It wasn’t much, but it was a beginning to their investigation. And though there was a lot they needed to uncover, two questions stood forefront in her mind:Who was the person she saw in the woods at the construction site? And who rigged up a trap that was meant to cause more than just injury?
She received a text message from John.
At the site on Old Mill Road. Will keep you updated.
Katie’s heart ached. She knew working together with John would have some challenges, but that still didn’t make things easier. She was both surprised and somewhat relieved that someone she cared about struggled with post-traumatic stress. She would never wish it on someone and she never wanted John to suffer, but she understood it more than just about anyone in their lives. The nightmares and difficult anxieties seemed to crop up when least expected or when stress was high. It was something that needed silence, understanding, and patience without long conversations. That’s what she needed and now she realized that was what John needed as well. They would get through it—together.
The detectives went through the files and searched for information on all those involved in the construction project. The beginning of the project—clearing the land and getting ready for the foundation to be poured—seemed to have forced someone to try to stop the development going ahead. If Katie and McGaven could figure out why and who, then they would most likely unlock more of the clues surrounding the violent deaths of four people.
She wrote in another column:Shadow man with cowboy boots and trap maker.Then notated:Were they the same?
“I’d hate to be related to or to have known the Collins family,” said McGaven as he read the lists on the board.
“Or end up investigating them.”
“I’m doing a deep search trying to create a picture of the immediate family from these different databases, including our police database,” he said.
Katie thought a moment. “What about the owner history of Old Mill Road?”
“You mean check adjoining properties as well?”
“Exactly. A lot of those large properties start out as acreages and then the families break it up or they sell off parcels as time goes by.”
McGaven began typing. “Good idea.”
“It’s close to the county’s construction project too. I know it’s a long shot, but what if all these properties have a connection. There are too many coincidences and links with the Collins family for them not to be at the heart of things.”
“I get where you’re heading,” he said.
Katie turned around and stared at the board. “Didanything seem off with Ventura?” she asked, thinking of their earlier conversation.
McGaven stopped typing and looked at his partner. “I thought so.”
“I’m looking at everything we have right now. Nothing seems to fit together. Could he have been withholding information?”
“Like what?”
Katie paused. “Like the uncle, Ian Griffin. The report says Misty Collins was reported missing, but what about her mother, Meredith? There was no mention of where she was at the time or if there was possibly something going on that would put either of them in danger.”
“Why would the detective withhold anything? Maybe his memory isn’t the greatest. He’s getting on with age.”
“I’m just saying we need to scrutinize everything,” she said. “What about Ventura’s record? Did he close a lot of cases?”
“That’s easy to find out.” McGaven opened a new tab on his computer.
Katie studied the drawings and maps. Her attention came back to the trap location and the question of when it was built. The vast land and trees had been left untouched for some time. Things only began heating up when the location for the police and fire training center broke ground, which of course facilitated the discovery of the bodies. Who had wanted to keep them away?
“Looks like John won’t have any more answers for us today because of the new body, but if my working theories are correct, I think there will be more activity by the killer or at least the person who didn’t want the bodies found,” said Katie.
“Why?”
“There are too many things happening all at once. Everything—at least for now—seems to come back to the Collins family. And they all seem to be missing or dead. I think we need to be especially careful and watch out for each other and what else might be happening at these locations of interest.”
“What are you thinking?” he said.
“That whoever it was who made that trap isn’t finished trying to get rid of us. I think it would be helpful to put wilderness cameras at various locations. See what happens when we’re not there.”
“I agree. Let’s do it while it’s still light.”
