“I’m sure her cell just ran out of power or something. When did you see her last?”
Tyler rubbed his head. “This morning. We had plans for the evening, you see. It’s not like her,” he fretted, getting up and going to the window. Luna went with him in time to see a police cruiser pull up. Knox got out, followed by some men she didn’t know. She banged on the window, but Knox ignored her, just walking with the men over to the station. She frowned and was about to leave when Inca came back into the room. She shook her head at them.
“Sorry, no luck. Look, we’ll leave it for a half hour.”
Luna interrupted her, darting to the door. “Be right back.”
Knox was emerging from the station, his face stern and set. She ran over to him, and he excused himself to the men with him, one of whom she now recognized as his old boss in the city, Trey Ford. She nodded to him, then turned back to Knox.
“What’s going on? Are you looking for Olly?”
He indicated for her to wait, spoke to the rest of the group in low tones. Returning, he took her arm. “Come on.”
He led her back to the teahouse where Inca and Tyler were watching them, confusion in their faces. He asked them to sit down while he explained.
“Trey went back over cold cases in the city. He found a woman who was murdered with the same weapon but didn’t fit the victim profile. She was an African-American mother of five.”
Luna looked confused. “And?”
“Her name was Justine Sardee.”
Inca blanched. “Oh God …”
Knox nodded. “She was killed on March first. That date mean anything to you?”
Luna looked bleak, and her voice was barely above a whisper. “Olly’s birthday.”
Knox took her hand. “It’s all too coincidental. He’s been going into the city at night too. We need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
Inca shook her head. “This is ridiculous. Olly would never hurt anyone.”
Knox’s eyes were kind. “Inca, didn’t you come to me and tell me the exact opposite thing yesterday? The facts are that the murders all took place at times Olly was either unaccounted for or in the city. Then there’s the murder weapon itself.” He looked at Tyler. “You know what I’m going to say.”
Tyler nodded, his whole body slumped in defeat. “My knife.”
The woman both looked back at Knox in confusion.
“Tyler was issued a bayonet knife when he served in the military,” he explained. “It was part of the inventory stolen last year, only Olly never listed it in the police file. It was the only thing that wasn’t accounted for. Then there are the ballistics on Scarlett’s murder. I’m sorry, I couldn’t tell you before. They’re the same issue bullets as we use. We just need Olly’s gun to prove it.”
Inca couldn’t hold out the small cry of distress. “What the hell are you talking about? Are you accusing Olly of murdering Scarlett now?”
Luna looked as if she would throw up. Tyler reached for Inca’s hand. She pulled it away and stared at Knox. He was pale, obviously uncomfortable.
They all looked at Luna now. She shook her head
“No. No. He’s being set up.” She stood up now, angry. Inca, tears flooding down her face grabbed her hand.
“Luna, I don’t want to believe it either, but—”
Luna walked out of the room. Tyler started to get up, but Inca stopped him. “Tyler, leave her. Knox, Nancy is missing. She’s been missing all day.”
Knox look startled and stood. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me that first? Tyler, come with me.”
Inca watched helplessly as the two men stalked out.
Luna pulled the back door shut behind her, pressing the speed dial on her cell phone. She waited until the voicemail kicked in.
“Hey, it’s me. Look, I don’t know where you are but … they’re going to arrest you. I want you to know, I know you didn’t do anything wrong. I know it.”
Her voice cracked, and she hung up the phone. Her body gave out then, and she sank to the ground, sobbing.
No. No.
Olly was being set up; she knew it. Her sobs juddered to a halt and she dragged oxygen into her lungs in gasps, trying to regain control. One thought dominated her mind now.
How the hell was she going to save her brother?
It was four a.m. before Knox came back to the teashop. Tyler had returned earlier and they had been joined by the Winter brothers, both of whom had immediately sent their own security teams out to help the hunt. Tyler, hollow-eyed and stricken, got up to greet him, but Knox, grasping the older man’s arm, shook head.
