Page 52 of See How They Hide

Michael shook his head slightly, urging her to cool it. Always trying to keep the peace.

Kara walked into the room. “Mr. Gardner? I’m Detective Kara Quinn, this is Special Agent Michael Harris, with the FBI. We met at the diner. Thank you for waiting.”

“Did you talk to Donovan? Is he okay?”

Kara sat directly across from Andrew; Michael sat to her right.

Death notifications always sucked. And it was usually best to do it quick.

“We regret to inform you that Donovan Smith was found dead in your house. I’m deeply sorry for your loss.”

He stared at her, his chest hitched, his eyes glazed. “I knew. I knew when he didn’t call me back. Healwayscalls back. I knew something was wrong. Oh, God. I never should have left him. I should have insisted he come with us. What happened? Tell me. Please. Tell me the truth.”

Michael said, “Officers went to the house for a welfare check and entered when they saw a body on the floor in the kitchen. His throat was cut. All physical evidence points to a quick death. I don’t believe he suffered, if that helps.”

Andrew drew in a sharp breath.

“Donovan... He fought back. He’s a big guy, strong. He must have fought back. There has to be evidence—”

“There were no signs of struggle. The Fort Collins Police Department is there now, but they’re holding the scene until the FBI Evidence Response Team arrives. We’ll process the scene and have a better understanding of exactly what happened.”

“I need to go—to be with him.” He put a hand to his mouth and shut his eyes.

“You wouldn’t be allowed into the house tonight,” Kara said. “We believe that Donovan’s murder is connected to three other homicides. We were here to talk to Jesse Morrison because we traced the three dead people to him.”

His eyes shot open. “Three? Donovan is the third, right?”

“No. He’s the fourth.”

His voice was a whisper. “Who?”

Kara heard Catherine’s voice in her ear. “Find out what he knows first.”

She didn’t need Catherine to tell her that. Kara said, “You knew about the murders, didn’t you?”

“I—” He stopped, collected himself. “Riley came to our house last night and told us that Jane and Chris had been killed. I—Donovan and I—knew them. And we—” Again, he stopped, cleared his throat.

“Jane Merrifield and Chris Crossman?” Kara asked to clarify.

“I didn’t know their new last names.”

Bingo. New names.

“But you knew who Riley was talking about when she said Jane and Chris.”

“Yes.”

“Let me tell you what we know,” Kara said.

“No,” Catherine said in her ear. Kara ignored her.

“We know that Jane Merrifield and Chris Crossman are false identities created by Jesse Morrison. We also know that Riley Pierce is a false identity. They don’t exist, except on paper. Do you know their real identities?”

He nodded.

“You’re not Andrew Gardner, are you?”

He shook his head.

---