He stepped outside. After locking the door, she stood watching as River and Frankie walked up the street to where his patrol car was parked.
Clearly, he was a man with depth and perhaps a few secrets. Her gaze came to rest on the other patrol car parked on the street. She could see the female officer inside.
Hopefully, the police presence would be enough to deter another attempt on her life.
* * *
After putting Frankie in her kennel and entering Joel Henley’s address in his GPS, River drove across town. Officer Maren Anderson with her narcotics K-9 had agreed to meet him at the address. As he got closer, the houses started to look a little more run-down, the lawns less pristine.
Maren was waiting in her patrol car when he pulled into the lot of the apartment building. When she spotted River, she got out of her car and deployed Haven, the reddish Doberman. Maren offered River a bright smile as she walked toward him. Her sweet demeanor and features often made people underestimate her as a police officer. With her long, honey-brown hair and blue eyes, she looked more like she should be teaching a class with Lydia rather than serving as the top-notch officer that she was. Her dimples only added to the effect. But River knew there was more to her than how she appeared. Recently, Maren’s twin sister, a known addict, was assumed to have died. She was believed to have drowned in a river, which was the last place she’d been seen.
River glanced around the lot and spotted the model car that Eva had tracked down as belonging to Joel. “Looks like he’s here.” He glanced at Maren. “How are you doing?” It couldn’t be easy dealing with a case that might involve drugs two months after Opal’s death.
Maren blinked and bit her lower lip. “I have a job to do. I know me and my sister weren’t on the best terms, but I miss her.”
He patted her arm. “I’m here if you need to talk. You know that.”
The task force was barely a month old, but the twelve officers were already close even though they were spread across the state.
“Thank you, I appreciate that.” Maren’s attention went back to the three-story building. “Let’s approach with caution. He’s on the third floor, so I doubt he’ll try to jump.”
River nodded. “I’ll hang back in the hallway in case he gets past you.”
Highly unlikely considering that Haven was cross-trained in suspect apprehension.
They entered the building and took the stairs at a brisk pace with Maren in the lead.
Once they found Joel’s apartment, River stood out of sight down the hallway.
After drawing her weapon, Maren knocked on the door. “Joel Henley. Police. Open up.”
Both dogs stood at attention, their gazes fixed on their partners, waiting for a command. River pulled his gun as well. Any time drugs were part of the scenario, things could escalate quickly.
A long moment passed.
Maren repeated her command. “Police. Open up.”
The door swung open. River stepped forward, Frankie by his side.
“Whoa. Your dog is scary looking. I don’t have anything on me. I’ve been clean for two weeks.”
River moved in a few steps closer so Joel would see him. Joel had his hands in the air. Fear crossed Joel’s features as he focused on Haven.
Maren shifted her weight. “Mind if my K-9 verifies that?”
The move was a smart one on Maren’s part. If they did find drugs, it would give them leverage in questioning Joel. The potential of being charged with possession usually brought out the honesty in people.
Joel tugged on his ragged T-shirt and moved aside. Maren gave the command to Haven to search, and the dog went to work, skirting through the tiny apartment. Joel gave River a nervous glance when he stepped toward the open door with Frankie standing at attention by his side. He’d holstered his gun but left the strap open. Danielle had said that Joel seemed timid. That was the same impression River got.
Haven disappeared into a room that must be the bathroom. Kitchen, living room and bedroom were all in one cluttered open space.
Joel moved a pile of clothes to one side and slumped down on a worn love seat. “What is this all about anyway?”
“We have some questions for you about your former girlfriend, Gayle Gorman.”
Joel rose from the love seat and paced toward the kitchen. “Look, I’m sorry about what happened to her, but she wasn’t even really my girlfriend. She just got it into her head that we were a thing.”
“But the baby she was pregnant with was your child?”
