Page 96 of Mistletoe and Malice
“Unfortunately, these were taken from a security camera in the lobby of Ms. Hudson’s building. Camera’s mounted above the front desk, so the angle is wonky, and they’ve been enlarged.”
Shane studied them again. “No. I’m sorry. I don’t know any of these guys.”
John left the photos where they were and produced the composite drawn from hers, Logan Devers’, and Avery’s descriptions. “What about this guy?”
Shane studied the drawing for several seconds, then shook his head. “No. Nothing.”
Her spirits fell another notch. She’d so hoped something about the man would ring a bell.
“Do you know of anybody who had it out for you?” John asked. “Somebody who might want to hurt you badly enough to kill Caitlyn and frame you?”
Shane’s face blanched, and his wide-eyed gaze bounced between Riley and the detective. “You think Caitlyn was killed because ofme? Because somebody had it out forme?” He put his head in his hands and buried his fingers in his hair. “Then I do belong here. If this is my fault, I do belong here.”
“That’s not true.” Riley placed her hand on his arm. “Shane.”
He dropped his hands and brought his tear-filled eyes up to meet hers.
“Theonlyperson at fault here is the one who yielded the knife that day. Whatever his motive, he chose to carry out that horrible deed. This is not on you. But you can help us find him, if you can think of anybody you might’ve been crosswise with.”
Colton cleared his throat. “She’s right. I lost my wife to cancer and blamed myself for not being able to help her. I knew I wasn’t the cause, but she was mine to take care of. It took a long time …” He glanced at Riley. “And somebody God put in my path to come alongside and tell me it was out of my hands. That I wasn’t to blame, and to continue to carry the guilt squelched the Spirit from working in my life. Don’t let the enemy defeat you. Keep the faith.”
Riley pulled her hand back and clasped it with the other on the table, twisting her ring. Her heart squeezed in her chest. Even with the pain of missing Colton permeating every inch ofher, she couldn’t regret the time she’d had with him. Not with seeing him walking again with His Lord.
Shane swallowed and scraped a hand across his eyes. “I’m sorry about your wife.”
“And I’m sorry you lost Cait. From all I’ve heard, she was a spectacular person.”
“Very much so.” Shane took a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. Ask me whatever you need. I want to get the guy who murdered Cait, but I’d also like to help you find whoever’s after you. Especially if they’re one and the same.”
She reached out again and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “Thank you. And if you have any other thoughts like that, get with Tommy. He’ll help you with it. He carried a lot of guilt for not taking their neighbor more seriously before his wife was killed. He understands it.”
He nodded. “Tommy’s been a great comfort since I got here. Helped me tap back into my faith. And Barbara … she’s been a blessing.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
After Tommy suggested having his sister write to Shane as a voice of encouragement, Riley had been delighted to give her the go-ahead. Nobody was more positive and encouraging than Barbara.
John pointed to the photos. “The thing is, these are all the same guy. Even the composite.”
Shane peered at the images. “All these guys are the same person?”
“Verified. So, taking another look, is there anything at all familiar, anything you might recognize, between all five—the photos and the composite?”
Shane started with the first again, picking up and studying each photo. He then picked up the composite and placed it in front of him. After several silent moments, he covered the beardwith one hand and the baseball cap with the other, leaving only the eyes, nose, and mouth.
“Huh.”
Riley exchanged glances with the two men before looking back at Shane. “See something?”
The clock behind her ticked for several seconds before he tilted his head, still focused on the drawing with a furrow in his brow. “I can’t be sure, but he reminds me of Warren. I’m just not sure how that can be.”
“And Warren would be …?”
His gaze snapped up to her. “Oh. My stepbrother.”
Her head jerked back. “Stepbrother? I didn’t know you had a stepbrother.”
“Estranged, I guess you could say.”