“Nothing yet, buddy. Trust me, we’re looking. The coastguard is sending up a helicopter at first light. Same with the police, the F.B.I.” He took a deep breath. “Considering Nancy’s age and link to Inca, the feds are considering her disappearance as part of the case; they’re giving us all the resources we need.” He winced at the agony in Tyler’s face. “Man, we’ll find her. I promise.”
Tyler nodded, speechless with terror. Knox looked over to the two women, their eyes filled with the same horror as their friend’s. Luna hugged Knox and he sank into the embrace, exhausted, drained.
“I can’t stay long,” he murmured into her neck, his face buried in her hair. He was reluctant to let go. Luna cleared her throat and he looked up.
“Can I have a word, Knox? In private?” She looked embarrassed to ask.
In the kitchen, she looked at him squarely. “I need to tell you something. It’s going to sound crazy, and you’re going to think I’m saying it just to help Olly but—”
“Just go for it, Luna.”
She nodded. “All right. I think Olly’s being set up by Tommaso. I think he’s dangerous and unstable. Everything started to go bad when he showed up.”
Knox considered her words carefully. “Just one problem with that, Luna. Tommaso didn’t show up until a couple of months back. The murders started a year ago.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I know,” she hissed with frustration.
Knox relented. “Hey, I’m not taking his side, but I’m just telling you how the court will see it. For what it’s worth, I think there’s something hinky about him too. But just at the moment, I’ve got bigger things to worry about.”
She nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
They walked back out to the coffee house and Knox nodded to Tyler. “I’ll be back and keep you updated.” He walked towards the door, then turned on his heel and went back to Luna, searching her face. “Don’t go taking the law into your own hands now, will you? If what you say is true, I don’t want you getting hurt.”
Olly woke in his car. It took him a moment to orient himself to his surroundings. Desolation Point. He sat up and wondered how the hell he’d gotten there. An empty bottle of vodka lay next to him, but he frowned at it. Vodka wasn’t his drink. He opened the car door and the fresh air hit him.
“God.”
He stumbled from the car and rubbed his eyes, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. He saw the trunk of his car was lifted up and frowned. What the hell? As he stared at it, he felt his phone buzz. Voicemail. He listened to his sister’s words, and a sickening dread came over him.
Slowly he walked to the back of the car. The flies were buzzing maniacally, and Olly could only stare in horror at the dead body of his ex-girlfriend’s mother. Olly whirled and threw up and up until he could no longer do anything but dry-heave.
He staggered further away from the car, wondering what to do. He heard the sirens getting closer. Luna’s voice came back to him.
They’re going to arrest you.
He pulled his cell from out of his pocket and called her. She answered on the first ring.
“Olly?” she was whispering but, as soon as he heard her voice, he crumpled.
“Luna, Luna …” He started to sob. “They’re gonna say I did it …”
“No. No. Olly, listen to me. I know you are innocent. I know it with every cell in my body. I believe you.” He
r voice was stronger now. “Are you listening?”
Olly’s sobs juddered to a halt and he panted, trying to catch his breath. “Yes.”
She lowered her voice again. “I believe in you.”
Olly shook his head. “You’re the only one who will,” he said bleakly.
He pushed his way through the woods, towards the sound of the sirens. A couple of cruisers were parked at the side of the road. As he approached, the cop driving the closest one got out of his car. Olly went up to him, his whole body slumped in defeat.
“I think,” he said, and his voice broke, “I think I’m the one you’re looking for.”
Inca saw Knox’s face before Tyler did, and his expression said everything. An involuntary moan escaped her lips and Tyler looked up sharply. He followed her gaze, turning to the somber cop.
Knox shook his head, his eyes sorrowful. “Tyler …”
“No. Don’t say it. No.” Tyler began to shake and Inca, tears coursing down her face, darted around the counter and caught him as his knees gave way. She and Knox managed to maneuver him into a chair, and he leaned over, a gut-wrenching howl of grief echoing around the room. Inca leaned her head against his.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” she whispered again and again, and he put his arms around her, holding onto her, muscles clenched. He drew in deep breaths, trying to get control of himself. Knox, his hand on the older man’s shoulder, waited, his own face wan.
