Page 26 of A Dark Place

“We need to speak to Overton’s grandmother,” Olivia mouthed.

Asher nodded. “No, we’ll be out of pocket for the rest of the day. Can you cover for us?”

Declan didn’t hesitate. “You know I will.” He stopped. “Anything I need to know?”

“It’s best that you don’t for now. As soon as we have some answers, we’ll be in touch,” Olivia assured him.

“All right. Watch your six, the both of you. Things are crazy here.”

When the call ended, Asher blew out a breath. “If Holden is watching us, he’ll figure out what we’re doing.”

Oliva thought the same thing, but they didn’t have a choice. “We have to get all the information we can about Overton because it feels as if he’s being thrown under the bus.”

Chapter Eleven

By the time they touched down at the airport in Tucson, a message was waiting from the University of Virginia. While Olivia filled out the paperwork for their rental car, he listened while the registration office confirmed there was no record of a Robert Holden ever attending the college.

His bad feeling continued to grow, and Olivia must have noticed.

“What is it?” she asked, her focus on his face.

“I had a message from the admissions department of the University of Virginia. Holden never attended there.”

She shook her head. “So, he lied to his wife.”

“And we’re back to zero.” He blew out a frustrated sigh.

They headed out to the car. Olivia clicked the key fob and slid behind the wheel. He had finally acclimated to her wanting to be behind the wheel wherever they went, though in the beginning it was hard to relinquish that control.

Once he was in, she asked, “Why would he lie about his past? What is he keeping secret? Especially from his wife.” She pulled away from the curb. “What do we do now?”

Asher couldn’t let go of his feeling that Holden was up to something beyond what was happening in the Van Gogh case.

“I have a thought.” He waited for Olivia to ask what before he answered. “Holden has to have a file with the FBI, right?”

Her eyes widened before her attention returned to the airport exit.

“If Holden finds out you're checking his file—” She didn’t finish, but he understood the risk.

“There’s something off about Holden, and I want to know what.” Her set jaw confirmed she was worried.

“I have a friend in the personnel office, and I’m calling him. He’ll keep things between us,” Asher assured her.

She left the interstate and exited onto a rural road outside of the city. “I hope you’re right.”

Asher called his friend’s cell phone.

“Hey, what’s up?” Franklin Harte asked in a jovial tone. Even though Asher was using a burner phone, a few people had the number. His good friend Franklin was one of them.

“I need your help, and I need you not to tell anyone about this.”

“Okay?” The caution in Franklin’s tone came through clear. “Tell me what you need.”

“I want to read through Robert Holden’s personnel records.”

The silence following was so long Asher wondered if he’d lost his friend. “Frank?”

“I’m here.” Frank released a very audible breath. “That’s asking a lot.”

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