Hayden settled his hands on his waist. “You’re not seriously suggesting we had anything to do with Kenna’s murder and Lucy’s disappearance.”
“It’s exactly what I’m suggesting.” El pulled her shoulders back. “I’m not saying I believe it, but until I prove otherwise, I have to follow protocol. Besides, if you find evidence, defense attorneys will question whether you planted it.”
“What?” Gabe’s voice shot up. “You know we’d never?—”
“I know that, but juries wouldn’t. They don’t know your ethics would stop you from tampering with evidence.”
Gabe broke eye contact and paced like a caged tiger. He stopped in front of her again and plunged a hand into his hair. “I’m the one with the real connection to Kenna. What if I stay here and the others search?”
“What do you think?” she asked.
Jude moved forward, resting a hand on Gabe’s shoulder. “We could be accused of having our teammate’s back and planting evidence for him.”
“Fine,” Nolan said. “We might not be able to access the cordoned off area, but you can’t stop us from taking a better look where we searched last night. We can also use a drone to expand our search area.”
She nodded, but before she could say anything, Gabe flashed his focus back to her. “That’s not enough. I want to do more.”
“Again, I’m sorry.” She felt like a broken record.
“Come on, Gabe,” Abby said. “It’s better than walking away to do nothing while we wait for others to complete their work.”
“I can’t tell you what to do outside our perimeter, but I caution you. The same issue about planted evidence could arise. If you all do decide to search again,” she paused to lock her gaze on Gabe, “it might be better if you don’t join the team.”
The storm brewing in his body erupted. His breath came in quick bursts, eyes shifting from dark and stormy to helplessly lost. He opened his mouth, then closed it.
“I’m sorry, Gabe,” she said. “I wish things were different, but we have to solidify your alibi first.”
“I told you where I was.”
“And I believe you, but you were alone in your vehicle and no one can corroborate your alibi.”
“I was on the phone with my team.”
Hayden moved closer to her. “You need to get the GPS data for his phone for Kenna’s time of death. That’ll prove his phone wasn’t here. Since he was talking to us most of the time, we can confirm he was with it.”
She was way ahead of them. “I’ve already requested phone records, but providers are notoriously slow responding.”
“Then I’ll get Mina to expedite it,” Nolan said. “Or are you threatened by me going to your supervisor?”
“Not as long as I know about it.”
“Fair enough.” Nolan pulled out his phone. “I’ll call her right now.”
He stepped away just as a dive team vehicle pulled into the lot.
“It’s about to get busy,” El said, letting her gaze drift over the team members. “I suggest you leave before that happens.”
Gabe looked at his teammates. “You all go ahead. I’ll wait here until you’re done.”
Drat! Not what she wanted him to do. At least he wasn’t compromising her crime scene, but he’d be front and center if divers found something. If they pulled Lucy’s tiny body from the lake, she’d be at the beach and not by his side. She didn’t want that for him. Didn’t want it at all.
“I wouldn’t recommend staying. The search could take hours.” She was thinking of him, though guilt lingered for trying to get him to leave.
“I’ll stay with Gabe,” Jude said.
Better than Gabe being alone, though she would’ve chosen Abby or Reece for the job. They both had stronger interpersonal skills. Jude could border on being a smart aleck, but from what his teammates said, he had a deeper, more sensitive side she’d never seen.
“Thanks, man,” Gabe said. “But your time would be better spent searching.”
