Page 51 of Seeking Evil

Zeke wondered how long he’d wanted to ask that question. “She and I are . . . dating.” Zeke frowned. “I think. I’m not sure where we stand right now. She told me she needed time to think about the future.”

Patrick leaned back in his chair. “Why’d she need time?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Love ain’t complicated. Deb and I make it work.”

Zeke blew out a breath. “I love her, okay. I do. But I don’t go into things the same way as Sierra. She’s full steam ahead. I’m slow as a snail.”

“And she got tired of waiting?”

That about sums it up. “Yeah, she did. She had a rough year. She lost her mother, then she had a case go personal on her. I guess she needed me to be someone different. I let her down.”

Patrick fiddled with his pen. “Well then, I guess we’ll just have to get her back so that you can fix things.”

He wanted that. So bad.

Hannah and Cooper came into the conference room.

“Donuts from Inez.” Hannah sat the sugary treats down. “She said to make sure you got a good one.” His sister winked at him.

“We had a nice chat last night. She told me about Dawn meeting Flannigan.” Zeke remembered Sierra’s necklace. “Terrance found it at the climb sight.” He held up the necklace.

“Sierra must have lost it somehow.” Hannah frowned. “Strange. She loves that necklace. I wonder why she didn’t report it missing. . . Unless she didn’t have time. She could have lost it in a struggle with the suspect at the climb site and not on the road.”

The suggestion was compelling. “It’s possible, I guess.” But there would be others around surely.

Hannah’s shoulders sagged. “You’re right. It’s a reach. Maybe she simply lost the necklace there and didn’t realize it.” She snagged one of the donuts and pulled out a chair.

Or maybe Terrance is involved somehow.

“Any news on Flannigan?” Cooper asked. “Where’s the boss?” Cooper loved to joke about Jack and Megan being their co-bosses.

“Trying to get some rest. Drake is sitting on Flannigan’s house. The doctor hasn’t moved since he got home. Drake’s going to bring him in soon. Since we still don’t have enough for an arrest, he’s going to wait until daylight to haul the good doctor in for a second interview.”

“This is unbelievable. You think he did it?” Hannah asked.

“Let’s hope we find out soon.” Patrick noticed his wife come into the station and excused himself.

Zeke tried not to think about what Sierra and Dawn might be going through. He’d worked on lots of serial killer cases. Some were more twisted than others. One thing the killers all had in common, they got off on inflicting pain.

“Good morning.” Megan appeared in the doorway. “Are those donuts?”

Zeke smiled. “Courtesy of Inez from the Wind River Cabins. Hannah and Cooper brought them over. Help yourself. Where’s your hubby?”

Megan bit into one of the chocolate donuts. “Brushing his teeth.”

“Correction, done with brushing my teeth.” Jack had changed and shaved. “Just in time for donuts apparently.”

Everyone laughed.

“I spoke to Patrick. Drake’s on his way in with Flannigan.” Jack told them. “Let’s hope this new piece of news will get him talking.”

“Did I imagine an explosion?” Megan asked. “I had some weird dreams.”

“You didn’t.” Zeke told her about what Patrick said. “Sounds like it occurs quite often.”

“That might be my second career.” Megan looked up at her husband. “Want to mine gold with me?”

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