The entire team was already settled in tub chairs, their work stations in front of them, when Ryan and Claire arrived. Between what Marc had briefly told them about the crime scene, and the details Claire had laid out in her Slack message, everyone was up to speed—at least on the basics.
Casey rose from her tub chair at the head of the room and walked over to Ryan, giving him a caring hug. “I’m so very sorry,” she said quietly. “Your work family is here for you. And once you fill in all the blanks, we’re going to solve this case.”
“Thank you,” Ryan replied, touched as the whole team stood, reaching out to him, and reiterating Casey’s words. “That means a lot to me.”
Yoda’s voice resounded through the room. “My sympathies, as well, Ryan. I’m on standby for whenever you need me.”
Ryan’s lips curved a bit as he absorbed one of the very humanlike traits he’d added to Yoda’s underlying AI model during retraining. “I appreciate that, Yoda.”
He and Claire walked over to the JURA station, where Ryan poured himself a cup of coffee and got Claire her herbal tea. They then both joined the group, taking their respective seats.
Casey turned on her iPad, interlaced her fingers, and addressed the team.
“Before we begin, let me tell you the additional information Hutch passed along to me a half hour ago. As you know, he’s personally heading up this investigation. He’s already hand-picked the Violent Crimes squad supervisor he wants and assigned him the case. Ditto on the case agent, and the co-case agent. Not to mention all the others who’ll comprise the team. A task force with agents from different squads will be organized. An Official Press Release will be issued about Shane’s murder, Caitlin’s disappearance, and the barebones facts about the ongoing investigation. There’ll be an official media briefing on TV. Also, there’ll be a press release added to the New York field office’s website.”
Casey concluded, “They’ll be asking for leads pertaining to Shane’s murder. They’ll also obviously be seeking the public’s help with regard to Caitlin’s whereabouts. That’s as much as Hutch can disclose, no matter how much he cares.”
Marc nodded. “His hands are tied. We get it. Which is our weakest link. We don’t know what cases Shane was working now, or what he worked during his past eight years in the Bureau. And the FBI sure isn’t giving us access to any of that.”
Casey continued, her tone softening, as she looked directly at Ryan. “All that’s true. So we have to lean in with our strengths. The obvious one is the familial connection—you. I realize how painful this is, but we need as many personal details as you can provide, in order to be most effective.” She paused, uttering her next words gently. “You and your cousin were very close, I assume?”
A muscle worked in Ryan’s jaw. “Very.”
Casey’s fingers were poised over her keypad, as the rest of the team followed suit. “Tell us everything you can about him. Personal as well as professional. That will give us our first leg up on law enforcement.”
Ryan took a swallow of coffee, then began. “My mother and Shane’s mother were sisters. Shane was an only child, and both his parents are gone now. He is…was…a few years older than me. Even so, we’d been tight since we were kids, probably because we were both into gadgets and, later, into every conceivable sport. But Shane walked the straight and narrow, whereas I was the rebel. From the time he was in his teens, he was dead-set on being a cop. He blasted his way through his BS in Criminal Justice Administration, joined the NYPD, and earned his way up to detective. Then, eight years ago, he was accepted into the FBI, Violent Crimes, New York field office, where he stayed.”
“What about Caitlin?” Casey asked, typing rapidly into her iPad. “When did she and Shane meet? Marry?”
A reminiscent look crossed Ryan’s face. “They were high school sweethearts. That’s why Shane and I stopped hanging out as much. He and Caitlin were pretty much inseparable. They got married a few years after I dropped out of MIT. Kennedy came along a short time later. I’m not really a kid person; that’s never been my thing. But Kennedy and I just connected, even when she was a toddler clinging to my leg. We’ve had a special bond since then, even though I don’t get to see her a lot. Months will pass where we’re all too busy to get together, and yet things with Kennedy stay the same. She kind of adheres to me like a peppermint stick.”
Ryan broke off, hiding his emotions by taking another swallow of coffee.
Casey steeled herself, knowing that her next question was going to push Ryan over the edge. She wished she didn’t have to ask it. But she did.
“So Shane and Caitlin’s marriage was solid—right up to the end? No affairs, problems, or issues that you know about?”
Ryan’s mug clattered to the table, and his head shot up. “Are you suggesting that Caitlin killed Shane?”
“No, I’m not,” Casey answered quietly. “But it’s a thread the FBI is going to explore. The spouse is always at the top of the suspect list, and therefore, the first one questioned. In this case, that’s impossible. Caitlin is missing. The Bureau will focus on that fact and pursue her with all their resources. So we have to do it first.” Casey leaned forward, touching Ryan’s sleeve. “I hate doing this to you. But you knew your cousin and his wife a hell of a lot better than the FBI did. We need to use that knowledge to our advantage. The sooner we get Caitlin off the suspect list, the better.”
There was a long moment of silence, during which time Ryan dragged both hands through his hair. “This sucks,” he said at last.
“I know,” Casey agreed. “And I’m sorry.”
He drew a swift breath. “Okay, here’s the answer to your question. Shane and Caitlin were as tight as any couple I know. As I said, they were high school sweethearts. They’ve loved each other forever. The only things I’ve ever heard them argue about are who’s a better driver and how to get Kennedy to go to bed at a decent hour. There was only caring and respect between them. And they both adored Kennedy. For her sake alone, Caitlin would never do this. Not to mention, she had no motive, nothing to gain. Let the Bureau explore this angle all they want. I’m sure they’ll question me and my family—which I’d better prepare them for. Still, the answer won’t change. This is a dead end.” Ryan gulped down his cup of coffee, his hand shaking.
Without a word, Claire rose and refilled his mug. She squeezed his shoulder as she handed it to him. “Do you need a minute?” she asked.
“No. I need to move away from this subject.”
“Done,” Casey said. “Let’s shift gears.”
“Wait.” Marc wished he could give Ryan time to compose himself. But that wasn’t in the cards—not yet. “Before we bring this subject to a close, I need to add that I took a few quick photos of the crime scene. They’re stored in the cloud. But I saw what I thought was an odd pattern. A pool of blood gathered beneath Shane, and a separate jagged line of blood on the floor several feet away. My gut tells me they belonged to two different people. The first was obviously Shane’s. But the second—was it Caitlin’s or the killer’s? If it was Caitlin’s, that’s going to give the FBI more reason to consider a marital dispute as the cause of death.”
Marc held up his palm as Ryan opened his mouth to blast him. “I’m not giving credence to the idea. I’m just stating facts. More importantly, since we’re dismissing the idea that Caitlin would harm Shane, we have to probe the possibility that whoever killed Shane, injured either themselves or Caitlin in the process.”
“Agreed,” Casey concurred.
