Page 57 of The Wolves Come at Night
“Poor dove. Be sure you ask for her dentals, just in case.”
“We should be able to do a visual, don’t you think?”
“Most likely, but for confirmation, radiographs are a lot faster than DNA. Better to have them on hand, just in case.”
“Roger that. See y’all in a few.”
She hiked back to the parking lot, grabbed a couple of mints to crunch on from the console of her truck, then, steeling herself, called New Haven. Avery Conway answered on the first ring, breathless.
“Captain? Did you find her?”
“Dr. Conway, let me fill you in on what’s happening. I don’t want you to hear this from anyone else. We’ve found a gravesite—”
The animal wail was almost too much for Taylor to handle. She grit her teeth and fought back her own tears. You’re getting soft, Jackson. Pull it together.
She could hear voices in the background, and the cries of a heartbroken mother faded.
“Ma’am, I need—” A man’s voice cut her off.
“Captain Jackson? This is Santiago Diaz-Rooney. What’s happened?”
“Hi. Is she okay?”
“Would you be?”
“No. Okay, listen. We found a grave, and a body, female Caucasian, that fits the physical description of Carson. I don’t know for sure that it is Carson, but I promised to let you know anything as I found it out. It will be a few hours before we can confirm any identity. I wanted to be sure you heard this from me, officially, instead of through any rumors that might fly around. In the meantime, I need Carson’s dental records.”
She heard a huge gulping breath.
“It’s just a precaution.”
“Right. Right. Okay.”
“I want to give you reassurances, but I can’t. I’m glad that you’re with Dr. Conway. I’ll call you as soon as we have an identification.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
Taylor clicked off, took a deep, minty breath, then called Baldwin. She was shocked and delighted when he answered the phone.
“Babe? Where are you?”
There was frustrated laughter in his voice, and it soothed her. “I was about to call. You will not believe this. One of the organizers had a family emergency, they managed to get word to the captain through the Coast Guard, so we’re heading back to port and will do the rest of the con from there. This means much more reliable service, so I can talk to you whenever I want. How is everything? Your last text was a little grim. You okay?”
“I’m sorry for the organizer, but glad to hear you’re more reachable. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. So what’s up?”
“We just found a burial site, and I’m afraid Carson Conway might be in it. It’s on top of an old grave from 1776, if you can believe that. Out by Radnor, an old private family plot.”
She brought him up to speed, happily accepting his words of comfort. She’d missed him, damn it. Too much for her own good.
They talked until the TBI mobile lab RV pulled into the parking lot.
“I gotta run, lab’s here. It’s good to hear your voice, Baldwin. I miss you.”
“I miss you too, love. I’ll be home soon. Call me later. I hope…well, I hope it’s not her, though no matter what, it’s bad. Anything you need from my people, say the word, and it’s yours.”
“Thanks, babe. Love you.”
