Page 68 of Dead Air
"Any official response?"
"Department spokesperson says they 'don't comment on speculative reporting' but 'stand by their investigation procedures.'" Fiona's satisfaction came through. "Social media's exploding. #CorruptSavannahPD trending alongside #FindLeah."
"Any sign of Dylan?"
"Still nothing." Fiona's tone shifted to concern. "Claire's filing a missing person report, but without evidence of foul play, it won't get priority."
"Evidence keeps disappearing." Lawson started her car, watching Richardson's house in the rearview mirror. "First Blackwell, now potentially her assistant."
"What about Richardson?"
"Allegedly fishing. Chattooga River. Left three days ago according to his wife."
"Convenient." Fiona's skepticism matched Lawson's own. "I'll have a contact check lodges in that area, confirm the reservation."
"Good. I'm heading back now."
"Be careful. Wallace called a press conference for noon. Likely responding to my article."
"Looking forward to his creative interpretation of facts." Lawson pulled away from the curb, keeping Richardson's house in view until distance obscured it. "See you soon."
chapter
twenty-five
Evening shadows lengthenedacross the beach house living room. Fiona's laptop displayed multiple news sites simultaneously, each featuring variations of the same headline: "Missing Podcast Host Investigation Intensifies." Takeout containers littered the coffee table, evidence of meals hastily consumed between strategy sessions and evidence reviews.
Lawson paced the perimeter of the room, unable to maintain stillness despite physical exhaustion. Thirty-six hours without proper sleep had transformed nervous energy into a persistent background hum.
"Amy Richardson claims he's been fishing for three days." She recounted the morning's confrontation for the third time, details unchanged despite Claire's careful questioning. "Chattooga River. Annual trip, according to her."
"And you believe this?" Claire looked up from piles of documents spread across the dining table.
"I believe she believes it." Lawson stopped at the window, scanning the street for unfamiliar vehicles or surveillance positions. Paranoia had become operational procedure since the parking garage confrontation. "Whether it's true is another question entirely."
Claire rubbed her eyes, their slightly bloodshot appearance a result of hours of focused reading. "I might have something that helps contextualize Richardson's potential involvement."
"Might have?" Fiona looked up from her laptop. "You've been buried in those papers for three hours."
"Because what I have shouldn't be in my possession." Claire's expression suggested professional lines crossed for exceptional circumstances. "My judicial contacts provided access to Richardson's complete personnel file. Including sections redacted from public records requests."
Lawson stopped pacing. "That's confidential department information."
"Hence my careful handling and review before sharing." Claire gestured toward the chair opposite her. "You'll want to sit for this."
The dining table held neat stacks of documents, each bearing official department letterhead. Performance reviews. Transfer orders. Commendations. Disciplinary actions. The administrative architecture of a thirty-year police career laid bare for examination.
"I analyzed for patterns rather than isolated incidents." Claire's lawyer preciseness emerged in her systematic presentation. "Richardson's career shows repetition of events that raises significant questions."
She pushed forward the first document set. "Seven transfers to different precincts over thirty years. Each followed incidents where officers under his command died or disappeared under questionable circumstances."
Lawson examined the transfer orders. Dates matched critical periods in departmental history. Officer-involved shootings with conflicting witness statements. Internal investigations that ended inconclusively. Cases that faded from public attention without resolution.
"Each transfer came with a promotion or increased responsibility." Claire indicated relevant sections, highlighted in yellow. "Rising through the ranks with remarkable speed compared to peers with similar experience and qualifications."
"Career advancement built on convenient tragedies." Fiona moved to the table, professional interest engaged. "Classic pattern for someone systematically eliminating obstacles."
"That's one interpretation." Claire pushed forward another document stack. "But these suggest alternative possibilities."
