Page 22 of A Dark Place

“Something’s up,” Olivia said and reread the message sent from Luke. “Holden’s called a meeting in—” She focused on the clock on the phone. “Half an hour. We’re going to have to hustle to make it.” She slid behind the wheel of the SUV and waited for Asher and Declan to get in.

Asher checked his phone. “I don’t have a message.” He glanced to the backseat where Declan confirmed the same.

An ominous feeling slipped down her spine as she started the car and punched it to make the meeting. She hadn’t received an official notification from Holden’s office either. Holden didn’t want them to know about it.

So far, they’d heard nothing but good things about Joel Overton. He was a polite man who was always willing to help his coworkers. Most didn’t have any idea about his family. They knew he wasn’t married and had no children.

Olivia had obtained a copy of his employment record and learned his only relative was a grandmother who lived in Arizona. So why would someone who was described as a Boy Scout turn into a serial killer? While she drove, the aspects of the case swirled around in her head. “Call the grandmother,” she said to Asher. “Let’s find out what she knows.”

Asher grabbed his phone and called the number they had for Overton’s grandmother. He put the call on speaker. “Mrs. Overton, this is Agent Lackland with the FBI in Washington D.C.” Olivia listened while Asher did his best to break the news about this woman’s grandson with as much tact as possible.

“I…I can’t believe this. You’re wrong. There’s no way my grandson is responsible for such terrible things.” Sobs reverberated through the speaker. Asher’s gaze met Olivia’s.

“I hate this,” he mouthed.

Her heart went out to the woman on the other end of the phone. Joel Overton was everything to her.

“I raised Joel when his parents and two brothers disappeared. He’s a good boy despite everything.” She explained how Joel, then five, wandered over to her house from his family home and told her he couldn’t find his family. The police were called in, but it was as if the family simply disappeared never to be found again. She moved herself and Joel to Arizona shortly afterward.

Olivia listened to the horrific story and wondered what terrible thing had happened to Overton’s family.

“My boy would never hurt anyone. He was sweet and gentle. You have the wrong person.”

“That’s what we’re trying to understand,” Asher told her and asked if Joel had known Edward Buckley.

“I’ve never heard him mention the man. We talked several times a week. If Joel was working with someone like that, I would have known it. I’m telling you, Agent Lackland, you have the wrong person.”

Olivia was beginning to think the same thing.

“Ma’am, as soon as we have more information, I’ll be in touch. In the meantime, if Joel reaches out to you, please let us know. It will be better for him to come in peacefully. And if you think of anything that might help us clear Joel’s name, please give me a call.”

“Well, that was strange,” Olivia said once the call ended. “We need to check into Overton’s childhood and that incident in particular. Something’s off.” Olivia found a parking spot with a few minutes to spare before the meeting. They jumped out and hurried for the building.

The conference room where the meeting would take place was packed with agents. Olivia pointed to the back of the room, and they followed her to the window space. Everyone who had worked the case was assembled.

“I don’t like this,” Olivia whispered to Asher.

The words had barely cleared her lips when Holden strode into the room and up to the front. He took his time enlightening them on the reason for the meeting by scanning through his phone. Once he’d placed it in his pocket, he searched the room until he found Asher and Olivia.

“Uh oh,” Olivia said. From the expression on Holden’s face, Olivia could tell he wasn’t pleased about something.

“He knows we spoke to Overton’s colleagues,” Asher muttered.

“How would he know that unless someone from Overton’s work told him or he’s tracking our phones—monitoring our movements somehow?” In Olivia’s mind this was the only thing that made sense. If that was the case, Holden would know they’d talked to Overton’s grandmother.

“I sure hope you’re wrong,” Asher whispered.

“As most of you know,” Holden began. “We had a lead that took us to the home of a man by the name of Joel Overton earlier today. Overton escaped, but we uncovered evidence that links him to the recent Van Gogh murder. ERT has matched hair samples found in the basement to Sylvia Abbott. And the parents confirmed the scarf was hers. Along with the personal information found on Abbott and the potential victims as well as the stun gun and ketamine, I can say with almost complete certainty that Joel Overton is the second half of the killing team known as Van Gogh.” He paused for a breath. “We still have some forensic tests to complete, but we have our killer, folks. And soon we will have Overton himself. . . dead or alive.” His gaze scanned the team of agents who had worked tirelessly to bring down the killer.

“Gather the case files and box them up. I’m confident we will have Overton very soon.” Holden’s gaze found them once more, a look of distaste on his face. “Lackland, you and your partner notify Abbott’s family. I have already told the other potential victims that it’s safe for them to return to their homes.” Holden gathered his notes and prepared to wrap up the meeting.

Olivia could almost feel Asher’s outrage growing. She reached for his arm to warn him not to challenge the director, but it was pointless. Asher had reached his limit.

“Sir, will all due respect,” Asher interrupted, and Holden’s anger pinned him.

“Well, what is it?”

“Don’t you think it’s a little soon to tie Overton to Buckley? There’s no evidence they even knew each other.”

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