Katie passed him her business card. She glanced at the guard, who nodded that it was okay. “Here’s my card. If you remember anything more, please call me.”
As Katie passed the card to Young, he grabbed her wrist. The guard and McGaven jumped to her aid.
“No, it’s okay,” she said gesturing for them to stop.
“Please, Detective, I know you’ve seen my brother. I’m assuming you wanted to corroborate the story.”
Katie slowly nodded.
“Please tell my twin brother I miss him and I never blamed him for anything that happened.” There was raw emotion in his eyes.
“Okay.”
Young let go of her wrist, taking the business card.
Katie stood up. “Take care of yourself, Mr. Young.”
The detectives left the meeting room and retraced their steps through the prison, retrieving their weapons and walking out to the parking lot. They were both deep in their thoughts.
Finally, McGaven spoke. “That was like the retelling of a ghost story. It was scary even in the daytime.”
Katie said she’d felt the same way when she talked with Buck.
McGaven’s phone rang.
“McGaven,” he said. Listening, he countered, “When?” He listened further. “Cordon it off and wait for us. Thank you, Deputy Andrews.”
“What?” she said.
“After searching the property thoroughly, they found a secret room at Trey Roberts’ place containing old records.”
THIRTY-THREE
Friday 1235 hours
Katie and McGaven grabbed a quick lunch and headed back to Trey Roberts’ house. The construction worker was still in hospital, due to complications from his overdose. It was a little bit of a drive, with a sketchy cell phone signal, and they wanted to make sure they had eaten and had plenty to drink with them. They were keen to complete the trail that had led them to Roberts after he didn’t show up at the construction site the morning Misty and her mother’s bodies were found.
As Katie drove up the narrow gravel road, she spotted Deputy Andrews’ police cruiser. She quickly parked and got out, grabbing gloves and some evidence bags. They also had their search warrant.
Deputy Andrews appeared. “Detectives,” he greeted. “I documented the room already.”
“Great work,” said McGaven.
“Deputy,” said Katie. “Can you show us?”
“This way,” he said and led the detectives around back, not to the back door, but the other side of the house.
“Here?” said Katie.
“There was an issue with the electricity, so one of the officers came out here to see if it was a breaker. And he found this.” Andrews opened the panel, but instead of just a breaker box there was what appeared to be a trap door. He opened it.
The detectives looked down at a stairway leading under the house.
“The best part,” said Andrews. “There are lights.” He bent down and flipped a switch, illuminating the stairway.
“Wow,” said McGaven.
Katie agreed.
