Page 14 of Silent Road

"When did this start?"

"A couple weeks ago?He said it was probably just another photographer trying to learn his techniques."She looked up sharply."You don't think..."

"We're exploring all possibilities," Sheila said diplomatically."One more question—did Bradley ever mention anyone critiquing his social media presence?Someone who might have objected to how he presented himself online?"

Amanda's expression clouded."There was that instructor at the resort.Diana something.Bradley said she'd reported him for being unsafe."She shook her head."But there were always people criticizing him online.Saying his photos were too staged, too artificial.He tried to laugh it off, but it bothered him."

Sheila closed her notebook and stood."Thank you for your time, Mrs.Greenwald.We'll be in touch if we have any other questions."

Amanda nodded, still clutching the framed photo of Bradley.She didn't rise to show them out.

The front door clicked shut behind them.Sheila squinted against the harsh glare of sunlight on snow, fishing her sunglasses from her jacket pocket.The temperature had risen from the negative temperatures overnight, but it was still well below freezing.

Tommy bumped against a snow-laden branch as they passed under a tree, sending a shower of powder onto his shoulders.He brushed it off with a muttered curse.

"Not used to winter patrol yet?"Sheila asked.

"Still learning to duck," he admitted, shaking snow from his collar.

They reached the patrol car, its black paint almost painful to look at in the intense reflection.Sheila's breaths came out in visible puffs as she unlocked the doors.The interior was frigid—she'd have to remember to plug in the engine block heater once they got back to the station.

Tommy slid into the passenger seat, rubbing his hands together."Mind if I turn on the heat?"

"Give the engine a minute to warm up first," Sheila said as she started the engine.

They were both silent for a few moments.

"So where are we going now?"Tommy asked."Looking into social media followers, seeing if one of them might be the killer?"

"That's not a bad idea," Sheila said."But I was thinking we could go to the resort, talk to anyone who might be able to tell us about the resort's activity: who comes and goes, who's a frequent visitor, that kind of thing.I get the impression the killer knows the area well, so there's a good chance someone's seen them."

As they pulled away from the Greenwald home, Sheila glanced at Tommy."So?Gonna share your thoughts on that conversation we just had with Mrs.Greenwald?"

Tommy considered for a moment, and she was pleased to see him taking time to organize his thoughts rather than rushing to conclusions.

"I think Bradley Greenwald knew his killer," he said finally."The missing camera proves it.He wouldn't have handed it over to a stranger—but he might have trusted another photographer, someone who understood how to handle expensive equipment."

"Good observation," Sheila said."What else?"

"The killer must have been following him for a while.Mrs.Greenwald said Bradley was nervous about someone showing up at his shoots.And they'd have to know his habits to catch him alone on the mountain."

They turned onto the highway leading back to the resort.The Wasatch Mountains loomed ahead, their peaks sharp against the winter sky.Fresh snow had dusted the higher elevations overnight, and the clouds gathering above suggested more was coming.

"That's a good analysis," Sheila said, guiding the car around a curve."But don't get locked into one theory.Sometimes the obvious answer isn't the right one."

"What do you mean?"

"The killer could have stolen the camera earlier, used it to lure Bradley out.Or maybe Bradley had already lost it, and that's why he was using different equipment."She downshifted as they began climbing."Keep your mind open to all possibilities."

They fell silent as the road wound higher into the Wasatch range.The morning sun painted the mountains in stark contrasts—brilliant white peaks against deep blue sky, shadows pooling purple in the canyons.Pine trees dotted the slopes like bristling sentries, their branches heavy with fresh snow.To the west, the Great Salt Lake was just visible, a silvery shimmer on the horizon.

Sheila's thoughts drifted back to her father's office, to the hidden panel and the secrets it contained.What had her father learned during his time with IA?If someone had silenced Sheila's mother, and if Gabriel was afraid that same person would silence her if she wasn't careful… was he implying that the guilty person was still around, ten years later?

Maybe still working in the department?

"Sheriff?"Tommy's voice pulled her from her thoughts."Something on your mind?"

"Just thinking about the case," she lied, then immediately felt guilty.Still, it wasn't like she could get into all this with him.

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