Page 48 of Outlaw Ridge: Hayes

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Chapter Sixteen

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Hayes had always figured they would eventually find Jacob’s and Kyle’s bodies, but he sure as hell hadn’t expected for there to be a dumping grounds.

“How many?” Jemma asked, voicing the question that Hayes and everyone else wanted to know.

“Three others,” Owen said on a sigh. “So, six total with Hailey’s. But her remains weren’t near these others. The five were located in a cavern right at the edge of a fifty-foot-tall limestone bluff. These bodies had been covered with dead tree limbs, leaves, and some rocks, but there are indications they weren’t put there all at once.”

So, the killer probably hadn’t murdered them at the same time and returned repeatedly to the spot to dispose of the victims.

But why?

“Is this the work of one of our suspects?” Hayes asked. “Or are we dealing with someone else?”

Owen gathered his breath. “To be determined. But I’m going to have a lot of people in those woods trying to sort this all out, and I’d rather minimize the risks to the forensic team, CSIs, and the deputies I’ll send there. So, I’m making a decision that might come back to bite me in the ass.” He paused, did a sweepingglance of everyone in the room. “I want all three of our suspects arrested and confined.”

Yeah, that could definitely lead to some ass-biting when they filed a wrongful arrest lawsuit. But considering the shitstorm going on in Outlaw Ridge, Hayes thought it was the right decision.

Owen looked at Angel and Presley. “I want the two of you to bring in Duane. Gear up because he could have an entire school of accomplices ready to gun you down.” He shifted to Declan and Aiden. “You two need to bring in Royce. The same gear-up safety rules apply to him. And Ruby and Reed will arrest Cordelia.”

Jemma shook her head. “I want to help. I’m fine,” she tacked onto that.

“Good to know because I have a task for Hayes and you, too. Go to the dump site and provide protection for the forensic team and the CSIs.” He forwarded them the text he’d just gotten. “That’s the coordinates of the bodies. And gear up as well because if we’re dealing with an unknown serial killer, he or she might object to his dumping grounds being disturbed. Added to that, this is damn close to Duane’s school, and he might have another Zander waiting in the wings to do his bidding.”

True. This definitely wasn’t a safe mission. Then again, it wasn’t safe for any of them. If Cordelia, Duane or Royce was the killer, then they might decide to try to take out the deputies arresting them.

With the orders given, the pairs began to disperse and gather up their gear. Jemma picked up one of the vests, and Hayes caught her slight wince.

“I can adjust the vest so it doesn’t rub your bruise as much,” Hayes let her know. “But you should also put on a neck guard.”

There were no guarantees that the guard wouldn’t do plenty of rubbing, but it couldn’t be helped. She’d come too damn close to dying during the last attack, and Hayes didn’t want her totake that kind of risk again. Of course, there were other parts of the body where a sniper could deliver a lethal shot, but the vest, helmet, and neck guard would best protect her.

He hoped.

She studied him while he adjusted her vest and then sighed. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, her voice barely a whisper. “I know I’m not in the same emotional category as your mom and fiancée, but this has to be tough for you.”

“It is,” he verified. And it occurred to him that Jemma was indeed in an emotional category. True, she wasn’t his fiancée nor his mother, but she was important to him, and he cared deeply for her.

That made him silently curse.

Because the sex had broken down barriers that should have stayed in place. At least until this killer was caught anyway. Since that hadn’t happened, since he was close to Jemma, he was going to have to try to pinpoint his focus to keep her and the others at the dump site safe.

“I wish I could go with you,” Owen muttered, causing Hayes to glance back at his boss.

Owen was used to being in the center of the action. The one who led the charge. But that couldn’t happen with his injured arm. No way could he fight or return fire, and that made him a liability. It must have been hard for him to accept that, but Hayes was glad he was staying put.

“We need a central command and control,” Hayes reminded him, and he slipped in his earpiece. “Let us know when the suspects are all in custody.” He paused, glanced around. “Where the hell are you going to jail them?”

Owen didn’t smile, not exactly, but some of the tension eased from his face. “I’ll put Cordelia in the women’s bathroom. There’s no window in there, and I can have a cot brought in.I’ll put Duane and Royce in the interview rooms. There are windows, but they’ve already been wired for security.”

None of their suspects would appreciate the accommodations, but maybe they wouldn’t have to stay there for long. If one of them was the killer and realized the dumping grounds had been located, that might lead to a confession.

“Don’t get your asses shot off,” Declan let everyone know as they made their way outside.

Hayes saw Jemma tense again, but she didn’t hesitate. She went straight to the cruiser while the others headed to their vehicles. She was even steady when she slipped in her earpiece.

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