Page 10 of Whispers Left Behind

Thompson had broad shoulders. If he was having a bad day, it was as if a rod had been inserted into his spine. It was clear he wasn’t in the best of moods this morning. Alex peered down the aisle toward Laura, but she was no longer at her desk.

“Is Gantz back in the city? And spare me the details. It’s a yes or no.”

Kinsley’s phone vibrated on her desk.

“No,” Kinsley replied without consulting Alex. She was fixated on the front page of the newspaper. Oddly enough, it was as if Gantz was staring back at her. Alex closed his eyes, immediately wishing he hadn’t done so. The drops hadn’t done shit. “Someone wants us to believe that Gantz came back to Fallbrook. Muddy the waters, I guess.”

“Lanen?”

“We’ll know more after the autopsy.” Alex was mindful of his words. He stuck to the basic facts, giving Thompson the impression of unity. “Some imprints were left in the dirt just inside the barn. A size larger than Gantz.”

Thompson nodded, seemingly satisfied with that minuscule detail. Given that the man’s shoe size was at least a thirteen, maybe he didn’t have trouble the way Alex did in finding a good fit.

“I like that version, so let’s keep it that way.”

Thompson left the newspaper on Kinsley’s desk as he retreated to his office. Gantz’s mugshot was front and center. The article posed two possible scenarios—had the Fallbrook Killer returned to town, or had the jury been right to acquit Calvin Gantz?

“Let’s go.”

Kinsley abruptly stood before grabbing her blazer. Once she had slid her arms through the sleeves, she opened her desk drawer and withdrew her holster. She clipped it to her belt before picking up her cell phone. She only ever carried a purse when not on duty. Everything she needed during the workday was tucked into a small leather pouch sewn into her phone case.

“We need to grab breakfast on the way.” Alex had spent maybe three seconds debating whether to push the Gantz angle. Whether Kinsley liked it or not, one of them needed to confirm that he hadn’t returned to town. “I haven’t eaten since last night.”

Kinsley’s desk phone rang, and Alex noticed she hesitated to pick up the receiver. If he had to guess, she was avoiding her father’s call. Who else would be so persistent in trying to reach her? Giving her additional time to make her decision, Alex pushed his chair back in an effort to collect his jacket.

“Aspen.” There wasn’t too much of a pause after Kinsley answered the phone, but the way she sought out his gaze meant that it wasn’t her father on the other end of the line. “Would you have someone bring them up? Room Two.”

Kinsley replaced the receiver, but her hand lingered on the phone. Alex’s stomach protested the anticipated change in schedule.

“Looks like Sebastian Hanson made it safely back from Bismarck,” Kinsley revealed, reaching for her weapon. She tucked it safely back inside the drawer. Firearms wereprohibited from being worn during interrogations, though Room Two wasn’t necessarily reserved for suspects. It was an area usually meant to provide comfort to witnesses while giving their statements. In this particular case, to put one at ease in hopes that such an illusion caused an individual to speak more freely. “He’s not alone, either.”

“I’m not getting breakfast, am I?”

Chapter Five

Kinsley Aspen

October

Friday — 8:44 am

The persistent buzz ofKinsley's cell phone confirmed the caller wasn’t giving up anytime soon. She didn’t need the display on her phone for identification, either. It was best to have the conversation sooner rather than later.

“Sebastian Hanson can wait a few minutes.” Kinsley sank back in her seat while keeping the wheels in place with the soles of her boots. “There are donuts in the break room.”

Alex afforded her a silent acknowledgment as he pushed his chair forward so the arms were even to his desk. She didn’t miss his glance in Detective Mitchell’s direction, though the woman had exited the area five minutes ago.

It was no mystery that rumors about the two of them had been circulating throughout the precinct. It was speculation that Kinsley had staunchly ignored up until recently, but Haugen had started a pool earlier this week. It wasn’t that the detective had inside information about his own partner, but rather intel from a patrol officer who had spotted Laura’s vehicle parked a block from Alex’s apartment building.

Kinsley had planned to speak with Alex this morning while catching up on some paperwork. His call last night and the subsequent assigned case had pushed back such a chat. She would make sure to bring it up later this morning during their drive out to Halliday.

Pressing her cell phone to her ear, she waived the formalities.

“Now isn't a good time, Dad.” Before he could speak, she continued to answer his unspoken question. It wasn’t a stretch to believe that was why he was reaching out to her. She could count on one hand the times he had called her in the past year. “It’s not Gantz.”

The long pause only created more tension between them.

“Your mother saw the paper this morning. She’s concerned, and I gave her my word that I would check in with you today.”

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