Page 44 of The Perfect Divorce

She nods in agreement. “My team will start putting together a list of possible suspects that fit the physical description as well as had motive and opportunity. Stevens received a number of death threats, mostly online, so we’ll be following up on each of those as well.”

“A statement will be released to the press, so expect additional media coverage and, potentially, some civil unrest,” I add.

“Why would the public be upset? Didn’t they want Stevens dead?” one of my more senior deputies scoffs. He’s leaned against the back wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

“Some did, but others might think this was a cover-up to make the Summers investigation go away,” I explain.

His brows shove together. “Pfft.That’s ridiculous.”

“It is,” I say with a nod.

Right now, this is a nothing burger of an investigation and everyone knows that. It’s just one of those cases that will require a lucky break to crack it. Actually, that’s nearly the majority of murder investigations these days. In the eighties, the murder clearance rate was around 71 percent. But now, it’s only half. Our technology and forensics are more advanced than they were forty years ago, yet 50 percent of homicides go unsolved. It doesn’t make any sense.

“Any other questions or comments on the Stevens case before I move on?” I scan the room. No one says a word, and several shake their heads.

“Moving on to the Kelly Summers case.” I click the mouse, projecting a new slide onto the whiteboard.

Ryan Stevens—deceased

Jesse Hook—deceased

Scott Summers—whereabouts unknown

Anne Davis—reinterviewed, no new info

Bob Miller—pending

Sarah Morgan—pending

Adam Morgan—deceased

“These are the suspects and/or witnesses from the initial investigation. As you can see, several of them are deceased, which makes reexamining the case all the more difficult. We also didn’t get a chance to speak to Stevens regarding his concealment of DNA evidence and his involvement with the victim before his untimely passing. Olson and I reinterviewed Anne Davis, but she provided no new info, and due to how long ago this all happened, we are unable to verify her story.”

“Jesus, what a crapshoot,” an officer comments.

“The JonBenét case would be an easier one to solve than this,” Sergeant Lantz adds. The mention of the infamous unsolved Ramsey case gets everyone going, and they start throwing out theories.

“Everyone knows her mother did it,” says one deputy.

“No, it was the brother. The parents just helped cover it up,” says another.

“All right, settle down.” I stretch my arms out and wave my hands to quiet the room. “Let’s focus on our own unsolved cases.”

“What if we already got the right guy? What if Adam Morgan did kill Kelly?” Deputy Lane ponders.

“We may have, but regardless, we still have to reexamine the case, especially since the reason it’s going through the appeals process is due to the shoddy investigation that was conducted by our office. I know most of you weren’t here or involved with that case, but it’s our responsibility to make sure it’s done by the book this time,” I say firmly as I make eye contact with my most vocal officers. They nod and their mouths form hard lines, confirming that even though they’re frustrated, they accept it.

I point to three of my patrol deputies seated at a table together. “I want you three to pull all the physical evidence related to the Summers case from homicide row.”

Since homicide has no statute of limitations, we have to keep that evidence forever, so it’s all tucked away in the last aisle of our storage facility. The Summers case evidence hasn’t seen the light of day in over twelve years, but maybe a reevaluation of it will help shed some new light on the investigation.

The three deputies nod.

“That’s all on the Summers case for now,” I say, knowing there really isn’t anything new on the matter. Another case with not much to go on. I tap the mouse with my pointer finger and look to Nagel.

“Lieutenant, fill us in on the Stacy Howard disappearance.” I glance at the photo projected on the whiteboard behind me. It’s a picture of Stacy in a tight black dress that stops a few inches above her knees. A glass of white wine is clutched in her hand. Her long red hair hangs freely in loose curls, and her mouth is partially open as though the picture was taken midlaugh.

Nagel nods and takes a step forward. “Just as a recap, Stacy Howard was reported missing by her roommate, Deena. Cell phone data tracked her last location near her apartment before her phone either died or was shut off. She hasn’t been seen or heard from in six days now. Her last point of contact was a text to Deena around five p.m. on Monday night, saying she was planning to meet up with a man she was seeing by the name of Bob Miller. Sheriff Hudson and Chief Deputy Olson interviewed Mr. Miller. He denied meeting her on the night she went missing and said he had only met her once, nearly four weeks ago, when the two engaged in a one-night stand. With the recent discovery of Stacy’s abandoned vehicle, Bureau of Criminal Investigation was consulted. A critically missing adult alert went out this morning as well as social media posts and a media release.”

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