Page 430 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

McCauley said, “The texts indicate Hank Maxwell was Celia Jessop’s boyfriend.”

Chief Lachlan kept quiet.

“And no one has seen Hank?” Addie said. “Because that’s a serious conflict of interest if he didn’t immediately tell you he and Celia were in a relationship. He investigated her murder.” They had to realize. “He should’ve been our number one suspect from the beginning. Instead, Captain McCauley is pinning down Jacob Wilson as though he had anything to do with her. Or the captain had any evidence of his involvement whatsoever.”

“I was told they knew each other.” McCauley sighed. “It was worth a conversation.”

“Told by who?” Addie asked. “Detective Maxwell?”

McCauley scratched at his jaw.

Addie turned to the mayor. “Did Hank Maxwell specifically mention me when the request was put to the FBI for an agent to be brought here?”

Chief Lachlan answered instead. “He’s the one who mentioned the FBI.”

“Even though he didn’t believe the cases were related?”

The chief shrugged. “Maybe he figured feds should look like idiots more than us. At least, that’s what I thought at the time.”

“Seems like a waste of time and money just to prove himself right that they weren’t connected. And if he’s the one behind it, he’s risking the truth coming out.” Addie let that sink in. They didn’t like the idea one of their own might be dirty—a serial murderer. “Unless what he wanted was for me to come here.”

The mayor leaned forward. “Why would he want that?”

“Because this started with me, Hank, and Jacob. I think that’s how he wants it to end.” In fact, what Addie thought was that Hank wanted to end her and Jake. “There’s a plan at workhere. Hank has been pulling strings. Orchestrating things for years. Biding his time.”

“There’s no way.” McCauley shook his head.

“Because no serial murderer ever fooled the people he was closest to? Gave them no indication of what went on beneath the surface?”

Lachlan winced. “I was the one who recommended him for the police academy. You’re telling me he fits the profile of a demented killer? That would’ve come out in the psych eval.”

Addie scoffed. “You think I wouldn’t have noticed that my friend in high school was probably in league with the person who kidnapped us.”

“If there was a protégé,” Lachlan said. “And it was Jacob Wilson.”

“Because Hank was always your golden boy.”

“You don’t know?—”

Addie cut him off. “Tell me.”

Lachlan’s face flushed. He moved to one of the chairs and ran both hands down his face, shoulders slumped. It took a minute, but eventually he spoke. “Can’t tell you how many calls we responded to at the Maxwell residence over the years. Started around the time he was three. Mom’s boyfriend.”

Addie’s heart sank.

“Hank was twelve when he beat the guy and kicked him out,” Lachlan said. “I shook his hand.” The police chief shook his head. “I’m not giving you ammo to label him some kind of sicko.”

“He was my friend.” Some patterns existed in the history of sociopaths. They learned how to adapt and blend in. It was almost a game with some. A way to see if they could fool everyone. “We need to find him. Talk to him.”

McCauley frowned. “And yet we ignore Jacob Wilson, the misunderstood recluse? He’s the one who fits the profile.”

“Hank is the one directly involved. He was in a relationship with Celia Jessop,” Addie said. “He lied to you guys about it and betrayed the oath he took to uphold the law with integrity. Tell me what Jacob has done, aside from not fit the mold because he chose to live his lifehisway instead of what you thought he should do.”

She of all people knew trauma effected the victims in all kinds of different ways.

“We’re finding him.” McCauley folded his arms.

“If I’m right, he orchestrated all of this. I don’t want to believe it’s possible a cop could do that, but we can’t allow it to cloud our judgment.”

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