She sat down with her uncle and told him everything that happened by first stating that she and McGaven had been checking out Ian Griffin Jr.’s last known address. She explained about the trailer ending up in the stream below and then finding the body of a woman who had ID in her purse saying she was Sydney Butler. Preliminary examinations indicated it was indeed her.
While Katie was explaining all this, her uncle never interrupted her and he didn’t seem to react on hearing it was Sydney’s body that had been found. Katie remained quiet, waiting for him to say something.
The sheriff stood up, ran his hand through his military cut. It was the first time he’d showed some emotion.
“We’ll know more when the body is at the medical examiner’s office,” she said.
He nodded. “I knew there were some things not right…”
Katie had not expected this type of response.
“At first, I thought it was just cop suspicion, but it was more. She was too interested in my cases and especially your recent one.”
“About the Collinses’ bodies?”
He nodded.
“Is she related somehow—maybe family or a friend?”
“I don’t know. But I always had an uneasy feeling. I kept trying to ignore it, but?—
I mean, she was beautiful, intelligent, and we had fun. What would a woman like that want with me?”
“Any woman would be lucky to have you,” Katie said. “But maybe you sensed some deception?”
“Maybe.” He looked at Katie with love and hugged her. “I’m so thankful you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. A little sore.” She tried to brush it off. Thetruth was she wasreallysore and would need more than aspirin to sleep through the night.
“I guess I better check in and let everyone know I’m here,” he said, looking sad.
“Uncle Wayne?”
He turned to face her.
“I really think you should come stay with me.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“We still don’t know what’s going on in these cases and now your friend is dead. We have to get to the bottom of things. Please… come stay with me and Cisco—at least for a few days. The guest room is all made up and ready. I have more security than you have here. I know it’s late, but grab some things and let’s go.”
The sheriff thought about it. “I’m too tired to argue. Let me pack quickly.”
Katie and the sheriff made the appropriate calls, even though it was late, as there were things that had to be organized. Then they headed back to Katie’s house with Cisco.
Katie made sure her uncle was safe and sleeping in the guest room. She knew he would fill her in on more details of Sydney in the morning. Cisco was tired from all the commotion and was also asleep in his favorite chair in Katie’s bedroom. But Katie couldn’t sleep. She went outside with a blanket and sat on the porch swing. It was chilly but the rain was gone. The events of the day seemed like a distant memory.
She and McGaven were meeting at the office in the morning to continue the investigation. Her thoughts were of the case. The shocking revelation of Sydney being a part of it seemed incredible, but she had to be. They had to find out who she really was and whoor what she knew.
Katie got up and walked the perimeter of her backyard, making sure the fence, gate, and cameras were all how they should be. She went to the little gate that opened into the back property acreage. Something shiny caught her eye. Upon closer inspection, it was a chain with military dog tags, identification, belonging to Raymond Young. She knew it was left there on purpose and ascertained that when she took the dog tags it meant she wanted to talk to him. A primitive but effective form of communication, but it meant there was something else he needed to tell her. At least she now knew he was home in his cabin and was hopefully doing okay.
She smiled and unhooked the chain, clutching it in her hand. There was a slight crack of a tree limb and it made her instantly think Buck was near. It helped add a sense of greater security and made her feel better. She headed back inside the house to get some sleep.
Katie knew there was still more to the Young brothers’ story to discover. She wished they’d stop holding back what it was. It had to be a big secret that still bonded them together. And perhaps it would help her finally solve this case.
FORTY-THREE
Tuesday 0915 hours
