resurfaces.”
“Resurfaces?”
He shrugged. “I will have updates every two hours.”
