Page 8 of Crossing Lines

“I’m interested in everything to do with White Rock, naturally.” Typical politician answer.

“Naturally.”

“And what brings you here?” Marnie asked.

“Just checking on the sanctuary.”

“It’s fine. Beryl is taking photos.” A hint of suspicion glinted in Marnie’s eyes. “If you’re looking for her.”

“I’m not, but I’ll say hello while I’m there.”

“Okay, well, nice to see you. Have a good day.”

Sam continued ahead without looking back. Lucy was more than happy to bound ahead. She didn’t like Marnie either.

Birds flew overhead. Morning sunlight dappled the path in front of Sam as the smell of pine and earth surrounded him. Normally, this would be like heaven, but Sam couldn’t enjoy it. The thought of the missing girl weighed heavily on his mind. Not to mention thoughts of Thorne getting out of jail.

Beryl was lying on the ground, aiming her lens up into the canopy of trees. She turned her head when she heard Sam and Lucy.

“There’s a nest up there. Thought it might be interesting to get pictures from underneath with the sky above as the background.”

She snapped a few shots then held her hand up for Sam to pull her up. Sam hesitated before grabbing on. She stood deftly then remained a little too close for comfort.

Lucy apparently thought so too. She wedged her way between them, and Beryl bent down to pet her. Lucy tolerated it. Sam took the opportunity to step a few inches away.

“What a nice surprise.” Beryl beamed as if she thought Sam was there on some sort of social visit.

“You might not think it’s so nice after you hear what I have to say.”

Her expression dimmed. “What’s that?”

“Got a visit this morning from someone who claims he’s opening a new case to get your husband out of jail.”

Beryl appeared shocked. So she hadn’t known? Interesting.

“But I thought you had a solid case,” she said.

“Me too. This person mentioned the golf shoes specifically. Is there something I should know about them?”

Beryl shook her head slowly, her eyes tracking Lucy, who had wandered away and was sniffing at the edge of the woods. “No. Like I told you, I found them in Lucas’s closet.”

“This person might be just bluffing. But you need to be prepared to get dragged into a case. Is there anything more you’ve remembered that might help?” Sam had always had a niggle of a doubt about Thorne’s guilt in the serial killings. But that was the big thing keeping him in prison without bail. He had no doubts about the drug charges. Those would stick, but they wouldn’t keep him in prison for life like multiple murder charges would.

“No. I haven’t thought about it. That’s something I want to forget about. The thought that he was killing those girls all that time.” Beryl wrapped her arms around her waist then looked at Sam, alarm in her eyes. “He knows I supplied the golf shoes. If he gets out, he might come after me.”

Sam had thought about that. Beryl seemed like a woman that could take care of herself, but Thorne could be brutal. “Don’t worry, you’ll get protection.”

Beryl stared at him for a few seconds as if trying to judge if she could believe him. But still, he saw more than worry in her eyes… something calculating, almost predatory. “Who visited you? I have control of all the bank accounts now, both personal and business. If Lucas hired someone, he can’t pay.”

“A lawyer named Charlie Bascomb.”

“Charlie?” Her tone was incredulous.

“You know him?”

“He’s my uncle. I don’t understand. Why would he do this?”

Sam was surprised. Her uncle? That was an interesting development. He glanced over toward the woods. Where had Lucy gotten off to? “Were he and Lucas close?”

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