Page 37 of Let Her Run

Jake felt a shiver of anticipation run down his spine. They were getting closer to the truth, inch by uncomfortable inch.

"There," Anderson said. "But I swear, if this turns out to be nothing more than a wild goose chase, I don't mind going public that the FBI has been senselessly harassing my employees."

"Let's just hope it doesn't come to that," Fiona murmured, her eyes fixed on the address in Jake's grasp. The tension between them was palpable, the weight of their discoveries bearing down on their shoulders like an invisible force.

"Thanks," Jake said tersely, pocketing the address before turning to leave the office. He tried to bite his tongue, but he couldn't resist: "And Mr. Anderson, next time, don't resist cooperating. And don't threaten us, either. If one of your men ends up being the killer, and they've been using your company's poison--you'll have a lot more to worry about."

Anderson's face turned red with anger as he watched Jake and Fiona leave his office. But Jake didn't care about the man's temper tantrum; he had a job to do, and nothing was going to stop him from getting to the bottom of this case.

As they made their way out of the building, Fiona spoke up. "Do you believe Hal is the killer?"

Jake pursed his lips, weighing the evidence in his mind. "It's possible. We know he had access to the poison, and his criminal record is a red flag. But until we speak with him, we can't be sure."

Fiona nodded, her eyes fixed on the road ahead of them. "And if he is the killer?"

Jake's jaw tightened. "We'll do what we have to do to bring him to justice."

The words hung heavy in the air between them, a reminder of the gravity of their work.

If they failed, then they'd have a lot more to worry about too.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The storm had finally cleared, leaving behind a fresh scent of damp earth hanging in the air. As Jake pulled up to the suspect's house, he couldn't help but feel unease creeping up his spine. The quaint suburban house, with its white picket fence and perfectly manicured lawn, seemed like any other on the block. But there was something off about it, something that Jake just couldn't put his finger on. Beside him, Fiona shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"Here it is," Jake said, trying to keep his voice steady. "Hal Troy's place."

"Let's hope we find some answers here," Fiona replied, her eyes scanning the house for any signs of movement.

They got out of the car and made their way toward the house. Jake knocked on the front door, the sound echoing through the stillness of the day. They waited, but there was no response. Trying the doorbell, Jake pressed the button, hearing the chime inside the house. Still nothing. A nagging worry began to gnaw at him. Hal Troy had a criminal record, and considering his position at Insect Away Home, he would have access to both the victims' addresses and the poison used to kill them.

"Doesn't seem like anyone's home," Fiona observed, her voice tense.

"Or he's hiding," Jake muttered under his breath. He knew that time was running out; they needed to find Hal before another person was killed. Every second counted, and Jake could feel the weight of the situation bearing down on him like an invisible shroud. His mind raced, thoughts swirling around. What if they were wrong about Hal? What if they were wasting valuable time that could be spent tracking down the real killer? The doubts clawed at him, threatening to consume him whole.

"Let's try the back door," he suggested, hoping that maybe they'd find a clue or some sign of Hal's guilt there.

As they made their way around the side of the house, Jake couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. He knew in his gut that they were on the right track; it was just a matter of finding the evidence they needed to prove it.

But when he knocked on the back door, no answer came from there, either. The unanswered door reverberated in Jake's mind, feeding his growing sense of unease. They walked back around the front, where Jake scanned the driveway, noting its emptiness with a frown. It seemed Hal wasn't home.

"Let's ask around. Maybe someone's seen him," Fiona suggested, her voice low and cautious.

As if on cue, a middle-aged woman with short-cropped silver hair appeared, walking her small terrier down the sidewalk. The dog's leash jingled merrily, contrasting sharply with the tension that thrummed like electricity between Jake and Fiona.

"Can I help you folks?" the woman asked, pausing near them. Her eyes flicked between their faces, concern etched in the lines around her mouth. "You seem lost."

"Actually, we're looking for Hal Troy," Jake replied, forcing a smile onto his face. "Do you happen to know where he might be?"

"Of course, I know Hal," she said, her expression softening. "He's a great guy, always willing to lend a hand when someone needs it. Why do you ask?"

"We just need to talk to him," Fiona interjected smoothly, stepping forward. "It's nothing serious, but it's important that we find him soon."

The woman considered them for a moment before nodding. "Well, I was talking to him just this morning while on my early walk, and he mentioned that he was going to the aquarium today."

"Thank you," Jake said. He exchanged a glance with Fiona, and they both knew what they had to do. The aquarium would be their next stop.

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