Page 109 of The Girls in the Snow

Nikki had refused to leave the house until Courtney arrived and could see for herself that Nikki was going to be fine. “What about the furniture? The house is half-empty.”

“Some of it has been sold,” Liam said. “Probably the pieces we need. But Mindy rented an apartment in town, so we’ve got a team going through stuff. I think we’ve got more than enough to charge both of them.”

“I don’t think Bobby had anything to do with Janelle’s murder other than moving the body—and I’m not sure he helped with that. Mindy’s tall and stout. She could have handled Janelle on her own. Hopefully we only match Mindy’s prints to the motel room.” Nikki and Miller had gone through the garage, looking for anything that could have caused the blunt force trauma to Janelle’s head, but Mindy had likely tossed it after she dumped her at the park. Nikki’s statement would go a long way to convicting Mindy, but she wanted her case to be rock solid. “Where’s my jeep?”

“One of Miller’s guys drove it here.” Liam raised an eyebrow. “You’re not driving it tonight. I can take you home.”

She flushed and looked down at her phone. Rory had sent her multiple messages that evening before finally calling Miller and telling him that something was wrong. By then, Miller and Liam were on the way to the Vance house. They’d promised to keep him updated.

Nikki had texted him that she was okay and would explain later, and he immediately asked her to come stay with him tonight. She still hadn’t replied.

“Lacey excited to come home?”

“Yes. She’s already making plans.” Fortunately, Tyler had managed to keep Lacey occupied, and she didn’t even know Nikki had been missing, but he’d woken her up so that Nikki could tell her she could come home tomorrow. Tyler offered to come to Stillwater and get her, but Nikki assured him she’d be fine and to get Lacey back to bed.

The judge signed off on the warrant for Roan’s additional security footage, and Liam had scoured the hours of tape while Miller searched. John hadn’t left the office the Saturday the girls disappeared, but the day before, Mindy Vance had walked around the side of the building and waited on the sidewalk. She had her phone to her ear and looked angry. After a couple minutes, John exited the back door in clear fury. The two argued for several minutes, and the argument ended with Mindy pointing her finger at John’s face. Whatever she’d said rendered him speechless.

“Mindy knew what he’d done to my parents because her husband told her. She probably demanded money for silence. I don’t know if Maddie confronted him about the pictures, but he must have known Amy went through them. Between Mindy’s information and the pictures of me, he was nervous. Did you get his financials?”

“He withdrew five thousand dollars from his personal savings account that day,” Liam said. “Then two thousand the following month, same day.”

“Mindy’s house was still foreclosed on. Her husband must have left her with a lot of debt.”

“Several coworkers at Roan said Bob Vance liked expensive things and tried to keep up with John’s tastes. He probably has credit card debt, and the collectors came after Mindy.”

“Where’s Hardin?”

“On leave,” Liam said. “And probably well on his way to retirement.”

Nikki was still pissed that Hardin hadn’t been at the station. He’d have to face her eventually, especially when the DNA results finally came back.

“Unless he’s got a secret account, John hasn’t made any withdrawals since he took off,” Liam said. “No activity on his bank or credit cards.”

“John’s used to living in comfort,” Nikki said. “I can’t see him on the run for very long.”

A deputy poked her head into the breakroom. “Someone’s here to see you, Agent Hunt.”

Nikki slowly got off the couch and followed the deputy into the lobby. Ice and aspirin had helped her head, but her entire body ached. Tomorrow would be even worse.

Her heartbeat stuttered when she saw Rory pacing.

“Jesus, Nicole.” He crossed the lobby in three long strides and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you okay?”

Too overwhelmed to speak, she leaned her head against his chest and nodded. The effect he had on her was stronger than any medicine. The tension drained from her shoulders, and she was suddenly exhausted.

“What are you doing here?”

“You really thought I’d get that text and just wait for answers? I knew you were missing. God, I was so worried.” He brushed her hair back and inspected her face. “Why is your lip swollen?”

“The knot on the back of my head is worse,” she said. “Mild concussion. But I’ll be fine.”

Sleepiness began to crash over her like a tidal wave.

Fifty-One

Nikki slept until nearly noon. She vaguely remembered asking Rory to stay at the hotel and the feel of his warm body next to hers before succumbing to her exhaustion. She was disappointed when she woke up and saw the note he’d left on her pillow, but he had to be on a job site early. Nikki texted him for the address so she could stop and say goodbye before heading home. The idea of not spending tonight with him bothered her more than it should, but getting to lounge around at home with her daughter would more than make up for it.

She stopped at the station to check in with Miller, but he’d stayed late working on paperwork last night and hadn’t come in yet. Hardin’s office door was locked. Nikki texted Miller to let him know she’d like to sit down with him and the district attorney before charges were officially filed. She intended to make sure Mindy was charged with the murders of Madison and Janelle.

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