“Yes, sir,” said McGaven.
The sheriff leaned in close to Katie. “Watch yourself and each other.” He gently squeezed her arm.
Katie wanted to hug her uncle, but resisted for professional reasons. “Copy that.”
The detectives watched Sheriff Scott returnto his vehicle.
“How long do you think it will take to clear the area as safe?” said McGaven.
Katie walked to the SWAT sergeant and asked. When she returned to her partner, she said, “Two hours.”
“Which translates to more like three or four,” said McGaven.
NINE
Monday 1845 hours
Katie left Cisco at home and hurried back to the department. There were a few things she wanted to check and go over before a nice quiet dinner with John she hoped would push the events of the day aside—at least for an evening.
This time when she entered the forensic division it wasn’t quiet. She could hear voices talking excitedly, and there was no doubt the loudest voice was McGaven. She smiled and took a moment to really be grateful for such a great partner and co-workers. When they were deep in investigations, it was easy to forget these sentiments.
Katie walked down the hall toward their office and saw McGaven leaning into the examination room, talking to John.
Her partner turned and saw her. “Hey. It took you long enough.”
“I didn’t want to break any speed limits.”
“Ha! Right, when has that ever happened? Like, never,” he chimed back.
“Anything?”
“Not yet, but the drone footage is on the desk.”
“Great,” she said and quickly went into the office.
“And read the sticky note.”
Katie picked up the carefully printed note. She read aloud, “I took the opportunity to record the areas around the property.”
“What a guy.”
“That’s very thorough and Iwasthinking about needing to look at the closest house or ranch,” she said as she noticed there were more files stacked neatly at the side.
Without wasting another moment, Katie got to work. McGaven logged into the computer and began checking the backgrounds of the construction workers, as well as looking into Crowne & Miller Construction LLC and East California Demolition and Construction. Soon, Katie powered up her laptop and inserted the memory stick. McGaven rolled his chair next to her to watch.
“Here we go…” said Katie as she clicked the arrow to start.
There was a gray screen at first and then the video came on as the drone rose into the air. It was amazing how sharp the images were and watching it made it feel as if you were riding along. The drone took off fast and headed to the south side of the property near where they’d found the trap. The drone slowed and then headed toward the east and did a very detailed grid formation. When it got to the area in question, it slowed and then hovered, apparently reading an anomaly, as Detective Rogers had said. It showed the shades of the trees and branches.
“Stop,” said McGaven.
Katie clicked the “pause” button.
“What is that?” he said. “Do you see it?”
Katie enlarged the image. It was clear there was fake foliage to cover up the retrofitted branches of the trap they’d found.
“You can see the leaves are reflecting a different color that’s not normal or natural.” She sat back. “It was concluded the traphad been set not that long ago.” She looked through paperwork from the construction companies and from the county budget. “And this project broke ground barely two weeks ago.”
