Page 39 of Silent Road

"Long story.Where are these lockers?"

The employee locker room was institutional beige, fluorescent lights humming overhead.Two rows of metal lockers lined the walls, their blue paint chipped and worn.Tommy led her to the back row.

"Fred says it was definitely one of these eight," he said, tapping the end locker."But without knowing which one..."

"Who has the keys?"

"Michael, the facilities manager.But he won't open them without a warrant.Says it's resort policy."

Sheila ran her fingers along the locker seams, thinking out loud."We have a witness who saw professional camera equipment stored in an employee locker.We have two victims killed and posed, one of whom was photographed using a high-end camera.We have reason to believe the evidence of a capital crime may be contained within these lockers and a credible risk that such evidence could be removed or destroyed while we wait for a warrant."

"Still need probable cause specific to these lockers," Tommy pointed out.

"The witness narrowed it to these eight.That's specific enough given the totality of circumstances."She pulled out her phone, quickly typing notes."I'm documenting my reasoning.We can't wait on a warrant—if there's evidence here, the killer could remove it the moment they realize Morton's been arrested."

She pulled a small tool from her jacket pocket—the kind used to pop trunk locks during welfare checks—and went to work on the first locker.It opened with a soft click.

Empty except for a jacket and some protein bars.

"Sheila?"Star's voice made them both jump.She stood in the doorway, holding up her phone."The wifi—" She stopped."Wait a minute.Are you breaking into those lockers?"

"We're looking for evidence," Sheila said.

Star shoved her phone into her pocket."You can just do that on a whim?"

"Not a whim," Sheila said patiently."I don't have time to discuss the legal ramifications right now, okay?If you'll just go back to the breakroom—"

Star bounced on her toes, eyes bright with barely contained excitement."This is so cool."

"This is law enforcement," Sheila said, moving to the next locker."Based on probable cause and exigent circumstances."The second locker contained only a gym bag.

The third was empty.

The fourth...

Sheila's breath caught.Professional camera equipment filled the locker: multiple lenses, a high-end flash system, and a camera body that had to be worth thousands.But it was the small box tucked behind the gear that intrigued her.

Memory cards.Dozens of them.

An employee jacket hung on the wall.The initials H.S.were stitched into it.

"I think we'd better find out who this H.S.is," she said.

"And where they've been the past two nights," Tommy added.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Hunter Smith," Tommy read from his tablet."Twenty-eight years old.Worked at the resort for fourteen months.No criminal record."He scrolled further."Started in housekeeping, transferred to food service three months ago.Currently tends bar at the Timberline Lounge."

Sheila studied the employee photo on the screen: dark hair swept carefully to one side, a smile that looked a little too practiced."What time does his shift start?"

"Not until four.But according to his supervisor, he usually comes in early to prep the bar."

They stood in the resort's security office, which Michael had reluctantly provided as a temporary base of operations.Morning light slanted through the blinds and cast striped shadows across the case files spread over the desk.The memory cards from Hunter's locker sat in an evidence bag, still unexamined.They'd need a warrant for those, and this time, she intended to do everything by the book.

"Star."Sheila turned to where her ward slouched in the corner chair, headphones around her neck."I need you to stay right here while we question this guy."

Star's expression darkened."What am I supposed to do?Stare at the wall?"

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