Page 75 of Code Violation

Nick returned his attention to the computer screen, leaving Nero to his own thoughts. Quickly, he ran through what he wanted to ask Chief Dear. Nero hoped there might be some new news about what had happened in the forest. Or about Elizabeth Harlow.

“Nero, good to see you safe and sound,” Dear said as he approached Nero, holding his hand out. “Especially after last weekend. How’s Forrest?”

“As if Lani hasn’t kept you updated. He’s healing fine though. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me, Chief.”

“It’s my pleasure. Come back this way. Also, you can call me Andre when I’m not on the clock.”

Following Dear down a long hallway, Nero wondered if the chief was ever not on the clock. He also noted the plaques on the closed doors they passed, one of which read Evidence Room. He hoped he got the chance to see what was inside. That was why he was here, after all—to dig into the unsolved cases of Cooper Springs.

Dear’s office was at the end of the hall and near an exit door. It was about a five on the scale of tidy to messy. Nero had definitely seen worse. Secretly, he didn’t trust people whose offices were Martha Stewart levels of tidy.

“Have a seat. Let me clear off that chair for you.”

Dear moved a stack of files and found a spot for them on the corner of his desk.

“Thanks for meeting with me,” Nero said, setting his backpack down on the floor as he sat.

“You’re the talk of the town right now,” Dear said. “I feel like I’m talking to a celebrity.”

Nero snorted. “I think maybe celebrity is a bit over the top.” Although to be honest, he appreciated Andre’s acceptance of his interference. All he’d done was find a body.

“Nah, you coming here ultimately ended up with us solving four separate murder cases.”

Dear stepped behind his desk and sat down, scooting forward to lean his elbows on the surface.

Nero unzipped the top of his pack and retrieved his tablet so he could take notes. He may have figured out a fifth murder too, but he didn’t want to get Dear’s hopes up.

“It wasn’t all me. Rufus figured it out before anyone.”

Dear frowned. “He did, but it would’ve been better if he’d come to us before charging up into the wilderness alone.”

“I think he didn’t want to believe it himself until he confirmed Dina Paulson was still alive and living up there. He didn’t want it to be possible.”

“He’s lucky to be alive. You all are.”

“I suppose that’s true.” Nero didn’t feel like he’d been in danger—more that he’d been a catalyst that had been a long time coming.

“Anyway, you said you had some questions about the Kaylee Fernsby case?”

“I do. Do you mind if I take notes?”

They rehashed the disappearance of Kaylee Fernsby and subsequent discovery of her body.

“There’s just so little in the file. Why?” Nero asked.

“Sloppy work all around,” Dear agreed.

“Were the clothes she was wearing when she was recovered tested for semen or anything else? There’s no indication in the report I read.”

“Likely not,” Dear said. “The budget probably wouldn’t have covered it and DNA evidence was just coming into use back then anyway.”

“If the clothing is still in evidence, would you be willing to send it to a lab?”

“That’s been a long time.” Andre ran a hand through his silver hair before crossing his arms. “Most likely anything left is degraded.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try.”

Andre spread his hands. “I have the same problem as my incompetent predecessor. No money. Especially not for a cold case.”

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