Page 40 of Forensics of a Fable

Griffin seized the bag and stormed out of his office toward a deputy. “Take this to forensics,” he demanded. “And get someone over to the post office with a photo of this envelope. I want to know if anyone remembers someone mailing Detective Emerson anything.” The deputy nodded, and the sheriff turned back to Bel. “He’s never warned us to a body before, which means he’s breaking his M.O. This could be potentially significant, so get Gold here now.”

Bel pulled out her cell and dialed her partner, but it went straight to voicemail. She tried again, but by the third attempt, she knew it was hopeless. “Sheriff, I think her phone is either off or dead.” Griffin gave her an odd look, and she quickly added, “Last night her new boyfriend was texting her. Maybe she simply turned it off.”

“She should know better than to turn her phone off in the middle of a case,” Griffin said, but Bel didn’t hear him. Something nagged at the recesses of her memory, and she squinted as if it would help her remember. She stood with a pinched face before her confused boss, and then she raced for the door so fast that he flinched.

“Emerson?” Griffin called as he chased after her. “Emerson, what are you doing?”

“Her car.” Bel slowed to a stop in the middle of the parking lot. “It’s still in the same spot it was in yesterday.”

“Could she have left it here on purpose?” he asked, trying to remain rational. “Maybe she drank and decided not to drive?”

“She met Ewan,” Bel said. “At least that’s what she told me.”

“She probably slept over at his place. You know how it is when you first start dating.” He gave her a weird glance as he spoke, as if they both knew Bel did not understand what it was like to become so consumed by someone that she forgot her job. “Maybe they had a drink, and she stayed at his house instead of driving.”

“I’m going over there.” Bel fished her keys out of her pocket and strode for her car, but she only made it a few steps before Griffin caught her.

“Emerson, I’m sure she’s fine.”

“I…” She shut her mouth and stared at her boss. Deep down, she realized he was right. It was still early. Spending the night with a new boyfriend was a valid explanation for tardiness, but rationality was for officers who hadn’t seen their partner’s hearts carved from their chests.

“Okay, I’ll get a unit to check her apartment, and we’ll visit the boyfriend’s,” Griffin relented, realizing Bel’s fear was born of real and excruciating pain. “I’ll come with you since the killer sent you the card. I don’t feel comfortable with you going anywhere solo today. Is that understood? Someone sticks with you at all times.”

“Sure,” Bel said distractedly as they piled into her car.

“Emerson?” He grabbed the steering wheel to keep her from pulling out of her parking spot.

“Yes, I got it. Don’t be alone. I promise.”

Griffin scanned her expression, searching for the lie, but her assurance must have satisfied him, for he released the wheel. They drove in silence after he ordered a squad car to check on Gold’s place, but as soon as they parked at Orso’s small rental, his phone rang.

“Griffin,” he answered it on speaker.

“Detective Gold isn’t at her apartment,” the deputy said over the line. “Neighbors say they haven’t seen her since yesterday.”

Bel didn’t wait for the sheriff to hang up before she was out of the car and racing up the porch. Her fist beat the front door, but when no one answered, she pounded again. She realized she was acting irrationally, that she was undoubtedly interrupting a romantic goodbye before her partner left for work, but Garrett’s lifeless face played over and over in her mind. She felt out of control. Not again. She couldn't do this again.

“Detective?” Ewan Orso opened the door, his gaze snagging warily on Griffin. “Sheriff?”

“Is Olivia here?” Bel asked.

“Um…” He paused, looking between the officers, and Bel knew. He didn’t need to say it. “No, she isn’t.”

“Was she here last night?” Bel asked. “Did she spend the night with you?”

“No. What’s this about?”

“So, she left on her own after your date?”

“What date?”

“Your date last night!” She practically shouted, and Griffin stepped forward, placing a hand soothingly on her back.

“Mr. Orso, may we come in?” he asked, and Ewan looked around uncomfortably, hesitating entirely too long for such a simple question.

“Yeah, sure.” He stepped aside, and the sheriff guided Bel into the small house.

“We’re trying to locate Detective Gold,” Griffin explained once they were inside. “She isn’t answering her phone, her car is at the station without her, and she wasn’t at her apartment. We’d hoped she stayed with you after your date.”

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