Page 37 of Close Quarters

Alex’s face turned red, and a vein pulsed in his forehead. She could tell he was trying hard not to yell into the phone.

“How did this happen? There’s a night shift crew. Why didn’t they call us?”

“They were ambushed. Tied up and stuffed in the morgue fridge. I found them when I came in. They were banging on the doors to get out.”

Katie squawked and covered her mouth. Her poor crew!

“Did you have security check the surveillance footage?”

“Right before I called you. Someone blacked out the cameras. No one noticed, because the lab isn’t actively monitored. It’s a passive system.”

Alex muttered a curse. “Is the sheriff aware?”

“He and Deputy Travers are here now. The sheriff called in the FBI. We’re waiting on their CSI team to arrive and process the scene.”

“Okay. We’ll be there as soon as we can,” Katie said. “Cooperate with the feds when they arrive.”

“You got it, boss.”

Devin hung up, and Alex closed the sat phone with more force than necessary. “This is getting ridiculous.”

“Agreed.” She slid out of the sleeping bag to get dressed. Her mind whirled. She knew they were onto something with that girl.

“What are you thinking?” Alex asked as he pulled his khaki cargo pants over his hips.

She glanced at him, her brain glitching a moment as she took in his naked chest. Looking away, she concentrated on her own nakedness and covering it up. “I’m thinking that someone is getting very nervous. That girl’s skeleton is the key, I’m telling you. But if it’s been smashed along with the others, it could take weeks for investigators to sort out the pieces.”

“I wonder if they got to the large evidence storage. You put her clothes back there, didn’t you?”

Her face brightened. “I did.” She pulled her t-shirt over her head and held out a hand. “Give me the phone.”

Alex passed her the device. She flipped it open and dialed Devin back.

“Hello?”

“Devin, did they get to large evidence storage?”

There was a brief pause. “I’m not sure. I didn’t think to check. Let me go up there, and I’ll call you back.”

She folded the phone closed as he hung up. “He’s checking. Let’s get this camp broken down and get out of here.”

With quick, efficient movements, they finished dressing and rolled up the sleeping bags they’d zipped together. They were dismantling the tent when the sat phone rang again.

Alex was closest and answered it, putting it on speaker again.

“It’s still there. I let the sheriff know, and he posted a deputy on the door.”

Yes!

“Awesome. Thanks, Dev.”

“Yep. See you soon.”

Alex hung up. “Finally! I hope the key to this thing is in her clothes.”

“Me too, but I’m not holding my breath.” But if it was there, she was going to find it, FBI taking over be damned.

Chapter 8

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