Page 4 of Murder in the Lighthouse

“What can we do to help you?” Lucien asked.

“If you’re serious, then help me search the woods. I wouldn’t say no to that.”

“Sure. Have you asked Terra Search & Recovery for their help? They do this sort of thing all the time. And I don’t think they were part of the original search at Wilder Ranch. Today, they could provide search dogs and the right equipment. I’m sure Beckett Callahan would lend a hand.”

“Good idea. Feel free to round up anyone else who might want to volunteer their time. I’ll meet you there in thirty minutes.”

With his contactlist, Lucien organized a small group of people willing to help with the search, including the Callahan brothers and their dogs, a golden retriever named Brodie, and a female Shepherd Husky mix called Journey.

Birk Callahan’s girlfriend, Jade Weingarten, a true-crime blogger and podcaster, had tagged along, hoping one more pair of eyes might help.

Brogan stood at the rear of her Range Rover and waved to Jade, who wore jeans and a hooded boho jacket with her hiking boots. The striking brunette had her long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. A deep shade of eyeshadow with purple undertones accentuated her captivating brown eyes. Jade looked like a model for Wild Child Inc. “I see you came prepared to traipse through the woods.”

Jade nodded, studying Brogan from head to toe and noticed she wore a stylish smoky blue hoodie with matching jogging pants and a pair of slingbacks on her feet that had a wedge heel. “Interesting choice of outfits for search and rescue. Let me guess. When you started out this morning, you had no idea you’d be looking at a trek through the woods?”

“I didn’t think I’d be anywhere near the lighthouse looking for a body, that’s for sure. This morning, I grabbed the first pair of shoes within reach. I should’ve changed into jeans and a sweater and put on boots, but there wasn’t time to go home and dabble in outfits.”

Jade waved that away. “I find the first few days after throwing a party is always hectic. Birk and I had fun. I mean that. I honestly think Birk enjoyed himself. And that’s hard for him to admit. I’m not sure what he hates most: Halloween or parties in general. You know how he is. But you guys really know how to put together a bash. If I ever throw a big celebration, I want you guys in charge.”

“Thanks. If there’s one thing we know how to do well—throwing a party happens to be in our wheelhouse or maybe our DNA—along with a few other vices.”

Jade let out a throaty laugh. “Now you’re just bragging.”

“I wish. Did you get approved to buy Tazzie Crossland’s house?” Brogan asked Jade.

“My loan is still sitting in the stack of applications on Nick’s desk.”

“You don’t seem concerned about it.”

“I’m not. Mainly because Birk took me out to dinner last night and asked me to move in with him. I’m not sure what I should do. What do you think?”

“What I think shouldn’t matter? But it’s fairly straightforward. Do you want the house? Or do you want to live with Birk?”

“I’m in love with Birk.”

“Does he feel the same way about you?”

“I think so.”

“Maybe start by having that conversation first. If it’s mutual and you think your relationship with Birk has a chance, then you should go for it.”

“I like the sound of that. Birk isn’t as tough as he likes people to think. He can be a real softie when it’s just me.”

Brogan found that funny. “Just so you know, I don’t think of softie when I hear Birk Callahan’s name.”

“Most people don’t. Any theories as to where Sam Heywood might be or what happened to him once he arrived in town? I know he put up flyers along Main Street about his sister. I saw a couple of those myself. I took photos of the ones by Perky Pelican.” To prove that she took out her cell phone. “See? But then Sam simply vanished.”

“I had this crazy idea he might be in the lighthouse since this is where his car was found. But Theo Woodsong quashed that idea.”

“Why?”

“Apparently, the lighthouse stays locked. And it was locked when Theo got here and went inside.” Despite that, Brogan noticed Journey had broken away from Beckett and sauntered up to the base of the lighthouse. “Would you look at that? I’m not the only one who thinks there’s something weird about that tower.”

A police cruiser pulled into the lot and parked on the other side of Lucien’s truck.

Brogan got her first look at Brent’s new hire when he stepped around the rear of the SUV. The latest addition to the police force carried himself like the seasoned Seattle cop he’d been just a month earlier. He hid his dark eyes behind a pair of RayBans. He wore light-colored khaki pants and a dark blue uniform shirt displaying the gold Pelican Pointe Police Department insignia on the sleeve.

Brogan noted that his bronze skin and straight black hair cropped down to his collar made him look much younger than his thirty-eight years. But there was no doubt in her mind that only a fool would mess with a guy who looked downright dangerous. His sidearm—a Glock 17—told her he meant business. She could see the intense way he carried himself as if he were someone who took his job very seriously.

---