Page 146 of Risky Passion

As the chopper lifted off, its downdraft kicked up a flurry of dust and dry grass. I reached for Jaxson’s hand, and he pulled me closer.

"They’ll be fine," I said, leaning into him.

He nodded as his gaze remained fixed on the rising chopper.

"I know. They’re a damn good team." He turned us toward the front steps again. "And I’m certain Beatrice didn’t risk taking that body from Angelsong just to take it to her known residence."

"Come on, guys. We’ve got work to do," Parker called, striding up the front steps. As the rest of us followed, the lingering hum of the helicopter faded into the distance.

As the hours slipped by, everyone seemed to be on edge, though Icouldn’t decide if it was because of the evidence we were sifting through, or the unsettling silence from Aria and the team.

"Is it just me,” I said, breaking the silence, “or is it weird that we haven’t found anything more about Beatrice in all these boxes?"

"Not just the boxes," Cobra said, his frustration evident. "There’s nothing on the web either. Other than her employee records at the wharf, I’ve found nothing, not even tax returns."

"She probably destroyed any trace of herself from the orphanage forty years ago," Parker said, leaning back in his chair. “Especially as she was an employee. She could have had access to any rooms.”

"And she’s done a hell of a job erasing any more recent evidence, too," Cobra added, shaking his head. "No driver’s license, no passport, no car, nothing."

"She’d have fake documents," Piper said, shrugging. "Just like the ones she used for those trafficking victims. Remember that passport for Alice Turnur we found in the shipping container with the bodies? It was fake."

"Yeah, and a damn good one," Cobra said, his tone grudgingly impressed.

"Speaking of Alice Turnur," Whitney said, looking at Jaxson, "maybe I should process the samples I took from that body you found. It might give us some clue as to who she really is. She could be Alice."

He was probably right. My mind had been constantly circling back to Beatrice’s strange obsession with that body. Whoever the victim had been, she’d clearly meant something to Beatrice. Maybe she was related to Beatrice? A sister maybe.

Whitney ran a hand through his hair. "I could take Eddie’s cruiser and drive the samples to the morgue, rather than wait for the chopper to return. What do you think?"

Jaxson nodded. "Good idea."

"I’ll go with you," Parker offered, pushing his chair back.

"Give me a sec," Whitney said, striding toward the hallway. "I’ll grab the skull and pack it into my evidence kit. Don’t want it rolling around in the trunk."

"Hey, I found another class photo for you," Billie said, handing a faded picture to Cobra. "Class of 1971."

Cobra studied it as he walked over to the evidence wall. "It’s frustrating they didn’t label these photos with the kids’ names like they do now."

"Maybe they didn’t want anyone?—"

"Now don’t be mad," Whitney interrupted, his voice unsteady as he reentered the gymnasium, cradling his evidence kit like it was made of glass.

"What?" Jaxson’s tone sharpened as his eyes narrowed on his brother.

Whitney winced. "I, uh . . . I forgot I put an AirTag on that body you found near the fountain."

"Youwhat?" Jaxson barked.

I blinked at Whitney in disbelief.

"I forgot, okay?" Whitney raised his hands defensively. "Ever since those two bodies disappeared last year, I’ve been tagging all the bodies we find in the field."

"Jesus. Why didn’t you tell us sooner?" Jaxson’s voice was edged with irritation.

"We’ve been busy, all right?" Whitney shot back. "But I’ve got a signal. So I know where she took the body."

"Jesus Christ." Jaxson yanked his phone out of his pocket. “I’ll call Aria.”

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