Page 78 of Made of Steele
“I don’t know.” He ran his fingers through his hair and clutched the back of his neck. “If we’re looking at some sort of anniversary, it would likely be annual. Or something that occurred every fixed period of time and none of these fit that pattern.”
“And then we really don’t have enough information about Smiley to consider his relationship to the others.”
The front door opened and Drew spun, his hand going to his sidearm.
“Relax. It’s got to be Mackenzie.” Teagan heard her sister’s shoes drop to the floor, confirming Teagan’s thoughts.
Mackenzie soon padded into the room in slippers. She wore a navy blue and white tie-dyed maxi skirt with a navy blue lacy blouse. As Chief Information Officer for the company, she was in charge of keeping details and facts, but at heart, she was a freethinking philosophizer, and her clothing reflected that more than her business side. Teagan often thought as the middle child, Mackenzie purposefully marched to the beat of a different drummer as a way of standing out.
Her gaze went straight to Drew. “Dylan.”
“About that.” Drew gave her a sheepish look. “My real name is Drew Collier, and I’m an ICE agent.”
“I knew it! Law enforcement.” She looked at Teagan. “Mom and Dad won’t be happy you lied to them.”
“Couldn’t be helped. Drew is undercover. I had no plans to introduce him to Mom and Dad, but he showed up and Mom insisted he stay for dinner. You know how that goes. She asks and you comply.”
“I can see that, but will she be okay with it?” Mackenzie’s attention drifted to the whiteboard, and her eyes widened. “You said murder, but didn’t mention four victims.”
Trying hard to remain calm, Teagan brought her sister up to date, making sure to share every detail that they’d learned so far.
“Wow!” Mackenzie shook her head as she dropped into a chair next to Teagan. “You really stepped into it, didn’t you?”
Teagan nodded. “And now we need additional help but our agencies can’t provide it. So we figured you’d like to offer your assistance.”
“Of course I’m in.” She leaned forward as if eager to work. “Where do I start?”
Drew slid Forte’s file to her. “Create a murder book with Kris Forte’s missing person’s report. We’re organizing so we can quickly share the info and reference it as we go along.”
“You got it.” She dug right in, her focus pinned to her work.
Teagan got out her phone and opened her photo app to show Mackenzie photos taken at the grave site. “We found this circle and sword in the middle of the four graves. Ever seen anything like it?”
Mackenzie took the phone and swiped through the pictures. “Doesn’t ring a bell, but seems medieval.”
“Could be except they didn’t use rifles in medieval times,” Drew said. “Might be a secret society. That could explain the varied causes of death.”
Mackenzie set the phone down and looked at the board. “Maybe it references a movie or book. Or even a video game.”
“Could be. Nick is running a search for us on the weapons, but he didn’t locate anything when searching for the sword and circle that fit our situation. Neither did we.”
“Have you talked to the victims’ families?” Mackenzie asked.
“Not before we get up to speed on the investigations so we know the right questions to ask.” Drew shared a pointed look with Teagan. “After we get these records organized and review them, then we’ll do death notification calls and question the next-of-kin.”
The Romo’s house smelled like garlic and oregano, and Drew could imagine Carlo Romo coming home from a hard day at work. Kicking off his shoes at the door. The children he might have in the future running to greet him. A traditional Italian meal at the table waiting for him and his family. But the man wouldn’t be coming home again. The children wouldn’t have a father to throw their arms around.
If only Drew could bring comfort to the sobbing widow sitting across the coffee table from him and Teagan. But he couldn’t. He knew that from when his dad died, and today’s death notification calls to deliver bad news.
As expected, Mrs. Hoyle hadn’t had such an intense reaction. Her husband had been missing for years, and she’d presumed he was dead, but she was upset. Mrs. Forte and Daniela Romo still retained full hope that their husbands would return.
“We’re very sorry for your loss,” Teagan said, her tone gentle and comforting.
Catapulted back to the loss of his father, the emotions hung heavy on Drew like an icy quilt.
God, where were You then? Where are You now?
“How did he die?” Daniela asked, bringing Drew back.
