“Here we go. Nayla and Tim Reynolds. I’ll write down the address for you.”
Cate glanced at Tessa, who widened her eyes. Her idea had paid off.
Chris Corbin worked with one of them.
“Can you check one more name?” Cate wanted to hold her breath. “Tianna DeLeon.”
Emma input the name and scrolled several times. “I’m not seeing that name . . . could it be under something else?”
“Maybe her husband’s name? Is there a DeLeon at all?”
Emma shook her head. “Nothing’s coming up.”
Disappointment rocked Cate.
At least we have one. He could have crossed paths with Tianna in a different way.
“Thanks, Emma,” said Tessa. “See you later, Abby.”
“Later, alligator,” the little girl said without looking up from her coloring book.
“After a while, crocodile,” Cate added as she followed Tessa out the door.
They crossed the street to Mike and told them what they’d found. Tessa’s phone beeped.
“Bruce says there’s no car at Chris’s house. He’s asking if we want him to knock.”
“No,” said Mike. “Again, I don’t want to give anything away, especially now that we have a connection between him and Nayla Reynolds.” He looked to Tessa. “Can you put together a team to approach the home with me? If he’s there, all the better.”
“Kurt and I can be ready in a half hour,” Tessa said.
“Perfect. I appreciate the support. We’ll just ask him some questions.” He looked to Cate. “You coming?”
“Yes.”
I wouldn’t miss it.
Henry stood beside Cate as they hung back at the road behind the police vehicles, watching as the three deputies and Mike walked up to Chris’s front door. Henry had texted Cate a half hour ago, hoping to meet at home for dinner, but Cate had said she was going with the police. He pressed for details and was shocked.
Chris Corbin.
That can’t be right.
He didn’t see a killer in the quiet man. Chris had been to Henry’s clinic a number of times, trying to get his high blood pressure under control. Henry had adjusted his medications until they’d found the right drug and dose. He’d found the real estate agent intelligent, and they’d had several discussions about football, fishing, and Los Angeles, where Henry had lived and where Chris had spent a few years during college.
They’re looking at the wrong man.
A shudder went through Cate, and Henry felt it against his arm. Her gaze was locked on the officers. Kurt and Bruce had split away from Mike and Tessa, and they went to each side of the house. Kurt took a position where he could see one side and the front of the home, while Bruce went farther down the other side until he had a view of the rear of the home.
If someone tried to leave the house, they’d be seen.
Cate’s breathing sped up as Tessa rang the doorbell.
“I can’t watch.” Cate spun around to leave, and Henry caught her, making her look him in the eyes.
How could I forget her attack?
The setup had been similar. A closed door. Two agents. It was to be a simple interview. No one had expected the shots through the door that had injured Cate and killed her partner.
“You’re okay. And nothing is going to happen.”
“You don’t know that!”
She pushed his hands off her arms, but he enveloped her in a hug, holding her tight to him. “No one knows!” she whispered. “No one can see what’s waiting behind that door!” Continuous shudders racked her body.
She leaned her head against Henry’s shoulder, and he watched the officers.
Tessa rang the bell again. And waited. Then she knocked, and the door swung open under her knuckles. She and Mike stepped farther to the side, but the door stopped. Her knock had pushed it open.
“Chris!” Tessa yelled into the house. “It’s Deputy Black. Is everything okay?”
Cate lifted her head and turned to see. Tessa yelled again.
After a moment, Mike and Tessa conferred, and then Tessa gestured for Kurt to come to the front of the house and radioed Bruce to continue watching the back.
“They’re going in,” said Cate. Her lips were pressed into a tight line.
“It doesn’t appear anyone is home,” Henry said. “The door swung open when Tessa knocked. Can they simply go in?”
“Yes, if they think something has happened inside.”
Kurt and Tessa went in to clear the house as Mike waited outside. Shouts of “Clear!” sounded as they checked each room. The house was small. They finished rapidly and reconvened on the front porch with Mike and called Bruce to join them.
Tessa seemed agitated. She spoke pointedly with Mike for a few moments and kept looking over at Henry and Cate. Mike appeared to relent, and Tessa pulled out her phone and then waved the two of them over.
“What did she find?” Cate murmured to Henry. “There’s something she’s unhappy about.”
“Let’s find out.” He took Cate’s cold hand and led her toward the house.
Tessa looked grim as she stepped aside to make her phone call. All three men on the porch wore serious expressions.
“What happened?” asked Cate.
“Tessa and I found something inside I think you should look at,” said Kurt.
Cate caught her breath.
“Don’t worry—nothing gruesome,” the older deputy said kindly. He gestured for her and Henry to follow him. The inside of the ranch-style house was well lit, and Kurt led her down a narrow hallway to a bedroom. Inside was a large desk with a desktop and printer along with several tall metal file cabinets. Photos were scattered across the desk. One caught Cate’s eye, and she stepped closer.
It was a photo of her and Samantha standing behind the bakery. Both of them were laughing. Sam’s head tipped back as she cracked up, and her long red ponytail stretched down her back. Cate had a hand slapped to her forehead, her mouth open in laughter.
Cate remembered the moment. She’d been telling Sam about a customer, but she couldn’t—
“What in the world?” The other photos