After what seemed an impossible time, Tyler looked up. “Where?”
“In the woods near Desolation Point.”
Tyler and Inca exchanged a long look. He saw his own confusion reflected in her eyes. “Was she stabbed?”
Knox nodded. “Yeah. It’s the same killer.” The implication of what he had said hit him then as Tyler stood and darted into the backroom. They heard him throwing up and Inca gave a little sob.
“With his knife. With Tyler’s knife.”
Knox nodded and put his arm around her. “Look, I need you to stay with Tommaso. Take Tyler, if that’s okay. I don’t know why, but I think from everything we’ve found out, it has to have something to do with you. You shouldn’t be alone.”
She gazed up at him. “What about Olly?”
He hesitated. “Inca … he’s in custody. He was found with Nancy’s body in the trunk of his car.”
“No, no, no …” She started to sob and Tommaso held her as she cried. Raffaelo cursed softly under his breath.
“He turned himself in, Inca. Whatever the truth is, we’ll get it; don’t worry. If Olly’s innocent, we’ll find out.”
She gathered herself, rubbing her eyes. “Sorry.”
He looked at her kindly. “He’s asking for Luna. I need to find her.”
Inca nodded. “She’s upstairs. Knox … I know Olly. He wouldn’t do this. He wouldn’t. He’s messed up, yes, but he’s not a killer. Should I come?”
Knox’s face softened. “Sweetheart, you need to look after Tyler now. Olly’s cooperating. Funny he knew to come in almost as soon as the arrest warrant was issued—almost as if someone warned him. Look, we need a positive ID on Nancy’s body.”
“I’ll do it,” she interrupted. “Tyler doesn’t need to see her like that.”
Tyler had emerged from the bathroom, wiping his mouth. “Sorry.”
“Tyler, I’m so sorry for your loss.” Knox was all business again now, his manner sympathetic but practical. “Inca’s going to come with me tomorrow and make the official identification.” He looked between them.
Tyler opened his mouth to object, but Inca went to him. “Let me do this for you. I owe you. You don’t need to see her like that. Please.” She hugged Tyler, and he exhaled a long, almost relieved sigh, holding her close.
“Thanks, Bubba,” he said softly, then turned back to Knox. “Knox, I heard what you said about Inca not being alone. I agree, bubs, no argument.”
Tommaso cleared his throat. “You shouldn’t be alone either, Tyler. Our home is your home. Knox, will you let me know when Inca should be there tomorrow?”
“Of course. They’re going to take her bo—Nancy, to the city morgue. I’ll go with you, so you won’t be alone, Inca.” He turned to Tyler. “Tyler, man, I’m so sorry. You need anything, you just holler, okay?”
Inca hugged Tyler. “Just know, I will always be here for you, whatever you need. I’m so sorry.”
Tyler let out a long breath. “Thank you.” He searched Inca’s face. “You okay?”
She shook her head. “No. No, I’m not. Tyler, Olly didn’t do this.”
He hesitated, then sighed. “For whatever reason, I believe you about that. I can’t imagine he would do this. Nancy’s gone. God, Inca.” His voice was so full of desolation, it made her cry. “What the hell am I going to do without her?”
F.B.I. Agent Trent Burke leaned back in his seat and studied the young man in front of him. Olly Rosenbaum had refused a lawyer and just asked that his sister be with him during questioning. There was something so guileless about the kid, and he had answered every question, Trent felt, with honesty and frankness. No, he had no idea how Nancy’s body had gotten in his car, nor indeed how he had ended up where he did. No, he had no motive to kill her. No, he wouldn’t describe his relationship with Inca Sardee as obsessive.
Trent glanced in the two-way mirror, knowing the cop from the island, Knox, was watching. He’d banned him from the interview even before he found out he was close to the main suspect’s sister.
Jesus. Trent shook his head. What a goddamn mess.
There was a knock at the door. Trey Ford walked in, a tray of coffee in his hands, a folder tucked under his arm. Olly and Luna thanked him for the drink. Trent took the folder and opened it, reading through the contents. Ford watched him carefully, and eventually, Trent nodded and turned back to Olly. The younger man looked exhausted; his sister, tense but protective.
