Page 47 of Critical Doubt

"Things changed over the next week. Todd was distant to me at work and wouldn't text me back. I finally got him on the phone last Tuesday when he was back in Dobbs. I confronted him about our relationship. I asked him if he was ghosting me. He said that I needed to move on with my life, that he wasn't good for me or anybody. And he told me not to tell anyone that we'd been together. He said it might be dangerous. I asked him to explain, but he wouldn't. I could hear fear in his voice, but he wouldn't say what he was afraid of. That was the last time we spoke. When I heard about Paul's death, I tried to reach him, but he never answered or texted back. I've been so worried about him. When the police called Colton today, and the news spread around the office, I got really scared for Todd."

"Were there any other texts or conversations that in retrospect seem troubling?" she asked.

"Isn't what I've told you enough?"

"You could have told us all this at the office," she said. "Why did you need to meet us here? Why couldn't you speak to us there?"

Jackie's tongue darted out, as she gave a nervous swipe of her lips. "Well, okay. Right before you showed up today, Trent came into my office suite and pulled all the files having to do with Todd's assignments. He said the police wanted them, but I don't know. There was something about the way he was acting that seemed weird. And when I asked for information, he told me not to say anything to anybody. He also asked me if Todd had ever left anything at my apartment. I was stunned by the question. I had no idea that Trent knew we'd slept together. I told him no. I asked him what he was looking for, and he said he couldn't tell me."

Savannah glanced at Ryker. "Colton told us Trent was out of town."

"Trent did tell me he was going on a trip, but he didn't say where," Jackie put in. "Anyway, I was afraid to talk to you at the firm after what Trent said to me."

"That was wise. You should always trust your instincts."

"My instincts tell me that Todd is in trouble. I hope he's all right. Even if he doesn't want to be with me, I want him to be alive. I'll do anything to help."

"What kinds of cases was Todd working?" she asked.

"That's the thing; they were nothing unusual. He did some event security. He was a bodyguard for a celebrity who was in Atlanta for a movie premiere. He worked a golf tournament for a bunch of CEOs. The only thing I can think of that might have been in those case files that was at all interesting was when Trent took Todd to talk to a defense contractor who might be interested in using our company. Because Todd was a former Ranger, Trent thought his presence would carry some weight, but it was just a meeting."

"And that meeting was in the files that Trent wanted?"

"Yes. But it was like a page. It was nothing that would cause anyone trouble. I think it's the gambling that's out of control."

"Do you know where we can find Vic?"

"He's a bartender at Maloney's Saloon on Fourth Street."

"We'll talk to him."

"If you find Todd, will you tell him I'm worried about him?"

"Of course," she replied, as she pulled out a card. "If you think of anything else, call me."

"I will." Jackie pulled her jacket more tightly about her and then walked away, hurrying through the dark shadows of the park.

She turned to Ryker. "Looks like we're getting a drink."

"Definitely. What did you make of that?"

"Well, Jackie is in love with Todd. Todd has a gambling problem, which ties in with what we've heard from other people. Trent Carmack grabbing the files…I don't know what to make of that. I should have asked her who the defense contractor was."

"It doesn't feel like there's a connection."

"Except that why did Trent want the files?"

"I can't answer that."

"One thing I thought was a little odd was that while Jackie seemed genuinely upset about Todd, she was also specific in what she wanted to relate to us."

Ryker raised a brow. "As if she was coached to say what she said?"

"Possibly."

He gave her a thoughtful look. "I didn't read her that way, but you could be right. You're a very suspicious person, aren't you, Savannah?"

"It's part of the job. I can't afford to take people at face value. There's often a hidden agenda, even when it has nothing to do with the case. People are always looking out for their own self interests."

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