Page 20 of A Dark Place

The SUV pulled up beside a middle-class house on a quiet street. Olivia slid out, put on her Kevlar vest, and checked the magazine in her Glock.

HRT was there and waiting for them. Olivia slipped her jacket over the vest as Luke pulled up beside them. He got out and geared up quickly.

“The boss is here?” he said when he saw Director Holden.

In her rush to notify Luke, she’d failed to tell him about Holden’s unusual request. Olivia grabbed his arm and shook her head. There were many things she had to tell him but now was not the time. Luke caught on quickly.

The team eased up the steps. HRT took the lead. The highly specialized unit would gain access to the house.

“Who else lives here?” Olivia asked once she and Luke caught up with Asher and Declan.

Asher fell back a little to speak to her. “No one except for Overton. He’s twenty-eight and never married. Has worked for the transportation bureau since he left college.”

“Did he know someone from the older couple’s neighborhood? Maybe this is all just a misunderstanding.”

Asher met her eyes. “I sure hope not.”

They caught up with Holden as he ordered HRT to take the door.

The team acted quickly. Within seconds they’d breeched both entrances. In the fog of battle, things happened quickly. Olivia caught up with her partner while Luke and Declan headed to the back of the house. She lost sight of them and Holden.

She and Asher cleared the first room and stepped out into the hallway. They headed toward the next door.

“Down here,” Holden yelled before they had time to step into the room.

“He’s in the basement,” Olivia told Asher. A door in the kitchen stood open. Declan and Luke ran down the steps in front of them.

Director Holden stood in the middle of the basement. Near him, a long metal box the size of a coffin was open. “I found this.” He pointed to the box. “Just like what Lizzy Grayson described. There’s an article of clothing inside.”

Asher moved to the box. “He’s right. A scarf.” Asher placed the garment in an evidence bag. “What are you doing down here anyway?”

Holden bristled. “I thought I heard something and so I went to investigate. There’s a window open down here. I’m guessing that’s how he got away. Someone must have warned him.” His narrowed eyes flitted between Asher and Olivia. “I want this man’s photo out there to every law enforcement agency around right away.” He pushed past Olivia. “Search the rest of the house. Every square inch and the outside buildings as well.”

Olivia watched him head to a spot on the other side of the stairs before she pulled Asher aside. She couldn’t let go of the feeling that everything had fallen into place a little too easily for her taste. “What’s your take on this?” she said low enough for Asher only to hear.

He stepped away from the rest of the team that continued to search the basement.

“I don’t like it one bit. Seems strange that the box and the scarf would be found here in this suburban basement. According to Lizzy, she remembers the house where she was held being in the country and isolated from any other houses. In my opinion, Holden is a little too determined to make Overton the killer. My guess is, he wants the public’s attention focused on something else. . . like bringing down President Lancaster and Strike Force. I’m guessing that scarf will belong to Sylvia.”

Olivia’s eyes widened. “But if the killer is still out there, won’t it be detrimental to Holden in the long run?”

“Maybe he knows something we don’t.”

Before Olivia could ask what he meant by that cryptic statement, she noticed Holden pointing at something. He’d homed in on it as if he’d known it was there.

“My opinion?” Asher asked and she nodded.

“Of course.”

“I think he wants this case out of the spotlight and as soon as possible. And he wants yours and my jobs because we know too much.”

Chapter Nine

“Sir, you need to see this.” Adam Drake came over to where Director Holden stood watching the team systematically tear apart Overton’s home.

ERT was quickly gathering and documenting all physical evidence to be taken to the lab for examination.

“Well, what did you find?” Holden demanded when the agent hesitated.

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