Page 57 of Colton's Second Chance
“Not much. Reynolds at SPD says they have the footage of a couple security cameras from nearby businesses in their possession with more in the works. They’re sending it via encrypted email as we speak. Check your inbox.”
Noelle pulled the guest chair in front of Eli’s desk around beside him for a better view of his monitor. Kansas did the same at Asher’s desk.
The subject of Asher’s recuperation, Eli noted, had been tabled apparently. He was privately glad to have his partner’s help in light of the new turn the case had taken.
When his new emails loaded, the message from the Shelby police department had arrived, and Eli clicked through to open the attached video. Holding his breath, he watched the low-quality images play out.
When the man in the video hit the woman in the head and her body went limp, he heard Noelle suck in a sharp breath. His reaction mirrored Noelle’s. His gut tensed as they watched the man, whose jacket hood was up and obscuring most of his face, shove the woman in the passenger side of a blue sedan.
Leaning back in his chair, Eli ground his molars together before casting a glance to his partner. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t Scott own a blue Hyundai Sonata?”
Asher’s returned glare was dark and angry. “He does.”
“Well, that’s what we expected, isn’t it?” Noelle asked. “That the kidnapper was Scott?”
“Doesn’t make it any easier to accept that a guy you worked with and trusted could have betrayed you, the office and the public he works for,” Asher hissed in disgust. “And he could be responsible for such heinous crimes.” He slammed a hand on his desk. “Damn him!”
Kansas gave an exaggerated shudder. “Ugh! The guyflirtedwith me! Thank God I had the sense not to date a coworker.”
A ripple of ill ease spun through Eli. He recognized the feeling as the same whisper when he was on the verge of a breakthrough. This edgy feeling had haunted him for several days, telling him he had all but one piece of an important puzzle. When he fit it all together, he knew he wouldn’t like the picture he discovered.
He growled his frustration and impatience under his breath. Yet another woman had been taken. The kidnapped woman’slife was in danger, and he had to think harder, destroy any stumbling blocks that might have him shy away from the truth.
“Do we know the woman’s identity yet?” Noelle asked.
Kansas pulled out her phone and tapped at the screen. “I’ll check with my team and see if we have any new missing person reports.”
“No name yet,” Asher said, still studying and replaying the video of the abduction. “Witnesses describe the woman as Caucasian, medium height, long dark hair, slim and attractive.”
Eli hit Replay on the security footage, leaning close again to see what details he could have missed. “Well, the video confirms the witnesses’ description anyway. But it’s not much to go on.” When Noelle mumbled something under her breath that Eli missed, he cut a side look toward her. “What’s that?”
She twisted her mouth, hesitating. “I said, ‘I bet we can guess her eye color.’”
A chill raced through Eli, and he fisted his hands as he realized the truth of her assumption.
“How’s that?” Asher asked, a frown denting his brow.
Eli scrubbed a hand over his face and met his partner’s gaze. “It’s something Noelle and I realized a couple days ago when analyzing the information in the case files about the victims. They all have blue eyes. Dark hair and blue eyes.”
“Which is a somewhat rare combination, statistically speaking,” Noelle added.
Kansas jerked upright. “Wait. All of us Coltons have dark hair and blue eyes. Well, except Lakin.”
“Who was adopted,” Eli reminded her. “And you’re right. Every other Colton has blue eyes and dark hair.” He paused and sighed. “Including our Aunt Caroline.”
Asher’s frown deepened. “The one who was murdered when you were a kid?”
Eli nodded. “Exactly.”
Kansas threw up a hand. “Hold on. The guy that killed Aunt Caroline and our grandparents also killed himself at the scene. That case has been closed for decades.”
“True. But Scott is a forensic specialist. And evidence from his house proves he had accessed the case files from Aunt Caroline’s death. The Fiancée Killer is copying elements of the crime.”
The color in Kansas’s face drained away, and Asher divided a look between Eli and his cousin. “What elements is he copying? What exactly happened to your aunt? And why didn’t you tell me about this link earlier?”
“Because you were—are—on medical leave. You’re supposed to be resting, not working,” Eli said. “Besides, when we first made the connection, I wasn’t sure it would bear fruit.” He groaned. “Or maybe I was praying it wouldn’t.”
Asher scowled darkly, and Kansas leaned toward Eli. “So tell us now. It’s clearly important.”
