Page 39 of Not This Night

Rachel was glad to be back on the road and on the move once more.

Her hands were no longer slipped into Ethan’s but now gripped the steering wheel, while her eyes occasionally darted to her partner, where he sat in the passenger seat. But for the most part, she kept her gaze on the road, looking for their exit.

Three hours they’d driven.

Three hours north to a small town on the border of Texas.

But it was going to be worth it. It had to be.

"Ortiz and Thompson could be our key," she said, her voice cutting through the hum of the road. She wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince herself or Ethan.

Morgan nodded, flipping through notes on his tablet. "If they know anything about it, they’ll probably want to steer clear. We’ll have to take it slow.”

"Time isn't on our side, Ethan." Rachel’s eyes darted to the rearview mirror then back to the road. "Every minute we lose, the case gets colder."

"Understood. Let's hope they’re home."

They’d found the last known address of the childhood friends of their three victims.

Now, Ethan issued a small whistle as he spotted the community where the GPS directed them.

Nestled in the leafy embrace of old oak trees, the gated community appeared regal, shimmering under the bright Texas sun. The sprawling network of well-manicured lawns and pristine houses spoke of a quiet affluence that made Rachel raise an eyebrow.

"High tech programmers really do rake in the big bucks," she muttered, more to herself than to Ethan.

They approached the wrought-iron gates of the affluent gated community, lined with surveillance cameras and lush greenery that spoke of wealth and privacy. Rachel pulled up to the guard shack, her badge at the ready.

They reached the gate, its imposing iron bars guarded by a stern-faced man in a uniform. Rachel rolled down her window as they pulled up, flashing her badge.

"Texas Rangers," she said, squinting through the open booth window. "We need to speak with Lucy Thompson and Miguel Ortiz."

The guard looked at them impassively before shaking his head. "Can't let you through without prior appointment. It's a private community."

Rachel's grip tightened on the steering wheel. "We've got an ongoing investigation. You have two suspects living here."

“Or witnesses,” Ethan added.

Still, the gate guard shook his head, crossing his arms over his chest defiantly. "You need to speak to the sheriff for that kind of business." Rachel scowled at his stubborn refusal but knew they couldn't afford to attract too much attention.

Ethan was always the charming one, and she was now wishing she’d allowed him to sit driver’s side for this interaction.

She could feel her partner watching her, and she wracked her brain for what he might say.

"Texas Rangers," she repeated a bit helplessly, displaying her identification to the uniformed guard a second time. He sighed and stepped out with a practiced air of authority.

"Yeah, saw it the first time. Sorry, Rangers, I can't let you in without consulting the sheriff," the guard replied, his stance rigid.

"Look, this is critical to an ongoing investigation," Rachel insisted, her scowl deepening at the bureaucratic hurdle.

"Orders are orders. Sheriff's rules."

“Got some fancy donors of his in there, does he?” Ethan asked sweetly.

The guard just frowned.

With an exasperated sigh, Rachel shifted the car into reverse. "Fine," she snapped, masking her frustration.

She pulled down the long drive towards where the intersection veered off from the main road. But as she pulled out of sight, she put the car into park.

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