Page 255 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Wade stood and stepped out of the way, gesturing toward his computer. “Be my guest.”

Jamie made herself comfortable, and her fingers flew over the keyboard. “Here. There are two missing women from Carbon County fitting our age range and time frame.” She hit a few more keys and the printer came to life.

“How did you do that?”

“Easy. I can teach you.”

“I’d like that. But later.” He scanned the pages she printed before holding one up. “This report is interesting. Mary Van Britton. Reported missing in July of 2016.” Jamie was silent while he studied the page. “Not your typical missing person. She’s a United States District Court judge. I’m used to teenagers, drug addicts, and prostitutes going missing. But a federal judge to disappear without a trace?”

“I wonder if her case is a work-related vendetta.”

He cleared his throat. “We can’t rule that out, but we’re dealing with a serial killer. He’s been burying victims in this location for years. If she’s one of our victims, and we don’t knowif she is, our killer is not risk averse. He’s willing to abduct high-profile women.”

She pinched the bridge of her nose. “True. Did we ever get anything on the boot prints found at the scene? I didn’t see a report come through.”

“We did. They were matched to the exclusion prints taken from one of the DCNR rangers.”

“That’s disappointing. I’d hoped they might give us a lead to follow.”

“Me too.” He sorted the reports Jamie printed by date. “Let’s start with the most recent missing persons reports in Carbon County and the surrounding areas and work backward.”

“That makes sense.” She stood. “Let’s find someone to interview.”

“I thought we could start with Stacy McGuire’s boyfriend, Lester Parsons. Do you want to ride with me?”

“Why not?” She smiled. “I’ll review her file while you drive.”

“Reading in a moving car makes me ill.”

She stared. “How did I not know you got carsick?”

“I don’t unless I read. Besides, I’m hardly ever a passenger, so I don’t have to worry about it.”

About ten minutes into their drive to Parsons’ Automotive Repair in Packer, Jamie turned in her seat to face him. “What are you going to do about your park ranger?”

His face warmed. “What do you mean?”

“You know perfectly well what I’m getting at.”

“Emily and I are ancient history.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“Well, she thinks we are, so that’s that.”

“Did you tell her how you feel?”

“She was at O’Brian’s Mug when I stopped there for dinner. Her friend invited me to join them at their table, and I gave Emily a ride back to her car.”

“And?”

“And we talked.” He sighed. “She’s forgiven me, but anything beyond friendship is out of the question.”

“I’m sorry, Wade.” She touched his arm. “It’s obvious you care.”

“It is what it is.”

Jamie’s cell rang, and she answered. She cleared her throat and squeezed her eyes shut. “We’ll be right there.”

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