Page 35 of Race to Save Her

“Any visitors?”

“Just his lawyer—twice.”

“Okay.”

“Um, what the hell was that?” he said with some humor but a serious look upon his face.

“What?” But Katie knew what he was talking about.

“As long as we’ve been partners, I’ve never seen you act like that in an interrogation room.”

“There’s always a first time.”

McGaven laughed. “I wish I had a video of that.”

“He called me a bitch and I didn’t want to show weakness… so I amped it up a bit.”

“Amped it up a bit… that’s what you call it?”

“I guess so.”

“Does John know you have this side to you?” He chuckled.

“Okay, what have we learned about Bates?”

“If he’s telling the truth, there’s a psycho out there that calls himself Puzzler leaving body parts at random.”

TWENTY-FOUR

Tuesday 1425 hours

The detectives decided to stop at Brandon’s house since it was on their way from the jail. Katie drove to 167 Acorn Road, pulled up in front of the property, and cut the engine. But she didn’t immediately get out.

“What’s up?” said McGaven.

Katie turned to him. “Are we on the right course? I mean, what are we missing?”

“We’re finally getting some information and we have to follow the trail.”

Katie nodded.

“That’s why we’re here checking the house again, so we can cross it off our list,” he said.

Katie stared at the small house. The weeds and trees were in serious need of trimming and pruning. She noticed you couldn’t see the neighbors even though they were relatively close. It was the way the land parcels were divided up—common with rural properties.

“Okay,” she finally said and opened the car door.

The detectives got out and walked toward the residence. It was hazy and very overcast, making the day seem dull. Instead of stepping up to the front door, which still had bits of yellow crime scene tape and pieces of plywood nailed around the doorframe, Katie spied the backyard. It had a low-lying chain-link fence with metal posts, and there were imprints of where a car had been parked. The weeds were tall and in the beginning stages of flopping over. There was nothing in the yard like outdoor chairs, pots, gardening tools—and there was no gate.

From the back of the building, it was clear how the large gap underneath the house would be easy to get under.

“So Bates said he was gone when Puzzler came by to hide the appendages—not telling him what he was doing. Look around. I don’t think anyone could see if someone entered this house. That part seems to be true,” said Katie.

She kept studying the house while McGaven looked at the fencing.

A distinct shot rang out and instantly clipped one of the metal posts near McGaven.

“Get down!” said Katie.