Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 136507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136507 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 683(@200wpm)___ 546(@250wpm)___ 455(@300wpm)
“The deepest basins are three hundred and sixty-odd feet, but average is sixty.” Mike spends a fair amount of time out there fishing.
Schmidt studies the scatter of pages and photographed evidence on the table as his fingers twirl the end of his moustache. “So we’re looking for someone who is local enough to be familiar with the lake, might have been in the Bale House that night but definitely drove in and out of that parking lot, and has access to a boat or some other watercraft.”
“Someone in our community. Someone we probably know,” Mike murmurs, and I feel his gaze on me.
Terry returns his laptop to his purview as Schmidt goes over next steps, starting with reviewing every second of footage.
Again.
“I don’t know about you guys, but I need another coffee already.” He wanders out of the meeting room, empty mug in hand.
Mike stands. “I’ll start on the gas station video.”
I nod. “Thank you.”
“Hey, McAllister, can you hang back for a sec?” Terry calls out, clicking away.
“Yeah, sure. What’s up?”
He waits for the meeting room door to shut. “If you were investigating this case, the first person you’d talk to would be anyone who you can confirm was on Lake Temagami the weekend Holly disappeared, right?”
“That makes sense, yeah.” I frown. Where’s he going with this?
He spins his computer around to show me the search he pulled up.
Logan’s picture fills the screen, the one of him appearing to ponder life while leaning against a fence. It’s the one from the Cold River Post piece.
“Great article, by the way.” Terry punctuates that with two thumbs up.
“Are you kidding me? This again?” I stare at him, dumbfounded. “Logan has an alibi for that night!”
“And what about his cousins?”
“Who? Jack and Jameson?”
“They were at the Bale House that night, and they were with Landry at the lake the next morning. We’ve been assuming all of this was done by one person, but maybe he had help?”
I’m struggling to wrap my head around this insanity. “So, what are you thinking? That one of them killed Holly and then the three of them dumped her body the next morning while fishing? Oh, and then also saved a drowning woman’s life a few hours later? Really?”
“No, I don’t necessarily think that, but stranger shit has happened. I had a murderer help canvass for the victim’s body alongside her family once, so who the fuck knows what makes sense. We have to go back to the beginning here and look at everyone again.”
And by everyone, I know who he really means.
I’m shaking my head, but I know Terry’s right. A body means new evidence, new lines of questions, new witnesses. Every detail matters. Even the smallest ones. “I’m telling you, on my life, on my parents’ graves, Logan Landry had no part in Holly’s death or any coverup.”
“Then we should be able to clear him really quickly. But I’ve still gotta have a conversation with him.” He leans forward, dropping his voice. “And you need to recuse yourself formally from any involvement with this case due to a personal conflict of interest with a possible witness or suspect.”
My molars grind. “That would mean an official letter submitted to Freeman.”
“Yes, it does.” He says it matter-of-factly. “But what other option do you have here?”
None. Doug already said as much when he questioned me last time about my relationship with the convict.
“We can’t afford any fuckups with this case. This girl and her family deserve that much from us, don’t they?”
“Of course they do, but not at the expense of an innocent man. There are people in this town who’ve already decided Logan did it. With no proof, even with an alibi.”
“It’s a good thing I’m not one of those people, right? Hey, come on.” He leans back in his chair. “Have I let you down yet?”
I purse my lips, reluctant to agree with him. “There’s always a first.”
“Look, Brad Whitley is not running this investigation, and like I told you already, I don’t think Logan Landry had anything to do with this. I’m not after him, but there’s only one way to do this and we both know it.”
My resistance deflates with his words. He’s right. I’m too close to this case and if I stick around, my integrity and the integrity of the entire investigation will be questioned more than it already has been, thanks to idle gossip. “Fine. Yes. We need to figure out who did this to Holly.” And I’ll face the consequences as they come.
“All right, then.” Terry nods. “Just so you’re aware, I’m bringing the three of them in here for questioning.”
“And just so you’re aware, Logan will have a lawyer on speed dial.”
I watch through my office window as Terry and Schmidt lead Logan into our one interrogation room—a small, windowless space with beige walls and a plush couch for both witnesses and suspects alike to feel at ease while they either help us or bury themselves.