Page 61 of Obsession

“He said it was okay to call him.” Emma punched in Bell’s number, and when he answered, she identified herself and said, “Mr. Bell, I have a copy of your report on my brother, Ryan Winters,” she said. “But there seems to be missing pages. Could you email me a new copy of your report?”

Bell cleared his throat. “You say you’re Dina Winters’s daughter?”

“Yes, sir. Like I said, I’m looking at my mom’s copy right now.”

He paused. “I’d like to call your mother and get permission to share it. After that, we can FaceTime, if you’d like.”

“Sure.”

Sam tapped the steering wheel while they waited. Five minutes later, Emma’s cell rang the distinctive FaceTime ring and she answered, turning the phone slightly for Sam to see as well.

Harry Bell had changed little since Sam sat under his teaching. Maybe lost a little more hair on top, but his wizened face didn’t look any older than it had eight years ago.

“Who’s that with you?” Bell asked.

“My friend Sam Ryker.”

“That name is familiar.”

“We met at the academy at Glynco. I was one of your students.”

“Oh yeah. I remember you.”

Emma turned the phone so it showed her image again.

“You favor your mother, Miss Winters. Now what’s this about missing pages in the report?”

Sam listened while she explained the discrepancies they’d found. “My mom said there’d been a copy of Sheriff Carter’s file on the Mary Jo Selby death among the documents.”

“Let me think. Ten years ago I wasn’t doing digital files, so I only have a hard copy and it’s at the office.”

They waited for him to continue.

“Yes, come to think of it, I did get a copy of that file from the Adams County sheriff.”

“It’s not in your report now. Would you email me another copy, including the sheriff’s file?”

“You haven’t heard from your brother?”

“No ... Can we speak confidentially?” she asked.

“Most certainly.”

“We think he may be d-dead...” Emma collected herself and continued. “We found evidence he may have been buried at Mount Locust all these years.”

Bell’s mouth turned down. “I’m so sorry,” he said, shaking his head. “I was hoping for a different outcome.”

“So were we,” Sam said.

The older man sighed. “That explains why I never found him.” Then he rubbed his jaw. “I don’t understand why you want my report if you believe you’ve found his remains.”

“Sheriff Carter’s file on the case is missing from the sheriff’s department’s records,” Sam replied.

“Oh.” He made at least two syllables out of the word. “That’s interesting.”

He figured Bell would think it was. Sam would love his help in this. The man hadn’t earned the nickname Bulldog for nothing.

“I only have the sheriff’s preliminary report, not the outcome.” The PI rubbed his jaw. “If your brother was buried at Mount Locust, how did his car get to Memphis?”

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