Chapter 1: The Name on the Envelope
Trevor Rock stared at the sealed envelope as though it contained his death sentence.
The two men in dark suits stood on either side of my table. Behind them, the café's front door remained open, letting in a cold November breeze that stirred the napkins beside the sugar dispenser.
Nobody moved.
Not even the waitress.
"Open it, Officer Rock," I said.
Trevor looked at me, then at the two men.
"What's this supposed to be? Some kind of intimidation stunt?""
The taller agent stepped forward.
"Special Agent Daniel Mercer, FBI. This is Special Agent Lewis Grant. You're being served with a federal search warrant.""
Trevor gave a short laugh.
"An FBI warrant? For what?""
"Your residence, personal electronic devices, and any property connected to the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of three Ashborne residents.""
Trevor's expression hardened.
"You people have no jurisdiction over my department.""
I slowly stood.
"Actually, we do when evidence suggests federal civil rights violations, obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, and potential kidnapping.""
His eyes narrowed.
"You're making a serious mistake.""
"That's what your former chief told us six months ago.""
The mention of Chief Walter Brennan changed something in Trevor's face.
Just a flicker.
But I saw it.
So did Daniel.
"Agent Hayes," Daniel said quietly, "we need to proceed.""
I nodded.
Trevor suddenly reached for the envelope.
Daniel caught his wrist.
"Don't.""
"Get your hands off me!""
The elderly man near the window stood up.
"I saw him do it," he said.
Everyone turned.
Trevor froze.
The old man was thin, with white hair and a brown cardigan buttoned incorrectly. His newspaper slipped from his hands and landed on the floor.
"What did you say, Harold?"" Trevor asked.
The old man swallowed.
"I said I saw you.""
Trevor's voice dropped.
"Sit down.""
Harold didn't.
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then Harold looked at me.
"You're investigating the missing people, aren't you?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Then you need to know about the night Emily disappeared.""
Trevor lunged toward him.
Daniel stepped between them.
"Officer, take another step and you'll make this considerably worse.""
Trevor stopped.
I moved toward Harold.
"Who is Emily?""
Harold looked down at his trembling hands.
"Emily Carter. Twenty-six years old. Worked at the pharmacy on Main Street. She disappeared eleven months ago.""
I knew the name.
Emily was one of the three people whose complaints had triggered our investigation.
She had reported that Trevor and two other officers were routinely stopping young people outside town, searching their vehicles without cause, and confiscating cash.
Two weeks after filing her complaint, she vanished.
"Mr. Harold," I asked, "did you witness something that night?""
He nodded.
"I was closing my hardware store. It was raining. Around eleven, I saw Emily's car pulled over near the old water tower. Trevor was standing beside it.""
Trevor shook his head.
"He's confused. Harold has been having memory problems.""
Harold's face reddened.
"I'm eighty-one, not stupid!""
A few customers looked down at their tables.
I kept my voice gentle.
"What happened next?""
"I saw Trevor open the passenger door. Another man was sitting inside. They moved Emily into the back of a police cruiser.""
"Did you see the other man's face?""
Harold hesitated.
Then he looked directly at Trevor.
"Yes.""
Trevor's lips parted.
"Harold, think carefully.""
The old man flinched.
I stepped closer.
"Who was it?""
Harold whispered a name.
"Chief Brennan.""
Daniel immediately took out his notebook.
I looked at Trevor.
"Interesting. We were told Chief Brennan was attending a conference in another state that evening.""
Trevor's jaw tightened.
"He wasn't.""
The words escaped before he could stop himself.
I waited.
He realized his mistake.
"I mean, I don't know where the chief was.""
Daniel exchanged a look with me.
"That's not what you just said.""
Trevor looked around the café.
The fear in the room had changed.
People were no longer simply afraid of him.
They were beginning to understand that he might not be untouchable.
I turned to Harold.
"Would you be willing to make a formal statement?""
He nodded.
"Yes. I've waited almost a year.""
"Then we'll protect you.""
Harold looked toward Trevor.
"Can you really do that?""
I followed his gaze.
"Yes.""
Trevor suddenly smiled.
It was a different smile now.
Small. Cold. Almost pitying.
"You don't understand this town, Agent Hayes.""
"Explain it to me.""
He leaned closer.
"You think arresting one officer will fix everything? You think Brennan was the problem?""
He shook his head.
"You're looking at the wrong people.""
Before I could respond, Daniel's phone vibrated.
He glanced at the screen.
Then his expression changed.
"Kendra.""
I stepped aside.
"What?""
"The warrant team just reached your motel.""
My stomach tightened.
"What happened?""
"Someone got there before us.""
"Who?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"They found your room ransacked. Your laptop is gone. Your second phone is missing.""
I looked toward the front window.
Across the street, a black SUV sat beside the pharmacy.
Its engine was running.
Then Daniel added something that made my blood turn cold.
"There's a message painted on your motel bathroom mirror.""
"What does it say?""
He paused.
"GO HOME, KENDRA.""
I looked back at Trevor.
He wasn't smiling anymore.
He was watching me.
May you like
And then he whispered something only I could hear.
"You should have stayed out of my family.""
