Page 47 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

“Hey, Abby, this is Agent Marc Gonzalez. Donovan said you and Jon were out training?”

“Yeah, we’re at a park nearby. Jon’s sitting next to me.”

“Excellent, is this call on speaker?”

“It is.”

“Even better. Jon. What the hell are you guys into now?”

The way he asked this question made me think he’d found a good lead. “Did you find something?”

“Oh, I found something. You all were right on the money when you said the murder weapon was made. That was obvious in a second flat. You were dead right to send it to me. I can trace it.”

A thrill shot through me, like lightning in a bottle. I was so excited I could barely sit still. “You can find who made it? Please tell me you’re not pulling my leg.”

“I not onlycantrace it, Ididtrace it. Now, it was just for a split second. I don’t know how, but the psychic who made this has some kind of barrier or shield up, so I couldn’t get a firm lock on him. Energy feels male, at least. I think I understand now what Grant Walker meant. But I did get a lock, and it wasn’t in Tennessee.”

Thoughts ricocheted around in my head. The fact Marc confirmed a shield up around the psychic made me both happy and frustrated because dammit, they’d be really hard to find if they were under protective cover most of the time. But also, not in Tennessee? The fuck? “Then where the hell are they?”

“Georgia.”

“Uh. Um?” Damn. If he’d changed states, maybe that was why Tylesia didn’t register as “dead” until hours after Dwayne’s arrest. Took a while to drive down to Georgia, after all.

“Somewhere middle of the state. Best I got before it was locked down. But you know what this means, right?”

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. “They crossed state lines. This just became a federal case.”

“Yup. I’m on my way. Expect me no later than tomorrow and get someone to send me a more thorough up-to-date report on this case. We’ve got a psychic perp to catch.”

I got Marc to help me hunt this bastard down? So much joy right now. So much. Federal agents after our perp meant we’d get his ass locked up sooner rather than later, and I was all for that.

“I’m looking forward to it,” I purred. “See you soon.”

“Yup. Thanks for taking the call, Abby. Please save this number.”

“You bet.” Abby hung up and then looked me over from head to foot. “You just got really happy.”

“Marc is an amazing man and agent. He’s a pleasure to work with, and we’ve never failed to find the perp when he and his husband work with us.”

“Ohhh.” Abby lit up, lines sparking with anticipation. “Does that mean we can maybe find out what happened to Dwayne’s sister soon?”

“That’s my hope.”

“Can I email this to Dwayne? As an update?”

“Sure. I think he’ll be happy to hear it. We’ll call his parents, too, and let them know this case just became federal. I’m sure Marc will want to talk to them about all of this. For now, though, let’s get back to the office. We’ve got colleagues to update and hotels to book for Marc’s team when they come in.”

17

Gonzalez and Marc came in with all the energy of a summer storm. They were both outraged and intrigued by the whole case, which pretty much matched our feelings on it. I knew the second they hit the door, the work would really begin. It was why I’d organized a phone conference with Dwayne so he could be told this was now a federal case. We wanted to wait and catch him up all at once.

Gonzalez had texted they were on their way, so Sho and I pulled all the case files and evidence to the conference room, then laid it out and got it ready for them. I heard them before I saw them and stood, greeting them at the door.

“Havili.” Marc approached first, all smiles, and shook my hand. He looked as attractive as always, his mink black hair swept out of his face and his ready smile charming. “Good to see you, man. I understand you popped the question.”

I didn’t know why everyone assumed I proposed. I mean, I’d planned to, but that wasn’t how it’d panned out.

“Actually, Jon proposed.”

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