Page 19 of Illusive
“Yes, although their tech isnae as advanced as what Cross Industries uses in its garages. It’s possible that the use of the same license plate is a way to avoid paying for multiple entries or spaces. The stalls aren’t numbered, so dinnae appear to be assigned.” Angus turned his head to give them a level look. “The body hasn’t yet been removed, so I suggest you dinnae look at the car.”
Eva nodded. Gideon had to consciously release the tension in his jaw. To not be in complete control of the investigation—especially the speed of it—was unbearable. The urge to demand answers, even to threaten his way into getting them, was driving him hard. Victor kept reminding him that too little time hadpassed, even though it felt interminable. Still, Gideon hadn’t hesitated to exert pressure to gain access to the crime scene, reminding the mayor of the value of his endorsement and financial support.
The elevator stopped on the fourth floor, and the doors opened to controlled chaos. There were at least a dozen investigators and technicians from various departments in the space. Some appeared to be loitering, while others were hard at work photographing and gathering evidence. The activity was centered along the same wall as the elevator, only a few cars away.
Gideon and Eva were guided in the opposite direction, coming to a stop in the corner with a bit of airflow from the exterior openings. Angus stayed with them, but Victor walked toward the scene. One of the detectives turned as he approached, and Eva felt a surge of relieved recognition.
“Oh, thank god,” she breathed, placing a grateful hand over her heart when the female detective caught sight of them and gave a brisk nod before turning her attention to Victor.
Gideon’s reaction to seeing homicide detective Shelley Graves was more mixed, as it always was when their paths crossed. He imagined it was equally awkward for her. But since she’d been dating Victor Reyes for several years now, their lives intersected at numerous points.
When Victor reached Shelley, they refrained from any public display of affection, but that wasn’t due to the gravity of the situation. They were just as distant during personal gatherings like the holidays. Gideon wasn’t sure if that was for Eva’s benefit or just how their relationship worked.
And it did seem to work for them. The two had been living together for at least five years and seemed solid. That his father-in-law had someone in his life who cared for him made Eva happy, and that, in turn, made him happy. But it was never farfrom his mind that Victor and Shelley both knew he’d murdered the man who had abused Eva in childhood and stalked her into adulthood.
Shelley had been the detective on the case. His actions could never and would never be proven, but Shelley Graves was in Major Crimes because she was an elite investigator. She’d figured it out. And she had admitted to Eva that if he hadn’t acted as he did, her life would always have been in jeopardy. That didn’t mean the detective was comfortable with him taking the law into his own hands or that they were now akin to family.
How naïve Gideon had been not to foresee other threats to his wife’s safety, considering who he was. And while Christopher and Ireland reluctantly agreed to personal security when they traveled, they outright refused protection at home. Neither of them had ever been threatened in any way that alarmed them.
Getting his siblings to agree to using the location-sharing app had been the most he could do. He’d considered shadowing them without their knowledge, but Eva had vehemently opposed. Her mother had secretly surveilled her for her protection, and despite having good reason to worry for Eva’s safety, his wife felt that her privacy and autonomy had been violated.
It was Gideon who walked in the shadow of his father’s crimes and whose influence on global issues and domestic politics drew malice from some quarters.
And perhaps Ireland was paying the price now, if he was indeed the ultimate target.
One of the crime scene technicians glanced their way, then she approached. She wore khaki slacks and a navy T-shirt bearing a bright yellow badge printed on the upper-left side. When she reached them, she held up a clear evidence bag containing a phone. “Do you recognize this?”
“Can you show us the lock screen?” Eva asked.
The tech tapped the glass through the bag. The screen lit up with a photo of Blizzard, Ireland’s massive Maine Coon cat, whose white fur made the bloody smear across the glass stand out in stark, brutal relief.
Eva inhaled sharply. Gideon felt the same emotional blow, even though the location tracking app had shown that his sister’s phone hadn’t moved beyond the garage. Seeing it made the truth unavoidable: they had no idea where Ireland was or if she was injured. Guilt made his stomach turn, and for a moment, he feared he’d vomit. He swallowed bile past a painfully tight throat and refused to consider that Ireland wasn’t still alive.
“Yes, that’s my sister’s phone,” he confirmed, battling to keep his thoughts focused despite the growing dread he felt.
Nodding, the tech walked away to input something on a tablet.
“I hate feeling so helpless,” Eva said hoarsely.
“We’ll know more once we’ve looked at the garage footage,” Angus assured her. “We may have some leads tonight, as they’re reviewing traffic camera recordings now.”
Shelley and Victor walked over together. His father-in-law was still dressed in the tuxedo from the masquerade. The detective wore khaki slacks, a white button-up shirt, and a cropped tan plaid blazer that didn’t hide her badge or service weapon. Her boots were well-worn and flat-heeled. She was arguably too thin, her face foxlike and angular. Her curly brown hair was pulled back in a bushy ponytail, and her blue eyes assessed everything with keen intelligence.
“Gideon. Eva,” she greeted them. “I’m so sorry we’re going through this. I’m very fond of Ireland, as I hope you know. To be clear, I’m not assigned to this case and can’t participate in the investigation. I’m allowed to be here for the same reason you are—as a courtesy and to provide any insight I can from a personal perspective.”
Gideon nodded. “I appreciate that, Shelley. Thank you.”
“Yes.” Eva stepped away from him to hug the other woman. “It’s a relief to see you here.”
When Eva pulled back, the grim line of the detective’s mouth was foreboding and had Gideon bracing for a blow.
Shelley pulled two business cards from her jacket pocket and handed them over. “The detectives assigned are from my squad, and they’re damn good. Their names are Vega and Jang, and they’ll be contacting you soon to get your statements.”
Gideon looked over her shoulder. “Why aren’t they here now?”
“There’s a tertiary scene,” she informed them. “TARU has been reviewing the surrounding traffic camera footage. They’re following the routes taken by all vehicles that exited the garage since the suspects’ SUV arrived. One of those vehicles pulled into another parking structure not far from here. Vega and Jang are there, or they’d be talking with you now.”
Reaching blindly behind her, Eva searched for his hand. Gideon linked his fingers with hers and asked, “What’s happening there?”
