Page 85 of Into the Shadows

“Wow. He really trusts you.” I knew Dad liked Teddy, but I’d wondered if there was a part of him that wouldn’t be able to let me go. Dad’s actions today more than prove he has every confidence in Teddy.

“Come on, let’s get you checked out and then go home. Your dad has called me about ten times since we moved in.”

I laugh. That sounds way more like my dad.

Chapter 47

Lottie

“Dad, you can let go now.” I huff into his chest. The material of his police uniform is squished against my cheek. He’s been hugging me for at least thirty seconds, if not close to a minute now.

“No. You were kidnapped, Lottie. Give me a second to push back my heart attack.”

“It was only a little ’napping.”

He growls. “Too soon for jokes.”

“Sorry.” I bite my cheek to keep from laughing. He’s probably right. There was a very real chance I could’ve died today. It’s not really something to joke about.

He finally pulls away, the noise of the Greensboro police station filtering into my senses. Despite what he said, Dad couldn’t stand the thought of me being in danger and him not being close enough to help. He left Uncle Todd in charge at the Sonoma station and drove to Greensboro after Teddy told him I was okay.

He stayed with me while the detectives asked me questions about Chris. I was grateful Dad was there because the officers tried to berate me for being an “armchair detective,”which I staunchly argued against. Having his unwavering support in that moment allowed me to handle the detectives on my own. He’d have stepped in if it was necessary, though.

Chris was examined and determined to be fine. He was then charged with kidnapping and booked into jail. Once the detectives are able to search his possessions, there’s a good chance they’ll be able to prove he stalked and threatened both me and Candace.

She’s also fine. They got her stitched up, and she told me she’s going home to rest. I made sure she knew she could contact me at any time if she needed someone to talk to about what happened.

Now that the whole ordeal is over, my adrenaline has depleted, and I’m ready to go home. Dad’s barely left my side, and Teddy had to wait in the lobby while we talked with the officers. I just want to spend the night in Teddy’s arms.

“Okay.” Dad exhales. “I’m good now. We can find your man and go home.”

Teddy stands from the plastic chair the second he catches sight of me. He nods at Dad before pulling me into his arms to hug me tight. Now this is an embrace I never want to end.Sorry, Dad.

“You ready to go home?” Teddy’s rough voice sends shivers down my spine.

“More than.”

“Ho-ly shit.”I gasp as I watch the security footage again. I scoot my office chair forward as if getting closer to my computer screen will help me see it more clearly. I talked with another journalist a few weeks ago to see if they had any resources they might want to share with me about the Mansgrove case. They offered a copy of the securityfootage from the grocery store Crystal was last seen at, and I pounced on it immediately.

And there, on the security cameras, is Steven, quite clearly watching Crystal Mansgrove buy groceries. He’s not making any overt moves toward her, and there are plenty of other customers in the store, but the fact that he was in the store with her the day she died is suspicious. He can also be seen leaving the store a minute ahead of her without any shopping bags in hand and proceeds to wait by his car until Crystal gets in hers and leaves.

Why would he watch her from afar? If he respected her the way he talked about, I’d have thought he’d have a conversation with her. Potentially even double-check they were still going to meet that evening. Instead, he avoids her, doing everything he can to stay out of her way.

This isn’t proof that Steven did something to her. Far from it, actually, but it’s enough to know he knew her movements that day in more detail than just the practice she was supposed to attend.

The police will likely need more, but this could be enough to push them to interview Steven again. They haven’t confirmed if they found DNA evidence on the items we found in the lake. After years of being underwater, the likelihood of there being anything usable is minimal, but you never know. The good news is I now have a connection with Isaiah, one of the deputies at Castle Hill. He came over to me while they were bagging the evidence at the lake to introduce himself. Apparently, he was also one of Ms. Mansgrove’s students and was happy I took an interest in her case. I have a feeling he’ll be interested in this development.

I’m just finishing my email to Isaiah when Gia taps on my office door. I wave her in as I click send.

“Hey, everyone’s here.”

“Everyone who?” I swivel in my chair to look at Gia.

“The gang has gathered. They’ve got news.”

I spring up from my chair. “They found something?”

Gia just waggles her eyebrows at me. She heads back to the living room, where Carson, Michael, and Ryan are waiting for us.

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