Page 27 of Ghosts From Christmas Past

Dylan remained standing. “You worked for Barlow Swenson a little more than eight years ago.”

Right away, Reilly’s demeanor changed. “Is this about those murders? I don’t know anything about them.”

“Really? And yet you’re the one who brought them up.”

Reilly sat up straighter. “That’s because I heard about it after they happened, not because I was involved.”

“How did you hear about the murders?” Dylan glanced at Sam who was listening intently.

“Are you kidding? It was all over the news back then. I was staying at a friend’s place in Casper when I first heard.” He stopped for a second. “It’s a shame. Barlow and his wife. Their daughter. They were good people. Barlow helped me out when no one else would.”

“When was the last time you were at the Swenson place?” Dylan asked because he wanted to see if Reilly’s answer matched up with the timeline he knew.

“A few weeks before. The family invited me to the church’s Thanksgiving meal. Barlow gave me some money to get to my friend’s place. He even gave me a ride to the bus station. He was a good man. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt him or his family.”

Every facial indicator seemed to back up what Reilly said.

“Still, I want you to stand in a lineup.”

“A lineup?” Reilly peered up, his eyes wide. “Miss Charlotte’s awake.”

Dylan watched him carefully. There was no fear, just a statement of the facts. “Will you agree to a lineup?”

Reilly hesitated but a second before agreeing. “If it helps Miss Charlotte get some peace, then I will do it.”

Dylan turned away before Reilly could see his surprise. “Set it up,” he told Sam and stepped out into the hall. His gut was screaming this wasn’t the man they were looking for. Which left one possible suspect who was still at large. He prayed Ronald Dennis was their killer, because if he wasn’t, they were all out of options. And he had a feeling Charlie might never be able to free herself from that dreadful day if he couldn’t help her put a face to the man who had caused her so much pain. “Please God, help me.” The prayer slipped off his tongue. He couldn’t let her live in fear for the rest of her life.

His cell phone rang, and he pulled it from his pocket. Jesse. With everything that happened, he’d forgotten about the lights at Charlie’s house until now.

“What’d you find out?”

Jesse blew out a deep sigh. “Nothing. The front door was standing open. All the lights were on in the house, but there was no one there.”

“Any fingerprints or DNA?”

He knew the answer even before Jesse confirmed. “Not a thing. Chief Denning’s crime scene people swept the house from top to bottom. There was nothing, Dylan.” Jesse blew out a breath. “What’s going on there? Is Reilly the guy?”

Dylan glanced back at the room he’d just left. “I don’t think so. I’m going to have him stand in a lineup, but I’m pretty confident he’s not our man.” And he couldn’t help but believe they were running out of time. Whatever sick games the killer was playing, Dylan had a feeling he would continue to step them up until he made his play for Charlie again. “We need to locate Ronald Dennis as quickly as possible,” Dylan told his friend. “If this is him, he’s getting worried.” And if it wasn’t, then God help them because he had no idea where to go from there.

Chapter Nine

Her head pounded from lack of sleep. Stress of living in fear. The threat of what waited to be revealed.

Dylan came into the room and she glanced up. “Is it him?”

He sat beside her. “We can’t be certain yet.” He shifted so that he faced her. “I’d like for you to take a look at a lineup. See if you recognize anyone from that day.”

The last thing she wanted was to look into the eyes of the man who had possibly taken so much from her, yet she had to do it for her parents. “Okay,” she forced the words out. “Of course, I’ll do it.”

Dylan engulfed her hand in his. “Thank you. I know this can’t be easy for you.” The smile on his face went a long way toward making it better.

“As long as you’re there beside me, I can get through anything.”

He looked into her eyes and the past—their past--the good things from her life that Dylan represented returned, and she leaned in close and ran her hand through his full dark hair. She’d always loved the way his hair felt between her fingers.

Dylan’s love for her showed in his eyes. “I’m so glad you’re back.” Tears brimmed in his eyes. How hard these past years must have been for him. Watching her in a perpetual state of slumber while the world around them moved forward. Yet he never gave up on her.

They stared into each other’s eyes, and more than anything, she wanted the missing years with him back.

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