“So, Olly.” Trent kept his manner relaxed. “You want to tell me where you’ve been going nights?”
Olly sighed. “The city. I’ve been moonlighting, I guess you’d call it, working construction.” He leaned forward and dropped his head in his hands for a moment. Luna, paler than ever under the strip light, rubbed his back. He took a deep breath.
“Thing is, I got myself into bad debt buying two new places. So I got in touch with an old friend and asked him if he could hook me up with some work. And I guess I just wanted one thing in my life that was just mine. So I didn’t tell anyone. Not Inca,” he smiled at Luna. “Not even you, sis.”
Trent nodded. “I get it. We’re going to have to check with your friend, you realize, and whether you’ve broken any conditions of your employment, well, I’ll leave that up to your boss.” He glanced over to Ford, who shrugged. “Well, we’ve got a long way to go here, so, take a break for five minutes, and we’ll be back. Ford?”
Outside, Knox was waiting. “Thoughts?”
Trent shook his head. “Something’s not sitting right. We’re gonna need more time, and I think we need to take him back to the city. He’s too close to everything here,” he added, throwing Knox a meaningful look. Ford nodded.
“I think that’s a good idea—look, I’m not trying to interfere, but seems to me, Knox, you already got a lot on your plate without this. Let Trent deal with Olly. Keep out of it and handle what’s been going on with the murder scene. I know the victim was a friend. Take some time.”
The door behind them opened, and Luna stepped out. She looked as if she’d been crying, but she gave them a weak smile. Knox put a hand on her shoulder.
“I think my brother should have a lawyer now,” she said quietly. Ford nodded and reached for the phone.
“They’re going to take him to the city for questioning, honey.”
She nodded, sighing. “Okay … well, I should go with him.”
Trent made a face. “Honestly, I think you’re better off here, Miss Rosenbaum. We could be a long time.”
Luna looked at Knox, who nodded. “Sweetheart, it’s fo
r the best. Inca and Tyler are going to need you too.”
Luna’s face crumpled, and she hurriedly dabbed her eyes. “I don’t want him to be alone.”
“He won’t be.” Ford was back. He squeezed her hand. “I’ll look out for him best I can. I promise.”
Knox drove Luna to the Winters’ house. “I want you to stay with them and be with people when I’m working.” He glanced over, his face apologetic. “Sorry, I don’t mean to dictate – “
“I get it,” she said with a small smile. “Thank you. God, what a mess.”
He pulled the car up to the curb outside Tommaso’s place, and they sat there for a moment. Knox reached over and took her hand.
“I’m sorry for all this crap, Luna. For what it’s worth … I don’t think Olly’s a killer. I had my suspicions, my doubts early on, but …”
“It’s your job to be suspicious of his kind of behavior.” Her voice was soft and trembling. “It’s my job as his sister to believe in him. And I didn’t.” And she started to cry.
Knox came to pick Inca and Tyler up the next morning. He nodded at the suitcase in the hallway. “What’s that?”
“Tyler’s going to Connecticut. Nancy’s brothers are in a residential home; he doesn’t want them finding out from anyone else.” Inca lowered her voice. “They have Alzheimer’s. I don’t know how much they’ll understand about this, but he has to try. I’m going to take him to the airport after you’ve dropped us off.” Inca was pale; there were dark circles under eyes. Tyler came out to greet Knox, his own face drawn, his body sunken with grief.
“I’ll take you to the airport,” Knox offered. “No point in you getting a cab when I have a perfectly good car.”
“Okay, thanks.”
At the morgue, Tyler stayed in Knox’s car, not even looking at the building. Knox led Inca to the viewing suite.
“The post mortem was done this morning,” Knox told her, and she nodded, drawing in a deep breath as they stepped into the room. The medical examiner smiled sympathetically at her. Knox put his hand on her back as the doctor lifted the sheet. Inca could not help the little cry of distress. Nancy’s face was peaceful now, her eyes closed, but the shock was not lessened at seeing her so brutalized.
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