Darius had to agree. “That seems unlikely.”
“I’ve asked Jason Chiago to meet us there. He’s a former Shadow Wolf and a Deputy US Marshal. He’s Tohono O’odham and an expert at cutting sign. If there’s anything I missed, one of the two of you will hopefully find it.”
A former Shadow Wolf and a DUSM.
Darius was impressed.
“Here we are. And there’s Chiago, waiting for us.”
Deputy Marcs pulled into a vehicle turnout. “This is where Sasha said they were waiting when she cycled past them. I already searched the area, but I didn’t find anything besides litter here.”
“Let’s see what the road can tell us.” Darius climbed out of the vehicle, watched for traffic, then made his way to where Chiago stood, his gaze on the asphalt.
Chiago looked up, held out his hand. “Deputy US Marshal Jason Chiago.”
Darius shook his hand. “Detective Darius Silva, DPD Major Crimes Unit.”
Deputy Marcs joined them. “What do you think, Chiago?”
“I think you’re right. They struck Sasha deliberately.” Chiago backtracked. “They came out of the vehicle turnout, drove a short distance, and then turned the wheel and accelerated over the centerline, straight toward her.”
“That’s exactly what she said when I interviewed her.”
Darius had a look for himself, saw the thick rubber that crossed the yellow line—and the rubber where they’d slammed on the brakes to keep from crashing into the trees. “I concur. They intended to hit Ms. Dillon. Whether they knew her and targeted her specifically remains to be seen. Did you locate the vehicle?”
Deputy Marcs nodded. “It was found abandoned in the parking area adjacent to Boulder Falls.”
“Cams?” Darius was reasonably certain he knew the answer.
Deputy Marcs shook her head. “They might have had another car waiting for them or hiked out or even thumbed a ride into town. People are pretty relaxed about hitchhiking around here. If we could get a description…”
At the sound of an approaching engine, the three of them walked to the shoulder of the highway.
“Did Ms. Dillon see them?” He’d read the report, but sometimes basic details got left out by mistake.
“The man in the passenger seat flipped her off, but she didn’t see his face. She heard them laughing before they drove away, and one of them yelled, ‘Die, bitch!’”
“What kind of security do you have on Ms. Dillon’s room?” Darius was pretty sure he knew the answer to this question, too.
“The hospital has security, and the staff know to watch out for strangers.”
Good grief.
Chiago grinned. “It’s Scarlet, man.”
“I don’t suppose she has a bodyguard or private security?”
Deputy Marcs shook her head.
Darius shouldn’t have to point this out. “Until we’re sure that this wasn’t personal, there should be someone outside her hospital room round the clock. If she wants to hire personal protection, that’s fine, too.”
Chiago got a call and stepped away.
Deputy Marcs nodded. “I’ll contact the Scarlet PD and see what Chief Randall can do. Everything within the town limits is his jurisdiction. He’s pushing seventy-eight and about as curmudgeonly as an old cop can be. The Town Council keeps pushing him to retire, but he ignores them. He won’t be happy about this.”
Darius tried to imagine the size of Scarlet Springs PD. How many officers did it take to patrol a single square mile? That’s what Scarlet Springs was—one square mile surrounded by reality. They couldn’t possibly have the budget or the staff to run a security detail. “If they can’t manage it, we’ll find another way.”
Chiago waved. “I need to go. Good to meet you, Silva.”
